Stanislaus County 2023 Point-In-Time Homeless Count Released

The Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) has released its 2023 Point-In-Time (PIT) Homeless Count.

The count identified 2,091 homeless persons, an increase of 234 people from last year's total count.

"Homelessness affects all of us," stated Emily Webster, Vice-Chair of CSOC. "The PIT Count is an important resource to gauge how many people are experiencing homelessness in our communities. The information helps us develop support services and housing to help this population."

The PIT count is an unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that communities conduct an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Safe Havens on one night.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2023 PIT COUNT

Who are the Homeless?

71% of those surveyed identified as white while 63% identified as Non-Hispanic/Non-Latin (a)(o)(x) and 37% as Hispanic/Latin (a)(o)(x).
The majority of the homeless counted were males, a total of 1,345. Females made up 731 of the count.
The largest age group was 35-44 with a total of 501 people.
45% of homeless surveyed said they spent time in jail or prison; 43% said they had stayed in a hospital overnight; and 21% reported that they had been in a treatment center.
73% responded that they first became homeless in Stanislaus County; 62% said they had been homeless for more than 36 months in our community.

Where are the Homeless?

The city of Modesto had the largest number of homeless surveyed with 1,642 people. Turlock was second with 233 people.
55% of the count (1,142 people) came from the sheltered population - congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotel/motel voucher programs - while 45% (949 people) came from the count of people living on the streets, in parks, abandoned buildings, or in their cars.
40% of the Unsheltered population of 949 people told surveyors they slept on the streets or on sidewalks.

What are the Reasons for Becoming Homeless?

27% said they were asked to leave from the place they were staying.
26% responded there was abuse and violence in the home.
23% said they were unable to pay rent/mortgage.

What are the Obstacles to Accessing Services?

15% said they didn't have identification or documents.
13% said lack of transportation.
11% said they didn't know where to go for help.

Oher Homeless Populations (Adults Only)

23% had a serious mental illness.
16% had a substance use disorder.
12% were survivors of domestic violence.

Why is the PIT Count Important?

The annual count data is critical to determine the scope of homelessness, define existing resources, and identify any gaps in services in Stanislaus County. HUD requires communities to count the number of people experiencing homelessness every two years in each county across the United States.

The survey data is used to help determine the amount of funding available to communities to develop housing and supportive services for people moving from homelessness to being housed.

Who organized the PIT Count?

The Count is organized by the Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) which includes local governments, non-profits, and homeless providers. To learn more, please visit www.csocstan.com

For more highlights about the 2023 Unsheltered and Sheltered PIT Homeless Count, please click here for the Executive and Data Summaries.

Join Our Team!

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Fireworks Celebration!

We are excited to announce our 27th Annual Fireworks Celebration on July 1, 2023 at approximately 9:30 pm at Woodward Reservoir. It is going to be a another fantastic show!

Volunteers Needed for 2023 Homeless Point-In-Time Count

The PIT Count is an unduplicated count of all people in Stanislaus County experiencing homelessness. It provides a "snapshot" of what homelessness looks like on a single day of the year.

Let’s make everyone count!

The Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) needs volunteers to conduct the 2023 Homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) Count.

The PIT Count is an unduplicated count of all people in Stanislaus County experiencing homelessness. It provides a "snapshot" of what homelessness looks like on a single day of the year.

The Count is scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2023. The deadline to register is January 6, 2023.

The Count is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to estimate the number of Americans without safe and stable housing. It’s a requirement to receive federal funds to reduce homelessness.

Volunteers will work alongside the County’s Homeless Outreach and Engagement Team as they fan out across the Stanislaus County. They’ll engage with local homeless individuals and their families to complete surveys and help distribute care packages.

The registration process is easy. You can register online at https://stanislaus.pointintime.info/. You'll be required to choose a training session and select the city where you’d like to work.

Other options to register: By phone (209) 558-2961 or e-mail CSOC at csoc@stancounty.com. You can also scan this QR code from the camera app in your smart phone.

The 2023 Homeless PIT Count is organized by the Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) which includes local governments, non-profits, and homeless providers.

Free Accessory Dwelling Building Plans for Residents

Pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) building plans that are going to be available, free of charge, for property owners living in any of the partner jurisdictions.

In partnership with the cities of Ceres, Modesto, Oakdale, Riverbank, Turlock, and Waterford, Stanislaus County has contracted with TPH Architects to develop complete, pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) building plans that are going to be available, free of charge, for property owners living in any of the partner jurisdictions; this is to help streamline the permitting process and reduce the costs for property owners to add ADUs to their properties.

Senate Bill (SB) 2, signed by Governor Brown in 2017 was aimed at addressing the state’s housing shortage and high housing costs. The legislation directed that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), use 50 percent of the revenue in the first year to establish the Planning Grants Program (PGP). The PGP program was not competitive and all localities that met the eligibility requirements were funded.

All the cities decided to utilize a portion of their PGP grant funding to partner with Stanislaus County to go out for a request for proposal to contract with an architect to develop the ADU plans that are now being made available free of charge to residents.

ADUs are an accessory beyond traditional construction in California homes providing a solution for additional housing needs for families. ADUs, also referred to as in-law units, are being built to address the lack of housing that meets people’s needs for affordability and proximity to job rich environments.

ADUs tend to be significantly less expensive to build than new detached single-family homes because they are not being built on new land and can provide as much living space as apartments and/or condominiums. These free plans have been designed to provide adaptability in meeting typical lot sizes and configurations found throughout Stanislaus County. There are seven different options in a variety of sizes and exterior finishes creating a desirable living space for those who would seek to occupy an ADU.

To take advantage of this opportunity, we encourage property owners should contact a representative in their jurisdiction of residency to obtain the pre-checked building plans, free of charge, and to get more information about the process of constructing an ADU on their property.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUS) - Planning & Community Development - Stanislaus County (stancounty.com)

Help For Homeowners With Past-due Property Taxes

Are you behind on your property tax payments due to COVID-19? Help is available for eligible Stanislaus County homeowners.

The California Mortgage Relief Program is expanding to provide tax payment assistance to help you get caught up. The program uses federal Homeowner Assistance Funds to help homeowners with past-due property tax payments.

The program is free. The funds do not need to be repaid and there is no cost to apply.

"This will be a big help to homeowners who are delinquent on property taxes due to COVID-19," stated Donna Riley, Stanislaus County Treasurer-Tax Collector. "Eligible homeowners could receive up to $20,000 to cover past due property tax payments."

Riley added that there are more than 2,800 homeowners currently behind in their property taxes in Stanislaus County. To receive funding, applicants must meet specific criteria related to financial hardship caused by the pandemic.

To find out if you qualify for the program, please go to CaMortgageRelief.org. You can also call 1-888-840-2594.

The California Mortgage Relief Program is part of the state's Housing is Key initiative.

Cannabis Community Grant Funding for Local Youth-Serving Nonprofits

Stanislaus County partners with the Stanislaus Community Foundation to support local nonprofit organizations.

Stanislaus County is partnering with the Stanislaus Community Foundation to support local nonprofit organizations. Stanislaus County developed the Community Benefit Contribution Program to provide a mechanism for the Cannabis Businesses in Stanislaus County to give back to the community. In 2018, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors designated a portion of funds raised through the Community Benefit Contribution Program to support youth-serving organizations in Stanislaus County. In 2022, the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office contracted with Stanislaus Community Foundation to manage the Community Benefit grant administration process. Organizations can apply for funding online starting October 4, 2022.

"We’re pleased to extend the original intent of these community benefit dollars on behalf of the local cannabis industry, to area nonprofits,” said Jody Hayes, Chief Executive Officer for Stanislaus County. “We are excited to support youth programs and youth-serving nonprofits.”

501c3 nonprofits serving youth in Stanislaus County in good standing with the IRS are encouraged to apply as well as schools located in Stanislaus County. Grant requests may not exceed $50,000. Applying for a grant does not guarantee a funding award.

“Youth leadership and youth activities are incredibly important to all of us,” said Marian Kaanon, President and CEO of Stanislaus Community Foundation. “Our hope is that this flexible funding will extend the capacity of local youth-serving nonprofits to build on existing programs.”

Stanislaus Community Foundation is managing the application process on behalf of Stanislaus County. Foundation staff will screen and score applications based on a grant program rubric and present its recommendations to Stanislaus Community Foundation’s Grants and Programs Committee, which must agree, by majority vote, on the final grant approvals. Stanislaus Community Foundation will present recommended grant approvals to the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office for ratification by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors in December 2022.

Grant applications will be accepted between Tuesday, October 4, 2022, and Monday, October 31st, 2022, at 5:00 PM PST. Award notifications will occur in November, and award disbursements will occur in December 2022. For more information, visit: StanislausCF.org

About Stanislaus Community Foundation Stanislaus Community Foundation (SCF) is a place-based funder serving the residents of Stanislaus County. Since 2002, SCF has been a catalyst to transform local resources into common good through strategic philanthropy and bold leadership. The vision of Stanislaus Community Foundation is to create a community of choice where people can live, work, and thrive. To support this vision, SCF nurtures partnerships and grows charitable resources to advance the common good in Stanislaus County. For more information, please visit https://www.stanislauscf.org/

CSA Temporarily Closes StanWORKs Lobbies

The Stanislaus County Community Services Agency (CSA) is temporarily closing its StanWORKs lobbies countywide for one day a week due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing challenges, and an increase in CalFresh applications and customers.

Beginning August 24, 2022 through February 22, 2023, all StanWORKs lobbies will be closed every Wednesday for six months.

StanWORKs Call Center hours will also be reduced from 8:00 am to noon, every Wednesday, during the same six-month period.

"It was a difficult decision but a necessary one," stated Christine Huber, CSA Director. "The pandemic and staffing challenges have dramatically impacted our ability to meet federal and state mandates in processing applications for our safety net programs."

Huber says a 50% increase in customers seeking in-person services combined with a backlog of applications also contributed and there aren't enough staff to provide the level of service needed to properly support the community.

CSA recommended the temporary closure which was approved by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors at its August 16, 2022 meeting.

The closure does not affect other county departments such as Workforce Development and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program or partner agencies that share lobbies with StanWORKs.

Like other departments and public agencies, CSA is experiencing worker shortages with a record number of employee resignations. The pandemic has placed an additional strain on the workforce with lost hours and employee leaves of absence.

The closure will enable CSA clerical and Family Services Specialist workers with adequate time to process applications for programs such as CalFresh, CalWORKs, and MediCal within state requirements.

Technology is also expected to help fill the gap during the lobby closures as it did during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Customers can apply for, and access and renew benefits through self-serve websites, mail, fax, on-site drop boxes, and phone.

To improve application processing timeliness, CSA is also redirecting resources to meet the demand, streamlining staff training, offering overtime to increase production, and leveraging clerical assistance from other divisions to assist with case assignments.

For more information, please visit the CSA website at CSA Main

Extreme Heat

There is an Extreme Heat advisory for this holiday weekend Sept. 2nd-7th. There is a very high risk of heat-related illness for the entire population, please be sure to:

Avoid outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day
Drink plenty of water
Stay inside Air Conditioned environments and Cooling Zones
Practice Fire Safety

New App & Chatbot Simplify County Business

Stanislaus County is working to enhance service to the community through a new suite of communication tools.

Stanislaus County is working to enhance service to the community through a new mobile app and chatbot.

Those who have used the former GoRequest mobile app to submit service requests, report issues to staff virtually or find information should uninstall the GoRequest app and download Stan Connect. The revamped custom app is available now in the Apple and Google play stores where mobile apps are found.

The newly designed app has more robust offerings to serve residents more effectively. It is a communication tool that will allow users to easily connect with government services and their County elected officials, access county news, job opportunities and information, as well as submit concerns or requests for service. The new app will better serve on the go residents and save time when conducting County business, an attractive feature to people who prefer not to visit County offices in person or call for service.

“This is a great new tool for Stanislaus County residents who want convenience when connecting with County government,” said Board of Supervisors Chair, Vito Chiesa. “With most all of our services at your fingertips in a well-organized, user friendly mobile app, we are ready to serve you wherever you are,” he added.

Stanislaus County has used GoRequest as a Government Outreach platform since 2006. The new and improved mobile app will more easily facilitate interaction between residents and the County. Benefits include property tax information and resources, the ability to request vital records, view pets available for adoption, find public health clinics, social services and access most County services from the convenience of a mobile app.

The app, which partners with the County’s web based Customer Relationship Management (CRM), allows users to efficiently enter and track service requests online. When a new request is entered into the system by a resident, the software automatically routes the request to the appropriate individual within the County organization. The employee receives an email notification indicating the need to resolve a request. Each request has a pre-assigned “Expected Close Date,” which is given to the customer via email. Customers are notified when the project is completed. Although all app users must register to submit and track their requests, submissions can be made anonymously. Anonymous users will not receive email confirmation or notification of completion.

The County has also incorporated a chatbot, “Ask Stan,” into the website as an added efficiency to customers, helping users find information quickly on the website. The chat bot is currently available to residents on a trial basis through a three-month pilot program. Web users will see Stan at the bottom corner of the screen when visiting StanCounty.com. Stan will improve in functionality based on users’ feedback which can be provided directly through the chat bot. Feedback is encouraged throughout the process.

2022 Point-In-Time Homeless Count Released in Stanislaus County

The Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) has released its 2022 Point-In-Time (PIT) Homeless Count.

The count identified 1,857 homeless persons in Stanislaus County, a more than 50% decrease from the snapshot survey taken in 2021. The tally was down by 1,070 people from last year when 2,927 homeless people were counted.

"This year we faced some challenges with the count," stated Jason Conway, Chair of the CSOC. "But the information we did receive will still help us develop important support services and housing for homeless individuals in our community."

Several factors contributed to the decrease in the PIT count.

Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and health concerns, there was not a full unsheltered PIT Count with volunteers fanning out across communities to count the number of homeless individuals. HUD approved CSOC to use the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) as an alternative data strategy for the count. HMIS is a database used by homeless service providers to collect client-level data and data on the provision of homeless services.
Fewer people were outside due to temperatures dipping below 35 degrees the morning of the count.
There were scheduling challenges for volunteers when the PIT count was postponed from January to February due to COVID-19 Omicron variant health concerns.
Less than 49% of the PIT volunteers assisted than initially registered in January. Many volunteers chose not to participate when the count was moved to late February.
Homeless encampment sweeps were conducted before the unsheltered count occurred. Outreach and engagement teams were not able to locate homeless individuals on the day of the count.

