We recently had the pleasure of spotlighting 12 county best practices during National County Government Month. These innovative programs were recipients of the 2015 CSAC Challenge Awards.

For the past few months, CSAC communications staff has been on the road to learn more about these programs for the videos and blogs we produced. We traveled from San Diego to Amador, Los Angeles to Mendocino.

Please watch a short video about this program here.

As the defendant steps up for his court hearing, Judge Denine Guy comments how he is wearing a different Star Wars T-shirt from his last appearance. She asks him how many he has and he replies, “Six or seven.” In a legal system where misdemeanors are often looked at in terms of specific case numbers rather than the individuals behind them, Judge Guy’s comments stand out. She remembers this defendant; she knows his story and what it will take to help him turn his life around.

Please watch a short video about the program here.

When Adult Protective Services specialist Kimberly Ingram talks about San Diego County’s protocols to help protect acutely vulnerable adults, her eyes well up. She knows that these innovative protocols are making a difference – and saving lives.  That’s a major reason why this program was honored in 2015 with CSAC’s “California Counties Innovation Award.”

Facing new challenges is nothing new for our 58 counties. It might be a natural disaster, such as a wildfire, flood or the drought; or it could be a new policy instituted by the state or federal government, such public safety realignment or the Affordable Care Act. CSAC’s annual Challenge Awards program – which recognizes the most innovative, cost-effective programs developed by our counties – regularly shows that county officials and staff are up to the task.

CSAC has also produced a video on the Rocky Fire and the valuable role of county collaboration. You can view it here.

I am standing next to Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin on a hilltop looking out at the devastated landscape caused by the Rocky Fire.  Nearby are the ruins of a residence and a burned out vehicle.  Although fire roared through this area two days prior, you can still feel the heat rising up off the hillside. Wisps of smoke are tell-tale signs that the fire – with just enough wind – could re-emerge in this area. The Sheriff doesn’t like what he sees and feels and requests that we leave the area immediately. I don’t argue. 

Located along a gritty section of Long Beach Boulevard, across the street from a 99 cent store and a used-car dealership – far away from the bright lights and glamour of Southern California – sits a non-descript two-story building. The only marking on the façade is a brightly colored mural above the entry way. Amidst a rainbow and dolphins, it reads, “Paths to Wellness and Recovery.”  This is Los Angeles County’s Long Beach Mental Health Clinic.

The trip north on Highway 101 to the Humboldt County seat of Eureka is a gorgeous drive. Towering redwoods and green ferns line the meandering road. But for county residents who want to attend a Board of Supervisors meeting to discuss the county budget, that trip could be anything but relaxing.

“Passion” isn’t a word commonly used in conjunction with technology. But “passion” is what has made Nevada County’s Collaborative Technology Center a reality — and a success.

Chief Information Officer Steve Monaghan wanted to create a technology center in Nevada County for years. He sees first-hand the technological constraints rural county residents face — even with something most of us take for granted, like connecting to the internet. But a multi-million dollar price tag for a technology center was always a stumbling block. Steve, though, never shelved his idea, and an executive staff retreat motivated him to find a way to make it happen. And he did that by working collaboratively with different government agencies and the local community.

We take our roads for granted – that is, until we start hitting some teeth-rattling potholes. It’s no secret that the condition of our local streets and roads is getting increasingly dire.  In the next 10 years the local system is facing a $78.3 billion funding shortfall. And so Public Works Departments are starting to look at new, innovative approaches to road maintenance and repair.

Rural county supervisors and county administrators came together in Tehama County Thursday to participate in one of CSAC’s regional meetings. We chose Tehama County as a location since it’s centrally located for most of our rural members. Sure, it still took CAO Phil Smith-Hanes more than four hours to drive over from Humboldt County and Mono County Supervisor Larry Johnston broke the trip up over two days — but that’s California for you. For others, it was just a quick jaunt up or down I-5. No matter the distance, they came because they wanted to hear the latest information on issues of importance to rural counties.

