FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       

December 1, 2022     

Sacramento, CA – The California State Association of Counties (CSAC) announced the 19 recipients of 2022 CSAC Challenge Awards, the premier program for recognizing and elevating the most innovative programs developed and implemented by California’s 58 counties.

“Congratulations to all our well-deserved Challenge Award winners,” said Graham Knaus, CSAC Executive Director. “Counties create, develop, and operate the most essential community services – often with shoestring funding and little to no recognition. CSAC looks forward to honoring the dedicated county leaders and employees who work to improve our communities each year through our Challenge Awards program.”

The 19 winning county programs tackled a wide breadth of pressing topics in California today such as early childhood development, safe drinking water, disaster recovery, transparency in local government, and COVID-19 recovery efforts. This year’s Innovation Award, which is awarded to the highest-scoring program, was earned by Orange County for their Pathway for Lifelong Learning: Kindergarten Readiness Initiative.

To learn about all the CSAC 2022 Challenge Award-winning programs, visit the 2022 Challenge Awards page.
 

CSAC received 370 entries from Counties, showcasing the amazing creative and collaborative solutions being utilized across issue areas. A total of 19 awards have been awarded to 14 different counties, including: Los Angeles County, three awards; Orange, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz Counties, two awards each; and Kern, Kings, Nevada, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Placer, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Yuba Counties with one.

The list of 2022 CSAC Challenge Award winners are as follows:

CSAC 2022 Innovation Award

Most Points Scored        Orange               Pathway for Lifelong Learning: Kindergarten Readiness Initiative            

Administration of Justice & Public Safety

• RURAL                
  • Kings – Early Access & Stabilization Services Kings County                  
• SUBURBAN        
  • Santa Cruz – Criminal Justice Council Policy Review                             
• URBAN               
  • San Bernardino – A Restorative Integration for Successful Engagement (ARISE) 

Agriculture, Environment & Natural Resources

• RURAL                
  • Madera – Madera County GSAs Allocation Approach          
• SUBURBAN        
  • Placer – Cat Adoption Collaboration with Local Pet Store 
• URBAN               
  • Los Angeles – Safe, Clean Water Program        

Government Finance Administration & Technology

• RURAL                
  • Yuba – Yuba County Enterprise Solutions (Yes to Yuba)                                 
• SUBURBAN        
  • Santa Cruz – Online, Interactive Budget Website                                          
• URBAN               
  • San Diego – Translation, Language and Culture Connection Work Group             

Health & Human Services

• RURAL                
  • Kern – Kern County Know Your Numbers                                        
• SUBURBAN  
  • Santa Barbara - COVID-19 Health and Human Services Recovery Plan 
• URBAN               
  • Los Angeles – Los Angeles County – L.A. Found Program            

Housing, Land Use & Transportation

• RURAL                
  • Mariposa – Mariposa Creekside Terrace      
• SUBURBAN        
  • Marin – Mapping Marin County’s Past through Unlawful Restrictions   
• URBAN               
  • Los Angeles – Return of Bruce’s Beach

Disaster & Emergency Response

• RURAL
  • Nevada – Disaster Livestock Access Program 
• SUBURBAN 
  • Santa Barbara – Montecito Community Trails Partnership       
• URBAN 
  • Orange – Public Libraries Going Digital: Pandemic and Beyond  

The California State Association of Counties (CSAC) is the voice of California’s 58 counties.

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