For more information and highlights about the Stanislaus County 2022 PIT Homeless Count, please click here for the Executive Summary and the Data Summary.

Summer Reading Challenge at Stanislaus County Libraries

The Stanislaus County Library invites everyone of all ages to join the Summer Reading Challenge, "Read Beyond the Beaten Path," May 17- Aug. 2.

Children and teens participate by keeping track of each day they read or are read to for at least 30 minutes. Adults are asked to track each book they read and can choose to also write brief reviews of the books they read this summer.

Summer Reading Challenge participants will use the Beanstack app to log their reading and submit reviews. Virtual tickets are awarded along the way. Participants can then enter the tickets they've earned into specific prize drawings. A range of prizes are available, including early learning activities for babies and toddlers, LEGO® Bricks, iPads, a telescope, gift cards, themed baskets, and more.

"What's most important is that we keep kids interested in reading and learning," said Michele Machado, Children's Librarian and Coordinator of the Summer Reading Challenge. "Using the Beanstack reading platform makes logging and tracking easy, and we hope it will inspire everyone to read all summer long." Those who are unable to use the Beanstack reading platform can still participate by simply tracking their reading at home, then returning to the library for logging in the Beanstack system.

In addition, magician Shawn Durham will amaze audiences with magic, illusions and laughs. Durham encourages his audiences to find even more magic through the joys of reading. The show will be offered at libraries throughout the county, and is perfect for preschool-aged children and older. Interested parties are encouraged to view the library calendar at www.stanislauslibrary.org for specific details about the program at their library branch. Space is limited and advance registration is required at some locations.

The Summer Reading Challenge is sponsored by the Stanislaus Library Foundation. Follow the Stanislaus County Library on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with library programs and events throughout the year.

State of the County Address Charts Path for the Future

Resiliency and the courage to move forward for a better future – these were the themes of the 2022 State of the County address delivered by Board Chairman Terry Withrow on February 15, 2022.

The speech, presented during the Board of Supervisors 6:30 pm meeting, highlighted the accomplishments of the past year as Stanislaus County endured a second year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking before an audience inside board chambers, Chair Withrow acknowledged the economic impact of the pandemic on Stanislaus County and its residents. He thanked the county workforce for their flexibility and nimbleness in meeting the moment continuing to provide important services to the community.

He also thanked county law enforcement, health care workers, and health services leadership for going beyond the call of duty to serve Stanislaus County during the pandemic.

“I couldn’t be prouder of how Stanislaus County government has responded during these trying times,” he stated.

During the speech, Chair Withrow described the state of the county as the strongest it’s ever been. He noted how COVID-19 funds were spent during the pandemic. For example, the county distributed $15 million in direct cash assistance to nine incorporated cities, an infusion of cash critical to maintaining core services when cities were struggling in the early days of the pandemic.

He also highlighted accomplishments, including restoring the public safety budget to reopen sheriff substations throughout the county. The substation in Salida is expected to open in mid-April. The openings of the remodeled Turlock Library and the newly constructed Empire Library were among the other achievements brought up during the address.

In addition, Chair Withrow mentioned projects to address homelessness, such as the opening of a low-barrier shelter with 182 beds and the opening of Kansas House, a converted hotel housing up to 225 individuals as an important link to transitional housing.

He also shared a success story from the public defender’s office and read a letter from a client who changed his life after receiving case management, counseling, and peer support.

Moving forward out of the pandemic, Chair Withrow asked the public for grace and understanding.

“I truly believe that God puts us on this planet to make it a better place. The last couple of years have tested all of our resolves and taken us off our mission course. Life is to be lived, not just survived. We cannot take care and improve the lives of others in need, if we are solely concerned about our own well-being.”

He continued, “Let’s reduce the use of the words I, my, and me and instead get back to more of us, our, and we.”

View the State of the County Address
Read the State of the County transcript
Youtube hosted video with CC and Translation support

Latest COVID-19 Information for Residents

Information on the public health crisis caused by Coronavirus COVID-19

Last Call For 2022 Point-In-Time Count Volunteers

The Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) is seeking to recruit an additional fifty (50) volunteers for the upcoming Unsheltered Homeless Point-In-Time (PIT) Count scheduled for Thursday, February 24, 2022.

The goal is to recruit 250 total volunteers for this important effort.

Volunteers are needed countywide to help distribute comfort kits and conduct brief surveys to our neighbors experiencing homelessness in the streets on the day of the Count. Friends, family, and all community members that are 18 years of age or older are able to volunteer. Attending a volunteer training is required for participation.

A final Unsheltered PIT Volunteer training will be held virtually on Tuesday, February 15th from 9 AM -10:30 AM for anyone who would like to participate. This includes those who may have missed their previously scheduled training date and want to make up their mandatory training requirement.

If you are interested and are signing up for the first time, please do so through the volunteer registration portal at https://stanislaus.pointintime.info/ by 5PM on Monday, February 14th

If you were previously registered, please visit the volunteer registration portal and simply click on "Update Registration" to select the final training date or email moc.ytnuocnats@cosc. A calendar invite with virtual training meeting link will be emailed to you upon successful registration.

For questions, please call 209-558-2298 or email moc.ytnuocnats@cosc.

To find out more, please click here for the 2022 PIT Count flyer.

Last year, a total of 2,927 homeless persons were identified in the PIT count.

It is organized by the Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) which includes local governments, non-profits, and homeless providers.

Volunteers Still Needed For 2022 Point-in-time Count

The Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) is still looking for volunteers to help conduct the 2022 Homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) Count.

The count is an annual survey of persons experiencing homelessness in Stanislaus County. The data is critical to determine the scope of the problem, help define resources, and identify gaps in service.

The count had been scheduled for late January but was postponed due to health and safety concerns about COVID-19.

The PIT count is now scheduled for Thursday, February 24, 2022. Volunteers are needed at multiple locations county-wide to conduct surveys and hand out comfort kits to our neighbors experiencing homelessness in the streets.

There is still time to register as a volunteer. Simply go to the volunteer registration portal at https://stanislaus.pointintime.info/ and register by February 4th.

New mandatory training dates are available and can be selected through the volunteer registration portal. For those who were registered previously, you can choose a new training date by clicking the "Update Registration" option on the registration portal.

All members of the community, family, and friends are able to participate in this important effort (must be 18 years or older by the day of the count to register). The goal is to register 250 volunteers for the count.

For questions, please call (209) 558-2298 or email moc.ytnuocnats@cosc.

The PIT count is an unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night. Every year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires communities to count the number of people experiencing homelessness in counties across the nation.

Last year, a total of 2,927 homeless persons were identified in the Stanislaus County PIT count.

The count is organized by the Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) which includes local governments, non-profits, and homeless providers.

For more information about CSOC, please visit www.csocstan.com.

To find out more, please see attached flyer about the 2022 count.

County Announces Nonprofit Grant Recipients

A total of $1 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds will be distributed to several Stanislaus County nonprofit organizations by early 2022.

A total of $1 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds was approved for distribution to approved Stanislaus County nonprofit organizations by the Board of Supervisors on November 23rd. This funding will assist critical nonprofit work throughout Stanislaus County. Priority was given to nonprofits that did not receive funding from the 2020 Nonprofit Support Grant Program, as well as nonprofits that serve veterans and seniors, and local nonprofit organizations that are new to the community.

"Our County provides a variety of community-centered causes and nonprofits." said Stanislaus County Board Chairman, Vito Chiesa. "It's more important now than ever that we support the work of nonprofits and I'm proud of our Board for recognizing that with a new round of grant funding."

The Stanislaus Community Foundation was contracted to manage the grant application and review process on behalf of Stanislaus County. The Foundation received more than 70 applications from nonprofits that indicated a need for support. The efforts of nonprofits that have continued serving local residents, even through the pandemic, is remarkable. Most have struggled financially due to impacts of COVID-19.

Requests totaling approximately $4.5 million were received, far exceeding the $1 million available to award. This was a competitive process and applications were prioritized based on the approved tiers and for organizations that demonstrated the greatest financial need and impact of COVID-19 on their operations.

A total of 33 nonprofits were awarded funding in this round, including:

Nonprofit	Funding
American Red Cross	15,000
Aspiranet	10,000
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.	45,000
Camp Taylor, Inc.	15,500
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Stockton	59,000
Central Valley Center for the Vision and Hearing Impaired	25,000
Central Valley Hispanic Foundation	2,500
Central Valley Opportunity Center, Inc	75,000
Community Hospice Foundation of Stanislaus County	10,000
Community Impact Central Valley	75,000
Faith Home Teen Challenge, Inc.	15,000
Greater Modesto Interfaith Hospitality Network	15,000
Haven Women's Center of Stanislaus	20,000
Healthy Aging Association	40,000
Hughson Community Project	1,000
Improve Your Tomorrow, Inc.	10,000
Legacy Alliance Outreach	10,000
MoPride	5,000
Parent Institute for Quality Education	10,000
Parent Resources Center	45,000
Second Harvest Food Bank of San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties	75,000
Self-Help Enterprises	50,000
Senior Advocacy Network	40,000
Sierra Vista Child & Family Services	20,000
Stanislaus County Youth Empowerment Program	10,000
Stanislaus Multi Cultural Health Coalition West Modesto King	30,000
Stanislaus Senior Foundation	7,000
The Food Initiative of Greater Stanislaus, Inc.	75,000
The Salvation Army, a California Corporation (Turlock)	30,000
United Cerebral Palsy Association, Inc.	40,000
United Samaritans Foundation	50,000
Without Permission, Inc.	20,000
World Relief Corporation of National Association of Evangelicals	50,000

Volunteers Sought for 2022 Point-In-Time Homeless Count

The Stanislaus Community System of Care (is looking for volunteers to conduct the 2022 Homeless Point-In-Time Count, a one-day snapshot of homelessness in our community.

Do you want to help your community?

The Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) is looking for volunteers to conduct the 2022 Homeless Point-In-Time Count, a one-day snapshot of homelessness in each community of Stanislaus County. The count data is critical to determine the scope of the problem, help define resources, and identify gaps in service.

"Homelessness affects all of us," stated Jason Conway, Chair of CSOC. "The data collected will help get a better understanding of the population experiencing homelessness."

Each year the U.S. department of Housing and Urban Development requires communities to count the number of people homeless in counties across the nation. This is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people on a single night in January.

Next year's count is scheduled for Thursday, January 27, 2022.

Volunteers will work with the County's Homeless Outreach and Engagement Team as they fan out across Stanislaus County. You'll engage with local homeless individuals and their families to complete a survey and help distribute care packages (beanie, socks, snack, and water) to people you survey.

To volunteer, please go to http://stanislaus.pointintime.info. You'll be required to choose a mandatory survey/safety training and select the city where you'd like to conduct surveys.

You can also register via phone at (209) 558-2961 or e-mail moc.ytnuocnats@cosc

The goal is to register 250 volunteers. The deadline is January 7, 2022.

A total of 2,927 persons were identified in the 2021 PIT count.

Let's Make Everyone Count!

2022 PIT Homeless Count Postponed Due To Covid-19 Concerns

The Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) has postponed the 2022 Point-In-Time (PIT) Unsheltered Count and rescheduled it for later next month.

The postponement is due to health and safety concerns about the rise of COVID-19 cases in Stanislaus County.

"We want to ensure volunteers who conduct the interviews and homeless individuals who participate in the count all remain safe," stated Jason Conway, chair of CSOC.

The annual survey of unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness was scheduled for Thursday, January 27, 2022. But after consulting with the Stanislaus County Public Health Department, CSOC sought and was granted an exception from US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to postpone the count and schedule it for a later date.

The PIT Count will now take place as follows:

Wednesday, February 23, 2022 (Sheltered Count)
Thursday, February 24, 2022 (Unsheltered Count)

There is still time to register to help out as a volunteer. Simply go to the volunteer registration portal at http://stanislaus.pointintime.info and register by February 4th.

New mandatory training dates are also available and can be selected through the volunteer registration portal. If you were already previously registered and need to select a new training date, this can be done simply by clicking the "Update Registration" option when visiting the registration portal.

Every year HUD requires communities to count the number of people experiencing homelessness in counties across the nation. The data is critical to determine the scope of homelessness and identify gaps in services.

The PIT count is an unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night. Last year, a total of 2,927 homeless persons were identified in the 2021 PIT count.

It's organized by the Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) which includes local governments, non-profits, and homeless providers.

For information about the count, please contact 209-558-2298 or e-mail moc.ytnuocnats@cosc. You can also visit the CSOC website for updates at http://www.csocstan.com/.

To find out more, please click here for a flyer about the 2022 count.

Drought Resources and Information

In May, 2021, an Emergency Drought Declaration was passed by Governor Newsom that included Stanislaus County.

California is experiencing a serious drought. In May, 2021, an Emergency Drought Declaration was passed by Governor Newsom that included Stanislaus County. Residents throughout the Central Valley should be aware of resources and conservation measures to help manage one of our most precious natural resources, our water. This page provides a directory of helpful resources for residents as we deal with the impacts of the drought, including drought related issues, regional programs for well users and available funding for disadvantaged communities. Several local programs are available to support the water needs of residents.

County Offers $1 Million in Nonprofit Grants

Applications will be accepted between Tuesday, October 5, and Tuesday, October 26, 2021.

Stanislaus County is once again partnering with the Stanislaus Community Foundation to support local nonprofit organizations. On August 31, 2021, a total of $1 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds was approved by the Board of Supervisors to assist critical nonprofit work with priority given to nonprofits that did not receive funding from the 2020 Nonprofit Support Grant Program, nonprofits that serve veterans and seniors, and new Stanislaus County nonprofits. Organizations can apply for funding online starting October 5.