“Welcome back to the good journey.” — Father Greg Boyle

Father G — as he is affectionately known — is the Founder and Executive Director of Homeboy Industries, one of the nation’s largest and most successful gang prevention and re-entry programs in the United States. He touched the hearts and minds of hundreds of county officials a few months ago when he spoke at our CSAC Annual Meeting in Orange County. But he has been touching the hearts and minds of thousands of troubled individuals for the past 25 years.

Every two years the CSAC Annual Meeting is bittersweet. Coinciding with the election cycle, our November conference provides clarity on who will be the 296 supervisors representing our counties in the coming year. It’s a time for us to say good-bye to old friends and begin meeting new ones. 

I’ve always been a fan of Next 10’s “California Budget Challenge” because it allows you, the user, to emphasize your priorities and then assess if you can balance the state budget. It gives the average resident insight into the complexity of crafting a $100 billion budget – and how that pie can be eaten up pretty quickly.

Two interesting articles came across my desk the other day regarding the movement to split California into six states. The first was a piece by KPCC radio that takes a look at previous efforts to carve up California. The second was written by Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton titled “Six-state proposal should be taken seriously, but it’s just hard to.”

US News & World Report recently released a listing of “America’s 50 Healthiest Counties for Kids 2014-15” and it was good news for California counties. In fact, of the top 50 counties, 13 are from California; even more impressive is that Marin County ranks as No. 1!

There’s historically been a pioneer spirit in Mono County. That spirit is alive and well to this day; you see it as you travel along Highway 395. You hear it when you stop and talk to the residents of communities such as Bridgeport and Lee Vining.  That pioneer spirit is also alive and well in the Mono County Behavioral Health Department, where the staff is urged to be creative and look for new ways to engage clients and provide services.

When Riverside County Medical Center staff compared its rate of surgical site infections (SSI) to other hospitals around the country, they realized they had an issue. The hospital’s ratio of infections was more than 200 percent above the recognized baseline. Something had to be done; something was done. And the result has been an amazing turnaround for the Medical Center that has resulted in improved patient care, heightened patient safety and a reduction in medical care costs.

Clinical therapists are taking their jobs a few steps above and beyond the typical call of duty in Riverside County. In fact, they are taking them 39 feet beyond.  That’s the length of each of the three mobile clinics that the therapists themselves drive out to different regions of Riverside County. It’s all part of the County’s highly successful Prevention and Early Intervention Mobile Services program.

When Faythe Arredono talks about Tulare County’s Teen Digital Media Lab, her eyes light up. That sparkle is only matched by the teenagers who participate in the program. Ask the likes of students Araceli Mendoza or Vincent Macareno and you can see why this program has such a positive impact.

I had the pleasure of spending a couple of days last week in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties to learn about four very innovative programs. A few weeks ago I spent a Saturday in Tulare County meeting with teens and learning how one county program is enhancing their lives. Our communications guru Gregg Fishman has made similar road trips, traveling to Sonoma and Tehama counties, as well as a few blocks away to the Sacramento County Elections Offices. On the horizon we have visits to Mono, Nevada, Stanislaus and Ventura. The reason?

Innovation is alive and well in our counties. Yesterday, I had the honor of presenting at the Tulare County Board of Supervisors meeting, recognizing the county for two outstanding, innovative programs.

The presentation was part of our annual CSAC Challenge Awards road show. Other presentations are on tap: Mono County next Tuesday, Nevada County the following week, followed by Sacramento and Stanislaus Counties. The list goes on.

Over the past decade, CSAC has been constantly looking for ways to enhance the services we provide our members.

If you are traveling this long holiday weekend, be prepared for a bumpy ride. California’s highways rank 47^th in the nation, according to an annual report released today by the Reason Foundation. In fact, the Golden State has ranked in the bottom 10 every year since 2000.

That comes as no surprise.

For many people, purchasing that first home is the financial equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest. The process is made even more difficult in destination areas such as Napa County where housing prices are high and homes are in demand. It’s not uncommon for a house on the market to receive numerous offers. So, what do you do if you are a first-time homebuyer who wants to live in the community in which you work, yet you have limited resources for a down payment?