Community Services Agency/Valley Recovery Resources Project

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

In Fiscal Year 2010-2011, Stanislaus County was in the midst of its third year of considerable economic decline and budget reductions necessitated minimum local match funding to all programs. As a result, Child Welfare funding was reduced by over 30 percent. Clean and sober living programs faced closure. In late 2010, concerned citizens from the business and faith community approached Stanislaus County Supervisor Bill O’Brien to strategize how to prevent the closure of the clean and sober living facilities. This group of citizens proposed a unique partnership with the County, offering to form a non-profit (Valley Recovery Resources) and donate the local match so that state and federal dollars could be matched to fund clean and sober living services. The donation from Valley Recovery Resources enabled the County to draw down $3.1 million in augmentation funds, allowing the restoration of Child Welfare programs that were eliminated due to budget reductions. As a result, Child Welfare brought back much needed staff and was able to restore substance abuse treatment, clean and sober living, intensive family reunification, family counseling and parenting education services for families in the Child Welfare system.