"We know the importance of nonprofit services in our community and we are aware of how hard local organizations have been hit economically by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Stanislaus County Board Chairman, Vito Chiesa. "It's more important now than it ever was that we support the work of nonprofits and I'm proud of our Board for recognizing that with a new round of grant funding."

Stanislaus Community Foundation has been contracted to manage the application process on behalf of the Stanislaus County. "Stanislaus Community Foundation is pleased to once again partner with the County to administer these grants to local nonprofits. We know that responding as quickly as possible to the needs of local organizations helps our community recover faster and more equitably to the hardships experienced during the pandemic," said Marian Kaanon, President and CEO of the Foundation.

501c3 non-profit organizations in good standing with the IRS are encouraged to apply. Pre-schools, K-12 schools, places of worship, colleges/community colleges/universities, auxiliary support organizations (i.e., booster or other school-affiliated clubs), individuals, private foundations, Federal or State of California agency/division/departments are not eligible. Grant requests may not exceed 10% of the organization's most recent annual operating budget. Grant requests from nonprofits that have not initiated operations in Stanislaus County but intend to launch new programs or services shall not exceed $50,000. Applying for a grant does not guarantee a funding award.

Stanislaus Community Foundation is managing the application process on behalf of Stanislaus County. Foundation staff will screen and score applications based on a grant program rubric, and present its recommendations to Stanislaus Community Foundation's Grants and Programs Committee, which must agree, by majority vote, on the final grant approvals. Stanislaus Community Foundation will present recommended grant approvals to the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office for ratification by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors in mid-November 2021.

Nonprofit grant applications will be accepted between Tuesday, October 5, 2021, and Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at 5:00 pm PST. Award notifications will occur in November, and award disbursements will occur in December 2021. For more information visit: Stanislaus Community Foundation

Virtual Redistricting Workshop

On September 30, a virtual Redistricting workshop will be held online. This is a public meeting open to all community residents.

Every decade, counties redraw district maps for their communities and Stanislaus County is working to make sure the current redistricting process is guided by transparency, bipartisanship, and public input to ensure the new map reflects the will of voters, allows for competitive county elections, and fairly represents all communities. Stanislaus County is seeking participation in several upcoming community workshops and public hearings. A virtual option was recently added.

On September 30, from 6-8PM, a virtual Redistricting workshop will be held online. This is a public meeting open to all community residents. An option to join by phone is available as well.

Go to Stancounty.com/redistricting for more information on Redistricting, this workshop, and other upcoming opportunities to get involved.

Meeting Details

Meeting Agenda

Indoor Face Covering Mandate Issued

To stem the rapid increase in COVID-19 transmissions and hospitalizations in Stanislaus County, a public health order was issued requiring all individuals to wear face coverings while indoors.

Since most restrictions from the State of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy were lifted on June 15, 2021, the average daily case rate of COVID-19 in Stanislaus County has increased 9-fold and the testing positivity rate has risen 4-fold. The Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is significantly more transmissible than the original virus, has become the predominant strain in the US, in California, and in Stanislaus County. Alarmingly, hospitalizations from COVID-19 in Stanislaus County have risen quickly from 38 patients as of July 16 to 299 patients on September 1.

This surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations is threatening our local healthcare system. At the same time as this surge in COVID-19 infections is occurring, there is also a high volume of hospitalizations from non-COVID-19 related diseases. COVID-19 hospitalizations combined with the medical needs arising from another historic wildfire season is stressing the capacity of our local hospitals and medical first responders to meet the medical needs of our county.

To stem this rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission and hospitalizations, the best protection for our community against this virus is to continue to increase the number of people vaccinated. The least disruptive and most immediately impactful additional measure to take is the universal use of face coverings, also known as masking, while indoors.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) both recommend that all persons—regardless of vaccination status—wear face coverings indoors when with people outside of their household. With the rapid increase in cases and hospitalizations due to the Delta variant, it has become necessary to elevate the indoor mask recommendation to a requirement.

The order requires all people to wear face coverings when indoors in workplaces and public settings, with limited exemptions, and recommends that businesses make face coverings available to individuals entering their businesses. This order will take effect Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 12:01 am. All people, especially those who are unvaccinated or at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19, should take personal measures to reduce risk in addition to masking.

This Order requiring all individuals to wear face coverings, as specified below, is necessary to control and reduce the rate of community spread, support our healthcare system, and to reinforce the need for safe interactions. Public Health will continue to assess the situation as it evolves and may modify this Order or issue additional orders related to COVID-19 as changing circumstances dictate.

“The decision to go forward with a masking mandate is based on the need to protect our healthcare system. There is a concerning rise in hospitalizations that is threatening hospital capacity.” said Dr. Julie Vaishampayan, Public Health Officer for Stanislaus County. “Masking is an essential tool that limits the transmission of the Delta variant as we continue to vaccinate the people who live, work, and learn in Stanislaus County.”

“The continued increase in hospitalizations is concerning. Especially, when you look at the non-COVID-19 demands on our hospitals. We need to do something to protect our local hospitals so that we have capacity to take care of everyday medical needs. From what the CDC and the CDPH have learned about masking, it looks like masking is the least disruptive measure to slow the rate of transmission and keep our County moving forward” said Vito Chiesa, Chair of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors.”

Those who are not vaccinated or only partially vaccinated remain highly vulnerable to the infectious Delta variant. Vaccinations have proven to be effective against the Delta variant and all variants of COVID-19 – slowing the rate of spread and mitigating severe symptoms. All residents 12 and older are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible. For a list of vaccination clinics, visit the Stanislaus County Public Health website.

The Public Health Order can be found at http://schsa.org/coronavirus/ph-orders-press/.

Additional information:

CDC recommendations for vaccinated individuals to wear face coverings in indoor public settings in areas of substantial or high COVID-19 transmission:
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html
CDPH requires face coverings in specific indoor public settings and recommends that individuals wear face coverings in all other indoor public settings, regardless of their vaccination status.
- https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx

Public Input Sought in Redistricting

Stanislaus County is working with the community to make sure the redistricting process is guided by public input so that maps reflect the will of voters.

Every decade, counties draw new district maps for their communities. Stanislaus County is working with the community to make sure the redistricting process is guided by transparency and public input so that maps reflect the will of voters, allow for competitive county elections, and fairly represent all communities. There are several upcoming community workshops and public hearings that we want to make residents aware of. See flyers below for information.

Redistricting 2021 Flier

Housing for the Homeless

The county has $2,884,000 available for vendors with experience in affordable housing projects and programs.

Do you have an innovative idea to provide housing for the homeless? Stanislaus county wants to know.

The county has $2,884,000 available for vendors with experience in affordable housing projects and programs. The funding is from the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program. It provides local jurisdictions with funds to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address homelessness.

Stanislaus County is seeking proposals from qualified and experienced organizations for Delivery of Permanent Housing and/or Innovative Housing Solutions, RFP # 21-13-SD. To find out more and how to register, please go to https://www.stancounty.com/purchasing/county-bids.shtm

A Pre-Proposal Conference is scheduled July 30, 2021 at 10:00a.m. Questions may be submitted in writing up until 5:00 p.m. on August 6, 2021. All RFP responses are due on August 13, 2021.

New Turlock Library

The newly expanded Turlock library is open as of August 10th and ready to serve South Stanislaus County residents.

The Turlock Library, located at 550 Minaret Ave., is now open to the public (as of Tuesday, Aug. 10). A dedication ceremony was held on August 9. The public is invited to visit the expanded, modernized, upgraded library facility during business hours.

"As Chairman of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors and County Supervisor representing the Turlock Community, I am thrilled with the successful completion of the beautiful new Turlock Library! As is our way, on time and under budget!" said Supervisor Vito Chiesa. "The Turlock Community has waited a long time for this to happen and the Friends of the Turlock Library and their donors should be commended for their generosity making the new Library even more awesome! This is a great example of working together,with a shared purpose resulting in a new modern library and community center we can all enjoy for generations to come."

Turlock's first community library, a Carnegie library, was built in 1916 and served the community for more than 50 years. In 1968, the library moved to a new 10,000-square-foot Minaret Avenue location. The newly constructed and expanded library will preserve the beautiful park-like setting that is so loved by the community. The new, 16,530-square-foot library will feature teen and children's areas, a community room, a makerspace, and more.

The Turlock Library project leveraged funding from Library Savings, Tobacco Endowment Funds, Public Facilities Fees, Deferred Maintenance Funds and County General Funds. The dedicated sales tax for County-wide Library services has contributed to the savings for this project. In addition, the Friends of the Turlock Library have raised $1 million for furnishings, architectural enhancements and technology upgrades. The new facility was designed and constructed by LDA Architects, and Roebbelen Contractors, Dewberry Architects.

"We are grateful for the Friends of the Turlock Library and their donors for their support, encouragement and generosity making this effort truly a remarkable feat," said Stanislaus County Librarian Sarah Dentan.

The new library will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 12 to 8 p.m. Wednesday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The library will be closed on Fridays and Sundays.

For more infomation, visit www.stanislauslibrary.org or call 209-558-7801

New App & Chatbot Simplify County Business

Stanislaus County is working to enhance service to the community through a new suite of communication tools.

Stanislaus County is working to enhance service to the community through a new mobile app and chatbot.

New and Improved County GIS Maps

Stanislaus County is offering a new Geographic Information System (GIS) Hub, which allows residents to access open data throughout the County.

Stanislaus County is offering a new Geographic Information System (GIS) Hub, which makes available local data and interactive maps. This public tool allows residents to access open data throughout the County.

There are specific uses of GIS maps for those interested in data from Stanislaus County Supervisorial Districts, river maps, city limits and annexations, municipal advisory councils, transportation maps, parcel records and land assessments. Surveyors and engineers will find the application a useful tool for land development. As a planning tool to assist with urban growth strategy and land management it is useful as well. Property information included there assists the County Assessor with records maintenance.

Real estate brokers as well as Emergency Services personnel will find it useful as mapping routes is common when responding to disasters like floods or fires. There is a fire district map accessible from the page as well.

The system will allow residents to view several large-scale, ongoing projects, like Measure L funded infrastructure improvements, encroachment permits, road and bridge projects underway throughout the region, County islands or unincorporated areas and North County Corridor are featured.

The map information found on the site is downloadable for easy reference in hard copy. Residents are encouraged to explore the new GIS Hub.

Empire Community Library Now Open

A dedication ceremony was held on June 8th to celebrate the completion of the new Empire Library.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors announced the successful completion of the new Empire Library on Tuesday, June 8, at an inspiring dedication ceremony and celebration of a new, modern, safe library for the community of Empire. Special recognition was given to Bob Dittman, retired Empire school administrator, and his wife Jane, for whom the children’s area of the library is named. The Empire Community Hall Association also was thanked for making the project possible with a generous donation of property. A recording of the event is available at www.stanislauslibrary.org.

Doors opened Wednesday, June 9, with some eagerly waiting young customers among the first to explore the new space. At 4,270 square feet, the new facility is twice the size of the former location on South Abbie, allowing for 50% more Spanish/bilingual children’s books, and an increase of 20-25% in other print collections.

Located at 98 I Street, the new library is adjacent to the Empire Regional Water Safety Training Center/Pool. It features warm and inviting spaces for children, teens and adults, and incorporates a community room that opens to a covered outdoor patio for library programs and community events. A sheriff’s substation will be located in the building as well.

The new facility was designed and constructed by LDA Architects, and Roebbelen Contractors, Dewberry Architects. The project was completed on time and under budget!

The Empire Library is open 12 to 6 p.m, Tuesday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

For more information, visit www.stanislauslibrary.org or call 209-524-5505.

County Celebrates New Bridge

The new bridge enhances pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular safety and provides a safer crossing over the river.

On Thursday, June 5, 2021, the County held an event to commemorate the successful completion of the Santa Fe Avenue Bridge Project. Stanislaus County staff, along with dignitaries and valued partners, recognized the accomplishment with an official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Construction of the replacement bridge began in 2017, and cost $20 million to complete ($2 million for design & right-of-way and $18 million for construction). Federal funding paid 88% of the total project cost with 12% covered by local funds.

The new bridge enhances pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular safety and provides a safer crossing over the river and includes the following improvements:

Two 12-foot-wide through traffic lanes in each direction
A 12-foot-wide center median lane to accommodate safe turning movements to/from existing driveways at both ends of the bridge
Eight-foot-wide shoulders

Originally built in 1947, the bridge is major north/south arterial road approximately one mile south of State Route 132 serving roughly 10,000 vehicles per day. The old bridge in this location was determined to be seismically deficient. In service of the public, Stanislaus County assesses the infrastructure needs of the community on a continuous basis and strives to support the Board of Supervisors' priority around Efficient Public Services and Community Infrastructure.

County Reflects on Pandemic Response

First detected in the U.S. in January 2020, COVID-19 quickly spread across the nation. In early March 2020, COVID-19 was declared a national emergency and Stanislaus County began to feel the impacts of the virus on our community. Here is an overview of our local response.

The early months of 2020 included rapidly changing information from both federal and state government agencies. Stanislaus County Leadership worked diligently to understand this virus, broadly believed to pose a grave threat to human lives around the world. However, not much else was known other than its origin and the potential devastation it could cause. By early March, the Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services had activated the Emergency Operations Center and established an Incident Command structure. Shortly thereafter, Stanislaus County saw its first two COVID-19 cases on March 11, 2020 and the County Public Health Officer declared a local health emergency on the same day in order to protect our residents.

As cases continued to mount, the Governor of California proclaimed a State of Emergency on March 19, 2020 and issued a statewide Stay at Home Order. This action supported the County of Stanislaus and other jurisdictions to take extreme mitigation measures toward preventing the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Many businesses closed or modified their operations to maintain the safety of the public and employees. Students were sent home to continue their education via distance learning. Across the community and the nation, people struggled to prepare for what was to come and guard against the negative impacts of COVID-19.

Despite Stanislaus County's initial measures to prepare for and prevent the spread of the virus, COVID-19 cases continued to increase across the state and locally throughout the duration of the incident period. While the pandemic response efforts are ongoing, the County's strategy and the lessons learned offer an opportunity to enhance future preparedness efforts which will serve as a local standard, and act as a best-practice response model going forward.

The COVID-19 pandemic in Stanislaus County has been exceptional in its scale, and the County's response has been all consuming. The unprecedented nature of the pandemic meant the County was challenged to design and implement new approaches to thwart the spread of the disease and protect our community without the benefit of prior experience or use of traditional pandemic response plans. The County's response focused our best resources and our most concentrated efforts on protecting residents through a multifaceted approach which included a reliance on local partnerships, active engagement with the community through public information channels and innovative mitigation strategies tested for the first time.

Stanislaus County recorded its first death on April 10, 2020. Since that day over 1,000 Stanislaus County residents have perished as a result of COVID-19 and over 53,000 residents have tested positive.

Stanislaus County's emergency operations team has worked diligently to balance the health and safety of the community with the need for people to work and for local businesses to remain viable. Throughout the past year, the County has worked tirelessly adapting to changes in incident priorities, state public health restrictions, local response needs and mitigation strategies to detect and control the spread of the virus in the community.

This report details the most significant impacts of COVID-19 and the County's response to the public health pandemic in Year One. Click here for report.

Supervisor Condit Hosts Mobile Office Hours

Stanislaus County Supervisor, Buck Condit, will hold a mobile office events to provide an opportunity to meet with constituents in their own community.

Stanislaus County Supervisor, Buck Condit, will hold a mobile office event in Riverbank during the month of June. Mobile office hours will provide an opportunity for the Supervisor to meet with constituents in their own community. “Being accessible and responsive is the cornerstone to local government,” said Supervisor Buck Condit.

Condit was sworn into the Board of Supervisors in January of this year and represents Stanislaus County District 1. He is a proponent of building a better quality of life throughout the County and shares that, “While we face many challenges, I am optimistic about our future in Stanislaus County. Our first goal must be to defeat the COVID-19 virus and ensure our local economy rebounds strong enough to overcome the long-term impact of being shut down.”

Supervisor Condit encourages residents to visit during mobile hours in Riverbank on Thursday, June 10th from 1:00 to 3:00pm at Pizza Plus located at 3327 Santa Fe Street. Supervisor Condit also plans to hold similar mobile office events in Oakdale, Waterford and the communities of Knights Ferry, Valley Home and Empire. Dates and locations will be announced via social media.

County Hosts Summit on Homelessness

On Saturday, May 22, a virtual meeting will be held present the feedback collected since January. It will be used to develop shared goals and community strategies regarding homelessness.

Since January, community feedback has been collected to develop a regional homeless strategic plan for Stanislaus County. Interviews, focus groups, and surveys have been conducted across a variety of sectors and locations. All the feedback gathered will be presented to the public at a Community Summit and will be used to develop shared goals and strategies to serve the entire community moving forward. The Community Summit is open to anyone in Stanislaus County and will be held virtually on Saturday, May 22 from 10AM to 12PM. Individuals who would like to attend online meeting can register at https://homebaseccc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwpc-CvqjsvGtFZ2WWDFzuUfA-emcUWCaTv

The survey will be live through May 4th. Stanislaus County's Community Services Agency has sought residents' help through participation in a short survey on homeless needs & services. Feedback gathered will be used to develop a regional homeless strategic plan. The survey will remain accessible only until May 4th and can be found here: http://surveymonkey.com/r/stanislaus-community-survey>

Any questions or concerns about this project can be directed to stanislaushomelessplan@homebaseccc.org

Help Name Our App!

Stanislaus County needs the community’s help choosing the best name for the new Stanislaus County government outreach mobile app, available soon in app stores.

Stanislaus County is asking the community to help choose the name for our new Stanislaus County government outreach mobile app. Stanislaus County has used the GoGov Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Application platform since 2006.

The app allows residents to submit service requests, ask questions and report issues that need to be addressed in the county. The development team is preparing a new and improved mobile app that facilitates easier interaction between residents and the County.

App benefits include a frequently asked questions page for residents to search and locate information, an easy to find Stanislaus County custom app available in the iPhone App Store and Google Play Store, and a simple to use platform that enables Stanislaus County residents to seek assistance with a variety of topics that pertain to the services offered by the County.

Help us by voting for a name for our new app! Just select one of the three options provide and click "Submit!”

Libraries Now Open for Book Checkout

Stanislaus County Libraries are open for browsing and checkout of materials with limited capacity. Masks and social distancing are required.

Most Stanislaus County Libraries are open for browsing and checkout of materials. Capacities are limited, in keeping with the State of California's current guidance for opening. Masks and social distancing are required. In order to maintain capacity limits, libraries are not equipped for group or extended visits at this time.

"We are so happy to welcome the public back into our buildings," said Sarah Dentan, Stanislaus County Library Director. "And we are looking forward to expanding in person offerings as we are able." Computers are available for use and free WiFi is available at all open locations, with WiFi access extended to the parking lot at the Modesto Library.

Libraries in Modesto and Salida are again accepting passport applications by appointment. To reserve a time, please visit www.stanislauslibrary.org/about_passports.shtm

Libraries in Denair and Keyes continue to offer no-contact pick-up of materials only. The Turlock Library remains closed for expansion and renovation

For a complete list of locations and hours, visit www.stanislauslibrary.org/about_hours.shtm

Library programs such as Story Time and book discussions will continue to be offered in a virtual format at this time

For more information, please see the library website, www.stanislauslibrary.org or call your library branch.

Board Appoints Ag Commissioner

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors appointed Kamaljit K. Bagri to the position of County Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures. The role of Agricultural Commissioner is critically important to our region.

On March 16, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors appointed Kamaljit K. Bagri to the position of County Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures for a four-year term. Milton O'Haire, the County's current Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures, will retire from County service this month. Food and Agriculture Code regulations require the Board of Supervisors to appoint new Commissioners serving in the capacity of the Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures. The California Department of Food and Agriculture provides a Board of Supervisors with a list of persons who are licensed and eligible for the position. Kamal Bagri was identified as the top candidate through a recent selection process and will serve as the first female agricultural commissioner Stanislaus County has appointed. Bagri will begin employment with Stanislaus County on March 29, 2021.

Currently serving as the San Joaquin County Assistant Agricultural Commissioner, Ms. Bagri holds more than 20 years of experience in this field, including prior work in Stanislaus County and Merced County (where she began her career in 1999 as a seasonal trapper, later promoting to Biologist in 2001). In March 2015 she began as San Joaquin County's Assistant Ag Commissioner. She is a graduate of Guru Nanak Dev University where she received dual bachelor's degrees in education and science.

The role of Agricultural Commissioner is critically important to our region. California is the only U.S. state with an Agricultural Commissioner system overseeing agriculture related regulatory processes. Stanislaus County has a $3.5 billion annual crop value. The Agricultural Commissioner serves the local industry in a myriad of ways; pest detection and abatements, permitting, inspections, export services and employee safety to name a few. As Sealers of Weights & Measures, the oversight assures equity in the marketplace.

Bagri looks forward to serving the Stanislaus region. "As the Ag Commissioner of a county which ranks 5th in agricultural sales throughout California," she said, "I will strive to guide the County in supporting the ag industry locally." The Stanislaus County Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures oversees a staff of forty and an annual budget of approximately $5.7 million.

State of the County Address

Delivered by Chairman of the Board, Vito Chiesa: March 2, 2021

On March 2, 2021, Chairman of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, Vito Chiesa, delivered a State of the County address during the regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors meeting. Under a theme of resiliency, Supervisor Chiesa shared “the story of our community,” touching on a variety of County challenges and accomplishments over the past year. The presentation highlighted many incredible achievements made throughout a year navigating the COVID-19 public health crisis and commended the county for leading through a pandemic.

Supervisor Chiesa inspired residents to grasp onto hope for a better future, see the remarkable in every day moments, and recognize how extraordinary things can come from ordinary people in the most challenging times.

A video and transcript are available in English and Spanish below.

State of the County Address

English: Video | Transcript
Spanish: Video | Transcript

County Seeks Members for Redistricting

The County is looking to establish an Ad Hoc Citizen Advisory Redistricting Commission to ensure that each County district is equal in population and communities are properly grouped together for Board elections.

The U.S. Census Bureau is required to conduct an accurate count of the population every 10 years. This data is used to determine how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives and in redistricting of state legislatures, county boards of supervisors, and city councils. In 2020, the Bureau conducted the decennial census, extending the deadline for responses through October 15, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upon completion of the Census, Stanislaus County's self-response rate (those residents who responded without contact from the Bureau) was estimated to be 71.1% of residents. The Bureau had anticipated to report final U.S. populations data on or before December 31, 2020, but now anticipates an unknown date in early 2021; the County is expected to receive final data no later than July 31, 2021.

Redistricting is the process by which Supervisorial District boundaries are drawn every 10 years to ensure each district has the same number of people. Pursuant to Elections Code, following each federal decennial census, and using the census as a basis, the board shall adjust the boundaries of any or all of the supervisorial districts of the county so that the supervisorial districts shall be substantially equal in population as required by the United States Constitution. The new boundaries of the Supervisorial Districts will be adopted by the Board this summer.

The County is looking to establish an Ad Hoc Citizen Advisory Redistricting Commission to make recommendations regarding the new district map. This commission will assist the County to ensure that each County district is equal in population so that neighborhoods and communities are properly grouped together for purposes of electing a Board member. To qualify you must:

Be a County Resident
Be a registered voter
Not be an elected official or family member, staff member, or paid campaign staff of an elected official of Stanislaus

For more information please review the County's Redistricting website at https://www.stancounty.com/redistricting/. The deadline to apply is March 12.

Emergency Rental Assistance Program

A new local Emergency Rental Assistance Program will help households unable to pay rental and utility arrears accrued due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stanislaus County, the City of Modesto, and the Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority have partnered to implement a local Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) supported by funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the State of California. The ERAP will assist households unable to pay rental and utility arrears accrued due to the COVID-19 pandemic between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021.

On December 21, 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and $25 billion was allocated to the U.S. Treasury for an ERAP to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities. Funds were provided directly to States, U.S. Territories, local governments, and Indian tribes. The U.S. Treasury issued approximately $1.1 billion to California jurisdictions with a population of 200,000 or more and an additional $1.5 billion to the State of California.

Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto received a combined amount of approximately $16.4 million from the federal government for distribution to those who are eligible and can demonstrate a need and anticipate receiving a combined total of approximately $19.5 million from the State of California. In total, approximately $35.9 million will be made available to Eligible Households communitywide. The ERAP funding is restricted to Stanislaus County residents.

ERAP defines an Eligible Household is defined as a renter household in which at least one or more individuals meets the following criteria:

Has a household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), which is the unadjusted median income levels derived from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on an annual basis for each jurisdiction adjusted solely for household size:
Qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19
Demonstrates a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability
*FY2020 Income Limit Categores

During the first 60 days, funding will be focused on Eligible Households at or below 50% of Area Median Income (*AMI), or those households who have been unemployed the 90 days prior to application. After the first 60 days, resources will be focused on Eligible Households at or below 80% of AMI. Phase 1 of the ERAP will provide payment of 100% of rental and utility arrears owed by an Eligible Household. Once the $16.4 million in funds received directly from the federal government has been exhausted, Phase 2, the 19.5 million in State Funding, will be implemented and provide payment of 80% of rental and utility arrears owed by an Eligible Household.

The ERAP will be facilitated locally through a collaborative effort among Stanislaus County, the City of Modesto, the Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority, United Way of Stanislaus County and four local credit unions: Self-Help Credit Union, Modesto First Federal Credit Union, Organized Labor Credit Union and Rolling F Credit Union. United Way's 2-1-1 call center will assist the public in answering questions about the program and how to apply. Credit Unions and mobile outreach teams will serve as community intake locations and offer additional assistance to households and will assist with entry of information into the online portal, if needed.

For program information or to apply, please visit: www.stanrentassist.com or call 1-877-211-7826 or call 2-1-1 and ask about the Stanislaus County Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Every Child Matters

Every Child Matters, a virtual event in partnership with Love All Our Kids, will be held on February 27, 2021.

You can make a difference in the life of a foster child in Stanislaus County. Become a resource parent. To learn more, please join Every Child Matters, a virtual event on February 27, 2021 from 9 am to 11 am.

The event will feature a panel of former foster youth sharing their foster care experiences and stories of inspiration. Resource parents (formerly referred to as foster parents) are individuals, couples, or families who act as caregivers providing out-of-home care for children in foster care.

To learn more about the annual Every Child Matters event and how you can become a resource parent, please register by going to LoveAllOurKids.com/every-child-matters

In partnership with the Stanislaus County Community Services Agency, the event is sponsored by Love All Our Kids, a community organization that helps find resource parents for foster youth.

Property Tax Postponement Program Deadline Feb. 10

The California Property Tax Postponement Program allows eligible homeowners to postpone payment of taxes on a primary residence. The deadline to apply for the state program is February 10, 2021.

The California Property Tax Postponement Program allows eligible homeowners to postpone payment of taxes on a primary residence if the taxpayer meets certain criteria. The deadline to apply for the state program is February 10, 2021.

The County Treasurer-Tax Collector's Property Tax Division can provide basic information and point taxpayers to information.

Property tax exemptions (for County residents) are managed through the Stanislaus County Assessor's Office. The exemption forms are located at: https://www.stancounty.com/assessor/Exemptions.shtm?id=exforms . Taxpayers should review the forms to see which, if any, apply to their situation. Taxpayers may contact the Assessor's office at (209) 525-6461, with questions about any of these forms.

Property Tax Postponement (PTP) is a State of California program managed through the State Controller's office. This program pays the property tax owed while the senior owner still resides in it and collects from the proceeds when the property is eventually sold.

To be eligible for PTP, the homeowner must:

Be at least age 62, or blind, or have a disability
Own and occupy the home as your primary place of residence
Have a total household income of $45,000 or less
Have at least 40 percent equity in the property
Meet any other requirements

Repayment under the PTP Program becomes due when the homeowner:

Moves or sells the property
Transfers title
Defaults on a senior lien
Refinances
Dies
Obtains a reverse mortgage

Taxpayers can find additional program information online at https://sco.ca.gov/ardtax_prop_tax_postponement.html or by contacting the State Controller's Office at (800) 952-5661.

Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto are pleased to announce that soon funding will be available to households in need through Emergency Rental Assistance.

Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto are pleased to announce that soon funding will be made available through an Emergency Rental Assistance program supported by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The Emergency Rental Assistance program makes available $25 billion to assist households unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are provided directly to States, U.S. Territories, local governments, and Indian tribes. Government agencies must use these funds to provide assistance to eligible households through rental assistance programs.

Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto will be receiving a combined amount of roughly $16,400,000 for distribution to those who are eligible and can demonstrate a need. The Emergency Rental Assistance program will be facilitated locally through a collaboration between the City and County to distribute funds to residents in households throughout Stanislaus County.

City Manager Joe Lopez stated, “Too many in our community are scared about the prospect of becoming unsheltered as a result of the pandemic, and we look forward to putting this new funding source directly into the hands of those in need as soon as possible.”

“Countless numbers of Stanislaus residents are hurting right now and fear the unknown,” added Stanislaus County Supervisor Terry Withrow. “The County has been and continues to be committed to doing everything we can to support individuals who are struggling as a result of COVID-19. This program will be a critical tool in our efforts toward helping people get back on their feet.”

A minimum of 90 percent of awarded funds must be used for direct financial assistance, including rent, utilities and home energy costs, as well as other expenses related to housing. Remaining funds are available for housing stability services, including case management and other services intended to keep households stably housed, and administrative costs.

Many of the specifics regarding a timeline of funding availability is unknown at this time. In the next few weeks, the federal government is expected to release detailed guidelines on the use of these funds, at which time information will be released to the community regarding application instructions and eligibility details.

For program information currently available, please see the following link: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares/emergency-rental-assistance-program

$2.4 Million to Local Nonprofits

Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors approved the distribution of $2,400,000 in nonprofit support for local creative arts, culture, and youth-serving organizations.

Considering the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has created for local arts, cultural, and youth-serving organizations, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors granted a total of $2.4 Million in CARES CRF (Coronavirus Relief Funds) to local agencies over the past two months.

On August 25, 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved the Nonprofit Support Grant Program to provide assistance for nonprofit organizations that provide services to youth, or community-centered arts and culture programs. This program was established to award grants, through a competitive process, to non-profit organizations based on the level of impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the respective non-profit organization. On October 27, 2020, the Board approved an additional $400,000 in support to further assist local nonprofits by way of a second round of funding.

The public health requirements for safely operating these sorts of programs present numerous challenges to nonprofit financial models, which have negatively impacted the design, nature and scale of youth and arts/culture programs. Because of the vital role played by these nonprofits in our community, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors wanted to provide support specifically for local nonprofit organizations that were adversely affected this year by COVID-19 and struggling financially.

The intention of this funding is to stabilize and secure the ongoing operation of these nonprofit services that are critical to young people and/or contribute to the vibrancy of Stanislaus County.

The Nonprofit Support Grant program was facilitated with administrative assistance from the Stanislaus Community Foundation. The Community Foundation has been in existence since 2002 and is focused on improving the lives of the residents and the vibrancy of the unique and diverse communities throughout Stanislaus County.

"Stanislaus Community Foundation was pleased to partner with the County and expand support to local nonprofits," said Stanislaus Community Foundation President and CEO, Marian Kaanon. "We believe this funding will bridge the gap and get many of these organizations through to the other side, so that they can continue serving our region when we re-open."

The application evaluation process was administered by Stanislaus Community Foundation but vetted by an independent Selection Committee composed of a cross- section of community representatives who scored the applications and selected award recipients based on the criteria approved by the County.

A total of 61 nonprofits were awarded grant support.

38th District Agricultural Association*		$160,000
Able Works		$20,000
Assyrian American Association of Modesto		$40,000
Bel Passi Baseball, Inc.		$67,500
Boys & Girls clubs of Stanislaus County		$45,000
Boys Scouts of America Greater Yosemite Council		$7,500
Center for Human Services		$32,000
Central California Art League Inc.		$25,000
Central Valley 49ers Youth Football and Cheer Association		$20,000
Central West Ballet		$50,000
Children's Crisis Center of Stanislaus County Inc		$20,000
City Ministry Networkl		$20,000
Civil Air Patrol		$1,500
Community Hospice Inc.		$45,000
Creative Alternatives Inc.		$32,250
Cricket's Hope, Inc.		$49,000
Del Rio CC Foundation (First Tee of Central Valley)		$25,000
EMC Health, Inc. / Jessica's House		$7,500
Enrich and Employ Inc		$23,250
Friends of Oakdale Heritage*		$15,000
Friends of the Stanislaus County Fair Foundation A California		$7,500
Gallo Center for the Arts, Inc.		$432,000
Holy Apostolic Assyrian Church of the East Diocese of California		$50,000
International Festival Committee		$2,500
International Rescue Committee, Turlock		$17,000
Invest in Me/Social Environmental Entrepreneurs		$35,000
LearningQuest -- Stanislaus Literacy Centers		$13,000
LightBox Theatre Company		$25,000
Mi Familia Vota Education Fund		$10,000
Modesto Band of Stanislaus County		$42,000
Modesto Magic Basketball Assn		$25,000
Modesto Soccer Foundation Inc.		$9,500
Modesto Sound		$10,000
Modesto Symphony Orchestra Association		$49,000
Modesto Youth Soccer Association, Inc.		$75,000
Modesto Youth Theatre dba Modesto Performing Arts		$7,000
Opera Modesto, Inc.		$87,000
Peer Recovery Art Projec		$25,000
Prospect Theater Project		$39,000
She Became, Inc		$13,500
Society for disABILITIES		$45,000
Sonshine Bible Clubs, Inc. DBA Westside Ministries		$70,000
Special Olympics Northern California, Inc.		$8,000
Stanislaus Asian American Community Resource (SAACR)		$6,000
Stanislaus Chinese Association		$3,200
Stanislaus Family Justice Center Foundation		$38,000
Stanislaus Partners In Education		$26,000
The Carnegie Arts Center Foundation, Turlock		$45,000
The Juline Foundation for Children		$55,000
The Salvation Army, Modesto Red Shield		$49,000
The Shire Community Space		$10,000
The Stanislaus County Police Activities League		$7,500
The State Theatre of Modesto		$96,000
The Women's Auxiliary "A Modesto Community Connection"		$1,000
Turlock Community Theatre, Inc		$120,000
Turlock Police Chaplaincy Inc		$5,000
Turlock Youth Performing Arts Production Company		$10,000
Valley Recovery Resources		$50,000
West Side Theatre Foundation		$10,000
Young Life		$11,250
Youth for Christ Central Valley		$47,000

Total		$2,400,000

County Facilities Remain Open

County facilities and public lobbies will remain open in order to provide essential government services. However the public is encouraged to view department information online for access hours, sites, and modifications.

Stanislaus County has taken steps to implement measures at all County offices, consistent with State of California guidance, in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19. County facilities and public lobbies will remain open in order to provide essential government services.

While receiving essential government services at County offices, the public is encouraged to view department information online for access hours, sites, and modifications. Many public services are available by phone, online, or via email, allowing residents the option to limit visitation to public facilities.

Social distancing measures must be adhered to at all times within County facilities and face coverings are required.

County staff will continue to be available to serve Stanislaus residents during this challenging time until further notice. Additional information and services may be accessed online at www.stancounty.com (county services tab).

Mani Grewal Sworn into Board of Supervisors

In a small ceremony officiated by the Honorable Judge Sonny Sandhu, Manmeet "Mani" Grewal was sworn into the vacant District 4 seat left by Supervisor Tom Berryhill.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors hosted a Swearing-In Ceremony for Manmeet "Mani" Grewal on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. The Oath of Office was administered in the Chambers located in the Basement of the City-County Administration Building at 1010 10th Street, Modesto, CA. The Honorable Judge Sonny Sandhu officiated the ceremony.

Governor Newsom appointed Grewal to Supervisor for the 4th District of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors on November 21, 2020 to fill the vacant seat left by Tom Berryhill who passed away peacefully at his home on August 29, 2020. Board of Supervisors Chairwoman, Kristin Olsen, welcomed family and staff. "He is a committed public servant, dedicated to working collaboratively with others to improve the quality for all Stanislaus County residents," said Olsen upon hearing of the appointment. "Mani is also a friend, and I'm so happy we get to serve as Board colleagues as I end my term and he begins his."

"I think the Governor made a very good appointment. I've known Mani for many years, and he understands local government and the importance of business and jobs. I am excited and look forward to working with him," Supervisor Vito Chiesa added. Grewal was born and raised in Modesto. After attending Modesto Junior College, he obtained an Associate Degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He also completed the Management Program at the University of Pacific Eberhardt School of Business. He and his wife, Jas, are raising their four children in Modesto. Grewal has been a member of the Modesto City Council since 2015. He has served as a member of the Modesto Planning Commission, Stanislaus Council of Governments Policy Board, California State University of Stanislaus Foundation Board, the Stanislaus County Interfaith Council, and the Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Community Health Assessment 2020

The Community Health Assessment provides a comprehensive profile of the health and well-being of our community. It lets us know how our community is doing, the strengths we have and the areas where we are challenged.

The 2020 Community Health Assessment is a product of Stanislaus County Health Services Agency - Public Health Division (HSA/PH), and the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) Steering Committee. The Stanislaus County Community Health Assessment (CHA) provides a comprehensive view of the health and well-being of Stanislaus County and answers the questions "How 'healthy' is the population of Stanislaus County? What are we doing well and what can we do better"

The CHA is the result of several years' work by HSA/PH and the MAPP Steering Committee. Starting in 2018, HSA/PH convened representatives from private and public agencies, local hospitals, health plans and community-based partners, to form the MAPP Steering Committee. The role of the MAPP Steering Committee included oversight of the process and development of the needs assessment to evaluate the status of health and health-related topics in Stanislaus County. The work began with the development of a shared community vision, "A thriving community where all people have the opportunity to be safe and healthy." This vision was developed by the MAPP Steering Committee to provide an overarching framework for the Assessment, but more importantly to make a collective statement of what an ideal future looks like for Stanislaus County.

Compiled in 2019 from data available at the time, the Assessment provides insight into a variety of topics, that can be used by anyone within the community that has an interest in the health and well-being of all who live in Stanislaus County. The CHA explores the themes of Health, Safety, and Thriving through chapters on Chronic Disease, Infectious Disease, Asthma and Air Quality, Access to Care, Mental Health, Substance Use, Injury Deaths, Violent Crime, Economic Insecurity, Education, Housing and Homelessness, and Transportation. County-wide data is explained with highlights of racial and ethnic, economic, geographic, and age disparities where available. These findings will also be used to inform the upcoming Community Health Improvement Plan, which sets goals and strategies for making a difference in the health of Stanislaus County residents.

The Assessment exemplifies the collective work that occurs within Stanislaus County across multiple agencies, local hospitals, health plans, residents, and other community-based partners. It utilizes secondary data gathered from existing sources including, but not limited to, the U.S. Census, health facilities, law enforcement, public records, state and local government agencies and computerized sources. The assessment pinpoints priority health concerns and calls us all to take action. Click here to see the full report.

If you would like to order a hard copy of this report, click here.

RAD Card Program Goes Countywide

This new COVID-relief program doubles spending dollars for downtown restaurants and retailers. It works in collaboration with the Downtown Modesto Partnership.

With Stanislaus County small businesses reeling from the effects of COVID-related restrictions, Stanislaus County officials are partnering with the Downtown Modesto Partnership for a 'win-win' program that puts more spending dollars in consumer wallets for purchases at downtown restaurants and retailers. The COVID-relief program doubles spending dollars for downtown businesses.

The RAD Card, or, "Relief Across Downtown" Card, is a digital gift card created by the Downtown Modesto Partnership this summer. It was originally focused on aiding downtown Modesto businesses but with the commitment of one million dollars from Stanislaus County CARES Act, the RAD Card program will now expand to downtowns in all cities and unincorporated communities countywide.

When a customer downloads the RAD Card app, their purchase amount of either $25, $50, $75 or $100 is automatically matched, doubling the funds in the customer's RAD Card account. The customer's app is then assigned a unique QR code that can be scanned by participating restaurants, retailers and personal care services when a transaction occurs.

This is a completely contact-free, mobile experience to be used from a smart phone. Providing a contactless process was an important feature when creating this program, due to the sensitivity of consumers during these times.

Josh Bridegroom, President/CEO of the Downtown Modesto Partnership, stated "Downtowns rely on human exchange, pedestrians on sidewalks and a strong sense of place, all things that were impacted by shelter-at-home orders and the metered reopening of the economy."

"The new countywide downtown gift card program will help demonstrate solidarity and further efforts to highlight downtowns as city centers, the only neighborhoods that belong to everyone in the city, no matter where they live," continued Bridegroom, "and given that many consumers pocketbooks have been adversely affected by the economic downturn, a great value has never been more important in enticing downtown patronage."

After County Board of Supervisors learned about the downtown Modesto RAD Card program and how it had sold out in less than three weeks, they voted unanimously to work with Downtown Modesto Partnership to quickly deploy aid through the platform countywide.

"This innovative solution to the economic woes felt in our central cities is an excellent use of CARES Act funds," said Raul Mendez, Assistant Executive Officer and project lead for the County. "We see this as a great opportunity to give county residents the incentive to spend in a way that will help businesses with their bottom line just in time for the holidays," Mendez went on to say.

The Downtown Modesto Partnership is a nonprofit 501c3 Community Benefits Organization whose mission is to create a vibrant community through activities and partnerships designed to improve the quantity and quality of experiences in downtown Modesto.

To visit the RAD Card website, go to www.theradcard.com

County Receives $22M for Shelter, Housing & Services

To get community feedback on how best to spend this funding in Stanislaus County, a special virtual meeting is scheduled for October 21 from 3 to 5 pm.

In the single largest allocation of homeless-related funding ever received in our community, the Stanislaus County Community System of Care (SCOC) has been allocated $22,767,898 to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The importance of these funds is critical in allowing Stanislaus County to serve our community of individuals battling homelessness and to build upon the infrastructure of its continuum which guides those from homelessness to home," stated Jason Conway, Chairperson for the Stanislaus Community System of Care.

The funding comes from the California Department of Housing and Community Development and its Emergency Solutions Grants Program. The source of the funding is the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stimulus (CARES) Act enacted March 27, 2020.

These funds will continue and expand the great work in Stanislaus County of establishing a true pathway for our homeless neighbors to gain independence and security as they move through life," stated Brad Hawn, Chairperson for the Stanislaus Homeless Alliance.

Communities are encouraged to prioritize the advancement of racial equity at all levels of the homeless response system and to ensure all eligible persons receive equitable services, support, and are served with dignity, respect, and compassion regardless of circumstances, ability, or identity.

To get community feedback on how best to spend the funds in Stanislaus County, a special virtual meeting is scheduled for October 21 from 3 to 5 pm. The meeting will be held via ZOOM. Click here for the CSOC agenda website and meeting link instructions.

You can also join the meeting by phone at 1-669-900-3920. The meeting ID is 852 1626 3920. The Password is 102337

County Provides $2M in Nonprofit Grants

The grant program will award a total of $2 million in funding to nonprofit organizations based on the level of pandemic impact to the respective non-profit organization and the fit for funding criteria.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors has approved $2 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund grant awards for nonprofit organizations providing arts, cultural, and/or youth services and programs in Stanislaus County. The intention of this funding is to stabilize and secure the ongoing operation of these nonprofit services that are critical to young people and/or contribute to the vibrancy of Stanislaus County. Many nonprofit local arts, cultural, and youth-serving organizations have been critically impacted by COVID-19, and the resulting inability to operate or fundraise.

"Everyone has felt huge impacts of this public health crisis but many youth-serving and arts nonprofit organizations had to close their doors months ago and have had no way of operating since that time. We want to support as many as we can to make sure they are still around to serve our community when this is all over," said Kristin Olsen, Chairwoman of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors.

A total of 61 applications were received, requesting over $3.2 million. A greater number of applications received were from the youth services category ($1.9 million) versus the community-centered arts and culture category ($1.3 million). The County has awarded a total of $2 million to nonprofit organizations. Funding decisions were based on the level of pandemic impact to the respective non-profit organization and the fit for funding criteria.

A panel of independent evaluators analyzed each application. The grant administration and application evaluation process was administered by Stanislaus Community Foundation. An independent Selection Committee reviewed and scored all applications that were received. The volunteer Selection Committee was composed of a cross-section of community representatives.

For more information on grant awards, see report here: Report

New Stanislaus County Nonprofit Grants

The grant program will award $1 million in funding to nonprofit organizations providing services to youth and $1 million to nonprofits offering community centered arts and culture.

COVID-19 pandemic has created a crisis for local arts, cultural, and youth-serving organizations. The public health requirements for safely operating these programs present numerous challenges to nonprofit financial models and affect the design, nature and scale of youth and arts/culture programs.

Considering these challenges and because of the vital role played by these nonprofits, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors approved $2 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds specifically for county nonprofit organizations providing arts, cultural, and/or youth services and programs. The intention of this funding is to stabilize and secure the ongoing operation of these nonprofit services that are critical to young people and/or contribute to the vibrancy of Stanislaus County.

"It's more important now than ever for us to support the nonprofit youth services and creative arts programs in our community," said Kristin Olsen, Chairwoman of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors. "Everyone has felt huge impacts of this public health crisis but many youth-serving and arts nonprofit organizations had to close their doors nearly six months ago and have had no way of operating since that time. We want to support as many as we can to make sure they are still around to serve our community when this is all over."

The grant program will award $1 million in funding to nonprofit organizations providing services to youth and $1 million to nonprofits offering community centered arts and culture. Awards will be based on the level of impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the respective non-profit organization. The grant application portal opens on Wednesday, September 9 and closes on Friday, September 25.

Stanislaus Community Foundation has been contracted to manage the application process on behalf of the County CEO’s Office. A volunteer Evaluation Committee composed of a cross-section of community representatives will score applications and select award recipients based on the criteria established by the County Board of Supervisors. For more information and to apply for this grant visit: www.StanislausCF.org.

Homelessness in Stanislaus County

Point-in-Time Count information helps service providers, policy makers, funders and local government gain a better understanding of the population currently experiencing homelessness.

A total of 2,107 people including 207 children experienced homelessness in Stanislaus County according to new numbers from a Point-In-Time homeless count (PIT Count) conducted early this year. The count is up by 184 people from last year.

1,990 questionnaires were collected in the annual canvassing, an unduplicated count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in both sheltered and unsheltered populations. It surpasses the count in 2019 which reported 1,923 homeless people. The majority of homeless in this year’s count were found in the cities of Modesto and Turlock.

The survey data is reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and used to help determine the amount of funding available to the community to develop housing and supportive services for people moving from homelessness to independent living. The surveys were conducted on January 24, 2020 to help provide a snapshot of homelessness in a given community.

Point in Time Count volunteers came from the Stanislaus Community System of Care which included local governments, non-profits, and homeless service providers. A total of 310 volunteers fanned out across Stanislaus County visiting emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, parks, and the outdoors where the homeless live. Each volunteer asked survey questions of the homeless and provided comfort kits with toiletries and other items to those who agreed to respond.

The PIT Count is a tally of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single day in January. HUD requires that Continuums of Care conduct an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and Safe Havens on a single night and count the number of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness every other year.

A summary of findings is now available.

County Launches PPE Store

Stanislaus PPE is committed to offering PPE essentials to medical providers in Stanislaus County, at cost, to ensure the health and safety of our community.

Leveraging the County's purchasing power to buy Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in bulk is now a benefit to qualifying medical service providers in the area. As a result of COVID-19 and the high demand for PPE, many suppliers have increased pricing of critical items making it difficult to secure necessary protection. Stanislaus PPE, a new online-only protective equipment store, is committed to offering PPE essentials to medical providers in Stanislaus County, at cost, to ensure the health and safety of our community.

Those in medical industries, from surgery center personnel to lab technicians to veterinary medicine practitioners and dentists will have the option of ordering items like protective gloves, N95 masks, gowns and face shields. Approved inventory will be determined by the providers 30-day burn/usage rate.

PPE shortages have been broadly reported since the start of the COVID-19 public health crisis. Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services has received quantities of PPE from the National Stockpile and worked to procure additional PPE in order to help supply much needed face coverings and personal protective equipment to clinics, hospitals and various organizations in Stanislaus County. The need for these items has grown since the start of the emergency. The County is now offering these items for sale at the cost of procurement to qualified businesses.

Those in need of PPE will be asked to fill out a simple online form which will be reviewed and responded to within 48 hours based on the qualification of business submission and PPE quantities available. Payment for orders must be completed online prior to pick up at one of two.

Modesto locations; the Community Hospice Logistics Center or Stanislaus County Health Services Agency. Only one request per month can be made through the PPE site. Applicants will be asked for a copy of their business license and a business entity number issued by the California Secretary of State.

Stanislaus PPE is made possible through a partnership agreement with Community Hospice. PPE orders will began on August 28, 2020. For more information or to place an order, visit stanislausppe.com.

Canyon Zone Fire Info Line

The Canyon Zone Fire burning thousands of acres west of Patterson has forced evacuations. A public information line has been established.

The Canyon Zone Fire burning thousands of acres west of Patterson has forced resident evacuations. A Public Information line is now available.

The phone line for Canyon Fire information, established by CalFire, makes real-time fire information accessible to the public. Please call 669-247-7431 with questions regarding this fire.

Grant Application Assistance Available

Navigators assist businesses that need additional and individualized support during the application process.

On July 14, the County Board of Supervisors approved the establishment of the Stanislaus County Business Grant, designed to provide financial assistance to county businesses impacted by COVID-19. The infusion of CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds is an investment strategy intended to stabilize the small business economy and secure the ongoing operation of non-profit services critical to community support and economic recovery in Stanislaus County. A total of $10 million in business revitalization and economic development support funding will be distributed to local businesses of all sizes this fall.

Many businesses are suffering the effects of COVID-19 and are in need of financial assistance programs like the Stanislaus County Business Grant. Struggling businesses may not be aware of the Local assistance available to them or may not have received Federal or State funding. During the previous Small Business Relief Grant, the County recognized that some businesses needed additional and individualized support during the application process.

To help provide the needed assistance and ensure broad community outreach, six agencies throughout Stanislaus County were identified to canvas and inform the local business community about the grant program. They are also assisting businesses as they navigate through the online application process with one-on-one support.

City Ministries Network
South Modesto Partnership
Hispanic Chamber
South Modesto United
Opportunity Stanislaus
West Modesto Community Collaboration

The focus of these navigators is specifically to assist the underserved in determining eligibility, obtaining all required documentation, successfully completing and submitting the Stanislaus County Business Grant application. To qualify as a navigator, they attended a two-hour training with Stanislaus County Workforce Development and must have a complete understanding of the Business Grant program as well as the documentation required to apply. During these last weeks the navigators have been proactively marketing the program to businesses and assisting with grant application completion. They are the main point of contact for Workforce Development for any application it assisted with submitting.

Applications for the Business Relief Grants will be accepted through August 28th. Businesses in need of a navigator can find full contact information at www.stanworkforce.com. Businesses can reach out to a navigator directly or receive a referral to one by calling Stanislaus County Workforce Development at 209-558-4473.

$10 Million in Business Grants Available

A total of $10 million in business revitalization and economic development support funding will be distributed to local businesses of all sizes this fall.

On July 14, the County Board of Supervisors approved the establishment of a Business Grant Program designed to provide financial assistance to Stanislaus County businesses impacted by COVID-19. The infusion of CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds is an investment strategy intended to stabilize the small business economy and secure the ongoing operation of non-profit services critical to community support and economic recovery in Stanislaus County. A total of $10 million in business revitalization and economic development support funding will be distributed to local businesses of all sizes this fall, with an additional $4 million directed to nonprofit organizations serving our community. A $1 million dollar touchless gift card program is also under consideration.

The Business Grant Program will begin accepting online applications on Friday, July 31. Funding will be made available to eligible businesses in the form of grants. At least 50% of the funding will be allocated for small businesses that employ up to 50 full-time equivalent employees. The maximum grant funding for a small business is $25,000. Businesses employing greater than 50 full-time equivalent employees are also eligible under this program. The maximum grant funding for medium and large businesses is $50,000 under the guidelines of this relief program.

Eligible businesses will have until August 28th to apply. Applications will be scored based on criteria that includes prior business health, the level of COVID-19 impact to the business, business planning and impact, along with details regarding the intended use of funds. The Board of Supervisors also approved in concept two additional recommendations- the Non-Profit Support and Community Match Fund which are modeled after other local programs (the Resilient Stanislaus Fund and Downtown Modesto Partnership RAD Card). The non-profit support program includes a $4 million infusion of local support funding for three categories-direct service providers, youth services/activities, and community centered arts/culture nonprofit organizations. The Community Match Fund will allocate $1 million to implement a touchless gift card program countywide, allowing consumers to purchase gifts cards in several denominations and matching funds to stimulate the Stanislaus economy and support local restaurants and retailers (including personal care services). The Board of Supervisors will consider details of these programs at a future meeting.

The Business Grant program details and application are available here. Application navigators are available to assist applicants in Spanish as needed. Call 209.558.4473 for additional information.

The Great Census Caravan

Stanislaus County is sponsoring the Great Census Caravan to encourage community members of all statuses and identities to complete the Census.

In alignment with the U.S. Census Bureau and the State of California Complete Count Office’s marketing and outreach campaign, Stanislaus County is sponsoring the Great Census Caravan. The event is designed to raise awareness of the 2020 Census in a visual way. South Modesto residents will see a caravan of vehicles driving throughout the area. South Modesto represents one of the hard-to-reach communities with low Census self-response rates.

This event scheduled for Saturday, August 15^th is intended to encourage community members of all statuses and identities to complete the Census. We are asking caravan participants to decorate their vehicles, inside and out, with creative messages to promote the Census. Stanislaus County and its partners understand the great significance of the Census, but also understand how COVID-19 is affecting the community. Planning efforts have included COVID-19 precautionary requirements during the event to include participants remaining inside their vehicles, ensuring six feet of social distancing, adhering to recommended sanitary procedures, and wearing a mask.

Even in these unprecedented times, we must do our part to have our community counted accurately on the Census. The Census can be completed online (at www.my2020census.gov) or via telephone (see https://2020census.gov/en/contact-us.html for a list of telephone numbers available in several languages). Stanislaus County wins when everyone is counted!

County Distributes 1000s of Masks

The Stanislaus County Agricultural Commissioner's office has worked since May to distribute over 230,000 face coverings to farm workers and ag industry workers in our county.

The Stanislaus County Agricultural Commissioner's office has worked closely with partners in the ag industry since May to distribute over 230,000 face coverings to farm workers and those in the essential food and agriculture industry in our county. Since N95 masks are required for certain applications of pesticides, and personal protective equipment has been difficult to obtain during the COVID-19 pandemic, Milton O'Haire, Stanislaus County's Agricultural Commissioner made a request to the State Department of Pesticide Regulation and the California Department of Food and Agriculture for a distribution of masks, specifically requesting N95 masks. These masks offer a higher level of protection against airborne particles. Based on the potential of respirating chemicals, these are reserved for agricultural workers who apply pesticides.

Roughly 337,000 face coverings have been received by the county since that request. These shipments have included 100,800 N95 masks and 237,000 cloth and disposable masks. Working closely with the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, County Office of Emergency Services, Ag Safe and county staff, deliveries to ag workers began on May 20. Since then, over 230,000 face coverings and nearly 25,000 N95 masks have been delivered to growers, dairy workers, migrant farm workers, food processors, pesticide companies and others keeping our food production operations going strong in our region. Farm workers have received over 50,000 masks.

The Stanislaus County Public Health Division has also distributed over 26,000 cloth face coverings throughout the county to nonprofit organizations, church groups, health care centers, community partners, parent resource centers and school districts. Public Health mask and face covering distribution is critical to the health services effort to fight the spread of illness. Along with the face coverings, public health includes COVID-19 fliers and testing information cards, printed in English and Spanish. Several community partners have been vital to this distribution.

If members of the agricultural community need face coverings or N95 masks they should call the Ag Commissioners office at (209) 525-4732. General questions related to public health and Covid-19 can be directed to the 211 Call Center or (209)558-7535.

100-Day Challenge to Address Homelessness

On December 5th, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a 100-Day Challenge Initiative to address homelessness across California.

In December Governor Gavin Newsom announced a 100-Day Challenge Initiative to address homelessness across California. The Challenge calls on cities and counties to take immediate action in efforts to address homelessness by participating in a 100-Day Challenge cohort.

The Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (HCFC) has brought on the Rapid Results Institute to assist in facilitating these 100-Day Challenges with several cohorts of communities in the upcoming months. With the support of a Results Institute coach, each of these jurisdictions will rapidly assess how things are working, set an ambitious goal regarding the number of individuals they will house in 100 days, identify necessary changes from their current processes and approaches to achieve the goal, and then implement their 100-Day Challenge and lock in the lessons learned to drive lasting change.

Joined by three other communities across California, Stanislaus County is participating in an ambitious effort to accelerate prevention and solutions to end homelessness for individuals in Project Roomkey. The communities comprising the first cohort to launch 100-Day Challenges as a part of this initiative include:

Alameda County
Riverside County
Los Angeles County
Stanislaus County

This first cohort, which launched in May, 2020, during the public health crisis caused by COVID-19, will largely be focused on ensuring that the most vulnerable populations sheltered during this time will exit into permanent housing. Priority will be given to Project Roomkey participants. This first-in-nation initiative to secure hotel and motel rooms for those experiencing homelessness has proven an essential solution to sheltering many unsheltered residents.

Stanislaus County has launched an ambitious 100-Day Challenge goal:

In 100 days, 100 Individuals experiencing homelessness that are 65 and older and/or individuals experiencing homelessness with underlying medical conditions will successfully exit Project Roomkey into safe and stable housing (which can include Permanent Supportive Housing) and landlord engaged units with a focus on veterans, individuals dealing with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorder, and individuals with disabilities.

Individuals, organizations and communities interested in following the 100-Day Challenge progress can follow Stanislaus Partners in Housing on Facebook and search for challenge posts using the hashtag #ChangeIn100Days on social media.

Spanish Webinar - COVID-19 Guidelines for Businesses

This Spanish Webinar offers clarity on the guidelines your business should follow.

This Spanish Webinar offers clarity on the guidelines your business should follow. Information presented includes:

Update on COVID-19 in Stanislaus County
Best business practices to maintain a safe environment
What to do if an employee or customer is sick
Answers to your questions about your business and COVID-19

Find the presentation here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=296378198410011

Este Seminario Web en español ofrece claridad sobre las reglas que su negocio debe seguir. La información presentada incluye:

Actualización sobre COVID-19 en el condado de Stanislaus
Las mejores prácticas comerciales para mantener un ambiente seguro
Qué hacer si un empleado o cliente está enfermo
Respuestas a sus preguntas sobre su negocio y COVID-19
El seminario web cubrirá:

Puedes encontrar la presentación aquí: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=296378198410011

Agency on Aging Releases Area Plan

The community is invited to review the draft plan provided by the Area Agency on Aging for public reading and comments.

The Area Agency on Aging division of the Department of Aging and Veterans Services is required by law to write an Area Plan detailing how the taxpayer money will be spent for the next four years. The Older Americans Act provides funds for a variety of programs to assist older adults, caregivers and persons with disabilities continue to live and thrive in every community. The funds are used to provide meals, housekeeping services, disease prevention, legal assistance, respite for caregivers, information, assistance with Medicare, advocacy for older adults in care facilities, and elder abuse prevention.

The Area Plan outlines unique aspects of Stanislaus County, the Area Agency on Aging, and the needs of the older population of the County. Included are the ways that the Area Agency on Aging proposes to meet the needs through collaboration with other County agencies and local companies.

Under normal circumstances the Plan would be outlined at a Public Hearing. In place of a Public Hearing, the staff of the Area Agency on Aging has provided the draft of the Area Plan for public reading and comments. Review the the complete area plan here.

Please contact Linda Lowe with questions and comments, 209-525-4612 or lowel@stancounty.com, no later than Friday, June 19, 2020.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Every year an estimated 5 million, or 1 in 10 older Americans, experience elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Every year an estimated 5 million, or 1 in 10 older Americans, experience elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. In FY 2018-19, California Adult Protective Services agencies received 205,000 referrals, an increase of 68% over the previous 5 years. And in Stanislaus County, almost 2,100 referrals of abuse were reported.

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a time to advocate for elder abuse prevention and intervention. Caring about elder abuse is caring about justice for all. Seniors can become victims of financial scams, neglect, and physical and emotional abuse. They may also be unable to advocate for themselves but have the right to protection under the law, deserving of respect, attention, and compassion.

How can you prevent elder abuse in Stanislaus County? Would you be able to recognize the warning signs of abuse? To find out more and how you can report and prevent elder abuse, please contact Community Services Agency Adult Protective Services at 209-558-2637. You can also visit CSA Stanislaus Adult Services.

New Community Report by Focus on Prevention

The Youth and Family Well-Being Spotlight provides an actionable picture of the health and well-being of youth and families in Stanislaus County.

Beginning in 2018, Stanislaus County began working to assess the health and well-being of local youth and families. With direction from the County, Focus on Prevention partnered with Applied Survey Research to obtain critical community data through direct correspondence with individuals living in the County. In 2019, 400 surveys were completed by residents to gauge the relative priority of various health needs. The County has just made public these findings and indicators.

The Youth and Family Well-Being Spotlight is now complete and located online.

The spotlight provides an actionable picture of the health and well-being of youth and families in Stanislaus County using measurable indicators such as physical and behavioral health, safety, education and economic health. Using this report, Focus on Prevention and their multi-sector partners will be able to better understand and respond in a coordinated manner to the needs of youth and families in Stanislaus County with specific efforts toward prevention.

Focus on Prevention is a county-wide initiative that aims to improve the quality of life for all Stanislaus County residents and families through coordinated prevention efforts that work across multiple sectors to promote health and wellbeing. The organizational mission is to support and align local leaders in long-term movements across sectors and systems so that all residents will experience well-being.

Tenth Street Place to Reopen

City and County Tenth Street Place offices are now open for business that cannot be conducted remotely.

Tenth Street Place offices will reopen to the public on Monday, May 18 for business that cannot be conducted online, or by phone. Many reception desk services will resume during regular business hours for public assistance.

As we continue to operate amid the COVID-19 virus, the health and well-being of our customers and employees is our number one priority. When coming to Tenth Street Place, the public is asked to adhere to the CDC guidelines for proper distancing and hygiene, and stay home if they are experiencing any flu-like symptoms. Visitors are encouraged to wear a face covering at all times and keep six feet of distance from others when in the facility. A limited supply of face coverings will be available to visitors that do not have them.

Based on social distancing standards, building security may limit the number of visitors allowed at any one time. Security staff will be available to answer questions related to allowable numbers within departments.

Customers are encouraged to continue using online services, reaching departments by phone, mail or email and using drop box payment options when possible. Most services are accessible remotely or open by appointment. Please check the department website or call ahead to determine whether or not the services you are looking for are available for in person visits, by appointment or only remotely.

In accordance with the ongoing order related to mass gatherings, Board of Supervisor meetings will continue to be held online and by telephone through June. Additional information can be found at stancounty.com.

For questions or to schedule appointments, staff are available to assist the public by phone:

Assessor: 525-6461
Auditor-Controller: 525-6398
Board of Supervisors: 525-4494
Chief Executive Office: 525-6333
- OES - Fire Prevention Bureau: 552-3700
County Counsel: 525-6376
General Services Agency: 525-6319
LAFCO (lafco@stancounty.com): 525-7660
Planning and Community Development
- Building Permit Services: 525-6557
- Planning/Community Development Services: 525-6330
Public Works
- Tenth Street Place: 525-4311
- START (Transit): 800-262-1516
Security and Deliveries: 524-4360
Treasurer-Tax Collector
- Property Taxes: 525-6388
- Revenue Recovery: 525-4450
- Treasury: 525-6524
10th Street Place Facility: 342-4701

Coronavirus Prevention Plan- 10th Street Place

Give or Get Help via Online Platform

Through a simple registration process on loveourneighbors.com, community members can click to either give or get help.

In response to the COVID-19 health crisis, the founders of Love Modesto have developed an online platform designed to connect people to services that can help. This service located at www.loveourneighbors.org aims to fill the gap for some in need during this crisis. Sudden closures and stockpiling of goods have made it difficult for many to get access to food and other things they need.

Love Modesto is working to address the needs of those experiencing distress at this time. “Together we can support our community and assist those most vulnerable, such as the elderly and ill,” said Jeff Pishney of Love Modesto. “So far we have a lot more people volunteering to offer help than people who have registered with a need. We just want to get the word out that this service is here.”

While seniors and those with underlying health conditions are sheltering in place across the state, there are people who want to lend a hand. Through a simple registration process on loveourneighbors.com, community members click to either give or get help and then fill out a webform with more specifics. Individuals are then paired with someone who either needs the type of help or wants to provide the type of help as their match.

Volunteers are being encouraged to practice social distancing and help from afar as much as possible.

Census 2020

Watch for Census forms to arrive in mailboxes soon for the April 1 Census count. The Central Valley stands to lose up to $2 billion dollars in Federal and State funding if the reported numbers are incorrect.

The U.S Constitution mandates that a census of the population be counted once every 10 years for the purposes of reapportioning Congress. Census data is also used to determine how more than $675 billion in federal funds are distributed back to states and local communities every year for services and infrastructure, including healthcare, housing and affordable housing, jobs, schools, roads and businesses. The Central Valley stands to lose up to $2 billion dollars in Federal and State funding if the Census numbers are misrepresented for our region. By working collaboratively across the community, we can shape the future of our cities to ensure an accurate count, strong political representation and equitable funding.

This month invitations will arrive in the mail. Every household will have the option of responding online, by mail, or by phone. Census participation is critical. Approximately $2,000 per person per year for federal programs is at stake. These programs provide nutritional services, housing assistance, health care and education. If we do not accurately count our population, we will not receive the accurate amount of funding to serve our community.

The 2020 Census is an opportunity for every Californian to shape our future. Your Census responses are safe and secure. Information collected as part of the 2020 Census cannot be shared with or by other governmental agencies or used against you in any way. Please click here for more information.

State of the County Address Postponed

Chairwoman Kristin Olsen has postponed the State of the County Address originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors meeting.

Stanislaus County, CA - Out of respect for the public health crisis facing our community with the spread of COVID-19, the guidance encouraging social distancing and other public health directives, Chairwoman Kristin Olsen has postponed the State of the County Address originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors meeting.

"I am grateful for the efforts of our leaders, including our local Public Health Officer and her team, who are working hard to protect the community we serve. I look forward to delivering my State of the County Address in the coming weeks, at a date to be announced later" said Kristin Olsen, Chairwoman of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors.

Earlier today, the President of the United States declared a National Emergency, which follows California Governor Newsom's declaration earlier this week.

$225k PETCO Grant Awarded to Animal Services

The Stanislaus Animal Services Agency recently received a significant grant from the PETCO Foundation that will support a new life-saving project to save young cats.

Animal Services will focus on continuing to promote life-saving efforts in our community. This gift will help share the message with residents that we have the ability overcome challenges of living in an agricultural community where many animals reproduce rapidly and are then abandoned. We can do that with aggressive life-saving efforts and ongoing education. The shelter's live release rate for cats was 9% nine years ago. These rates are now at 71% and still efforts are being aimed at better outcomes. With a grant from the Petco Foundation the shelter will work to increase the overall live release rate for cats.

The intent of this grant application to PETCO Foundation is to create a new life-saving project at Stanislaus Animal Services Agency which includes a foster program for kittens. This foster pre wean project will assist in achieving the highest live release rate ever for cats, and further encourage life-saving efforts in our community. “This truly is an amazing life-changing and life-saving project,” said Animal Services Director Annette Patton. The shelter currently holds a 90% live release rate for dogs and 71% for cats for the Fiscal Year ending 2018/2019. However, there are nearly 2,000 pre weaned kittens euthanized annually. This is the largest obstacle blocking the path of the Agency's journey to increase life-saving efforts for cats.

The Agency is thankful for the support of the PETCO Foundation and looks forward to putting the much needed funding to work in saving lives of local animals.

County Calls for Senior Award Nominations

Each year, Stanislaus County honors five outstanding senior citizens who have been nominated by the community for their volunteer work in the areas of Community Service, Humanitarianism, Leadership, Political Advocacy, or good Neighborliness.

In 1963, President John Kennedy designated the month of May as ‘Senior Citizens Month'. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter renamed it ‘Older Americans Month'. Every President since John Kennedy has issued a formal proclamation for the month of May, asking the entire nation to pay tribute in some way to older persons in their community.

One of the ways our County pays tribute to ‘Older Americans Month' is to recognize local older Americans for the contributions they make to our families, communities, and society. Stanislaus County honors five outstanding senior citizens who have been nominated by the community at large for their volunteer work in the areas of Community Service, Humanitarianism, Leadership, Political Advocacy, or good Neighborliness.

The Stanislaus County Area Agency on Aging and the Commission on Aging, I invite local agencies and individuals to help honor these local senior citizens who have given themselves in an unselfish manner through their volunteer service. We are asking for nominations of senior(s) who fall into this category. These five Senior Award Winners, one from each Supervisorial District, will be recognized by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors at one of their regular business meetings in May 2020.

Please complete the 2020 Senior Award Nomination form. Persons of any age may nominate a senior citizen, who must be age 60 years or older and a resident of Stanislaus County, to be honored for their outstanding volunteer work. The deadline for the Nomination Form to be returned is March 6, 2020. Feel free to make copies of the nomination form. If you have any questions, please contact: Tiffany Walter-Leijten at moc.ytnuocnats@tnetjiel or 209-558-7825.

Photo by
Nathan Anderson

Local Kids Need Foster Parents

The statistics are staggering. In California, there are more than 60,000 foster children in need of a home. And in Stanislaus County, more than 800 children are in and out of foster care every year.

But you can help make a difference in the life of a child. To find out more and how to become a foster parent, a Love All Our Kids special event is planned on February 22 from 9 am to 11 am at 820 H. Street in Modesto.

In partnership with the Stanislaus County Community Services Agency (CSA), Love All Our Kids works with local organizations to find safe and living homes for children in need.

“Recruiting resource families is an important mission for us,” stated Christine Huber, CSA Assistant Director of Adult, Child, and Family Services. “We have children that need temporary or permanent homes and need the community's help.”

The “Every Child Matters” event is scheduled for February 22, 2020, from 9 - 11 am at 820 H. Street in Modesto. Limited free childcare will be provided. To register, please go to lovemodesto.

Get Married at the Mansion

"Marriage at the Mansion" offers each couple a romantic setting at the beautifully restored historic McHenry Mansion.

Stanislaus County Clerk - Commissioner of Civil Marriages, Donna Linder invites engaged couples to be married on Valentine's Day at the McHenry Mansion in Modesto. "Marriage at the Mansion" offers each couple a romantic setting at the beautifully restored historic McHenry Mansion.

Civil Ceremonies will be offered in English & Spanish on February 14th by appointment between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Marriage licenses must be purchased and appointments made in advance at the County Clerk's Office located at 1021 "I" Street, Modesto. The cost of the license and ceremony is $121 or $126 for confidential marriage licenses.

"Couples planning to tie the knot in 2020 should reserve their Valentine's Day wedding early for this romantic venue," stated Linder. "The non-religious civil ceremonies will be conducted in English or Spanish. Guests are limited to 15 for each wedding and children must be age 12 or older to attend."

For more information contact the County Clerk Office at 209-525-5250 or call 209-525-5230 for assistance in Spanish

Supervisor Withrow & Sheriff Dirkse Host Community Forum

Supervisor Withrow invites you to participate in a Truth Act Community Forum.

Supervisor Terry Withrow invites you to participate in a Truth Act Community Forum, an open discussion with Sheriff Dirkse.

“One of the most important tasks we take on as Supervisors is making time to meet with constituents,” said Supervisor Terry Withrow. “I always look forward to opportunities to discuss with my neighbors, their priorities as well as making sure they're well informed with the facts.”

Both Supervisor Withrow and Sheriff Jeff Dirkse will speak at the event and engage the audience members who have questions. Residents will have the opportunity to discuss regional issues and Board priorities as well as public safety concerns in their area. Priority will be placed on discussion around the Truth Act. This is a free public event open to anyone in the community.

“I look forward to meeting with the community and providing the facts about what we do, addressing their concerns and answering questions. These meetings are important,” said Sheriff Dirkse, “and they have been well received by the public.”

The meeting will be held on January 27th from 6 - 7pm at the King-Kennedy Memorial Center, 601 Martin Luther King Dr. in Modesto. No RSVP is required. Anyone with questions should direct them to moc.ytnuocnats@letnemip or 209-525-6560.

Help for Those in Need

2-1-1 connects community members to information about critical health and human services available in the community through an easy to remember telephone number.

2-1-1 Stanislaus County is a comprehensive information and referral service available to anyone in Stanislaus County. The service connects thousands of callers each year with health and human services information and referrals available in our area. 2-1-1 Stanislaus County is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 120 languages through phone interpretation services. The program also provides incident specific information in coordination with local emergency services in times of disaster, including road closures and shelter information.

2-1-1 Stanislaus County is program of United Way of Stanislaus County. The online service found at www.stanislauscounty211.org is easy to navigate and user friendly. If you having difficulty finding resources through this online searchable database, dial 2-1-1 or 1-877-211-7826. A Call Specialist is available to help find and connect callers to resources that may be able to help. 2-1-1 Stanislaus County operates day and night and is a free service.

Kids Invited to Practice Reading to Pups

Children can practice their reading skills by sharing a story with a four-legged friend.

Children are invited to read to a dog at Stan County libraries in Ceres, Salida and Modesto in January through the Read to a Dog program. This program is designed to help children gain confidence in their reading skills by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. On Wednesday, Jan. 8, independent readers up to age 12 are invited to practice their reading skills at the Read to a Dog program at the Ceres Library from 3 to 4:30 p.m., and at the Salida Library in the Story Time room from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

A special Read to a Dog program will be offered at the Modesto Library on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. At this program, three local “doggie” authors will be on hand to share their stories as well. Maricela Rocha, author of “Chikis the Chihuahua,” Major Mitchell, author of “I'm Molly,” and Erynn Lucas, author of “Carson's Story,” will read to the children as they wait for a turn reading to a dog.

Read to a Dog gives children an opportunity to practice reading aloud in a relaxed, non-judgmental atmosphere. Children will take turns reading to a dog for 15 minutes, on a first-come, first-served basis. Volunteer handlers and their dogs, who are members of Therapy Dogs Alliance, contribute their time to make this program possible.

For more information, please contact the Ceres Library at 209-537-8938, the Salida Library at 209-543-7315, or the Modesto Library Children and Teen Services Department at 209-558-7810. Information on regularly occurring programs can be found at Stanislaus Library, under the “Events and Classes” tab.

About the Stanislaus County Library
The Stanislaus County Library engages all members of the community and offers access to information, knowledge, and the tools for innovation and personal development. With 13 locations throughout the county, the Library offers free access to a diverse collection of materials, computers and Wi-Fi, Story Times, programming for all ages, and more. To learn more about the Library's wide array of programs and services, visit Stanislaus Library.

Seeking Volunteers for PIT Count

Properly counting our unsheltered homeless population is critically important to obtaining the state and federal funding needed to provide sufficient services.

Each year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development requires our community to count the number of people experiencing homelessness in our county. Data collected is critical to effective planning and performance management toward the goal of ending homelessness and helps to mobilize various efforts to address the needs of our homeless population. In addition, properly counting our unsheltered homeless population is critically important to obtaining the state funding needed to provide sufficient services.

The county is in need of volunteers to count the unsheltered homeless individuals in our county. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please visit Love Our Neighbors and register for a location that suits you. In order to complete your volunteer registration, you must attend a training seminar as well as indicate the city you would like to volunteer in on January 23rd. Time requirements for the Point in Time Count vary by location. Several training opportunities are available. Volunteers may choose the time and location that works best.

For more information call 209-525-6322 or email moc.ytnuocnats@sucof

Waste Collects Waste

Raising awareness of how we can Reduce, Reuse and Recycle more of our waste can directly benefit all of us by creating a cleaner and safer community.

Last spring, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors allocated $100,000 towards a Community Cleanup pilot program targeted at eradicating illegal dump sites in the alleys and other unincorporated areas of our community. Through this program, County staff worked with community volunteers to organize several community-led cleanups.

These cleanups have been transformative. Since June 2019, more than 60.85 tons of trash has been cleared from alleys. Results have been positive, and residents feel increased sense of civic pride about their neighborhoods and open spaces. This pilot program will continue offering localized cleanup efforts upon request, based on a first-come first-served basis, through June 2020.

Raising awareness of how we can Reduce, Reuse and Recycle more of our waste can directly benefit all of us by creating a cleaner and safer community. Various efforts are pending and underway to curb dumping and inform the public of opportunities to be proactive in keeping our community clean.

Waste collects waste. If you come across trash in your neighborhood, please take action and clean it up promptly in order to prevent blight. Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto are working together to beautify our community and would like to make residents aware of ways to discard or recycle waste materials.

Toxics, Paint, and Oil Disposal

The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility in Modesto is free for Stanislaus County residents and open to the public every Friday and Saturday morning. Toxic materials including E-Waste, medical, yard, automotive, and house/garage waste can be discarded there.

California has established the California Paint Take-Back and Recycling Program to reduce the amount of paint illegally dumped. Large businesses that sell paint to consumers are required to take back and correctly dispose of unused paint. Kelly Moore, and Sherwin Williams are drop off sites within Stanislaus County.

Used Oil can be dropped off at Certified Collection Centers, which include most auto shops in Stanislaus County. Check with an auto shop or oil change business near you to make sure they will receive your oil. Never throw oil or chemicals away. To report hazardous materials or potentially toxic chemical spills, please call 209-525-6727.

Recycling

Collecting your bottles and cans and recycling them is an easy way to minimize waste and do your part. California Refund Value(CRV) is returned to consumers for recycling eligible aluminum, plastic, glass and Bi-metal containers at certified recycling centers. Centers across Stanislaus County vary in what items they accept/do not accept. Many County residents can dispose of recyclable materials using the specialty bins provided in some cities for curbside pickup. Please use these bins whenever possible and check with your garbage service provider if you are unsure of proper items for disposal.

Bulky Item Collection

The items that can be collected include large appliances, water heaters, mattresses, bicycles and other large household objects that otherwise would not fit into residential garbage containers. Glass, construction materials and tires are not accepted.

Tire Disposal

The City of Modesto currently has a grant to provide Waste Tire Recycling every other month in 2020. This is only eligible to Modesto residents. However, the Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Resources holds regular tire amnesty days, providing residents an opportunity to dispose of automobile tires also. To take advantage of a tire disposal program, resident must request a voucher for free drop-off at a transfer station. City residents should call 209-577-5495 for a voucher. Any unincorporated residents can call (209) 525-6700 and request a voucher.

Christmas Tree Disposal

The City of Modesto encourages residents to dispose of Christmas trees by checking the green waste recycling schedule online. The waste hauling companies that service the county unincorporated areas each have a Christmas tree pick up program in place. To find out more information about this program, residents are encouraged to contact their hauler directly. Another disposal option is for the resident to self-haul their tree to a nearby transfer station (note: dump fee is required).

Donation Centers

Don't forget about nonprofit organizations that accept donations. Unwanted household items can be dropped off at many donation centers in Stanislaus County. Goodwill, Hope Chest Thrift Store, and The Salvation Army are just a few. Donation center policies regarding what is accepted varies however. Residents should call ahead to ensure the donation center will accepts your cast off items.

To find out more about local recycling and waste disposal options, call the City of Modesto at 209-577-5495 or in the County, call 525-6700 and ask for recycling staff. Or visit online at modestogov.com or StanCounty.com

Animal Services Launches Reunion Program

A new automated text messaging program called Lost2Found guides owners through the entire process of finding a lost pet when they text the word, "STRAYS" to 555-888.

Stanislaus County - Lost2Found is a successful new program to increase lost pets reunited with their owners. A large problem owners face is lack of knowledge. When pet owners lose a pet, it is an emotional stressful situation coupled with lack of knowledge. Lost2Found will provide knowledge of lost pet behavior, evidence-based strategies, and links to shelters in the area. Simply by texting the word "STRAYS" to 555-888.

The new solution is an automated text messaging program called Lost2Found. When a pet owner texts the word "STRAYS" to 555-888, they are guided through the entire process of finding a lost pet, from links to view pets on local shelters' websites to in-depth video tutorials. This is a result of the PETCO Foundation awarding a grant to Front Street Animal Shelter to ensure program development, which can easily be replicated across the country to increase more pets are reunited. The shelter will be distributing a magnet with the text messaging information everywhere to educate the public.

"We are excited to try a new solution to help pets be united with owners. We want the community to remember they have lost pet resources available to assist in the reunification of their family member," stated Annette Patton, Executive Director of Stanislaus Animal Services.

Stanislaus Animal Services Agency hopes that the combination of lost resources will lead to higher return-to-owner rate, reuniting more families and creating much needed kennel space for the animals that truly need to be here. Stanislaus Animal Services Agency continues to reinvent animal services with new methods to save lives. Please continue to help our community as we want to continue to move forward with life-saving efforts and reuniting pets with owners in Stanislaus County.

Stanislaus Animal Services Agency is located at 3647 Cornucopia Way, Modesto and can be reached at 209-342-1740 for questions related to the program.

MOES is Closing

The Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter will be closing by early December to make way for future developments of the Tuolumne River Regional Park.

The Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter (MOES) under the Ninth Street Bridge was always intended to be a temporary solution to the City's urgent homeless crisis, and soon it will close to make way for future developments of the Tuolumne River Regional Park.

The County, the City, the Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority, and many other community partners are working together to provide substantial new housing and shelter opportunities in our county.

In addition to the County's new Access Center and Emergency Shelter opening at the Salvation Army's campus this month, a new Stanislaus County Community Services Agency Family Housing unit opened on South 9th Street on November 15th. Ongoing efforts include the Empire Migrant Center, a temporary housing opportunity, and the Kansas House Project, which is the conversion of an existing motel into permanent supportive housing. These combined housing opportunities will produce enough beds to accommodate roughly 550 homeless individuals by February 2020.

Community Services Agency staff are working to transition our local unsheltered population into the appropriate housing or shelter option that best meets their needs.

Accountability will be key!

The Modesto Police Department is preparing for a potential influx of vagrancy-related issues and illegal camps in the downtown Modesto and surrounding areas as a result of MOES closing.

In order to continue to sustain the vibrancy and economic revitalization of the downtown area, the Modesto Police Department will be deploying the Crime Reduction Team, Homeless Engagement And Response Team, Crime Prevention Unit, and Bike and Equestrian Unit Officers to proactively address any vagrancy issues or other criminal behavior.

If you feel unsafe because of an act of vagrancy, call the police department's non-emergency line at (209) 552-2470. For emergencies, call 9-1-1.

For questions or concerns, in Modesto, email Modesto Neighborhoods, Inc. at moc.liamg@sdoohrobhgienotsedom

FREE Family Movie Night at the State

The State Theatre in partnership with the Community Services Agency will host a free screening of the movie, "Instant Family," on November 19.

Those who are interested in making a difference in the life of a foster child in Stanislaus County are encouraged to attend a family movie night on November 19th at 5:30 pm. The theatre will offer a free screening of the movie, “Instant Family.”

The Stanislaus County Community Services Agency is in need of compassionate foster caregivers. On November 19th, attendees will find out what it takes to become a Resource Family to children in need and hear from a panel of youth and families as they share personal and powerful stories of compassion, fulfillment, and inspiration.

The Resource Family Approval program is a state program that oversees resource families to provide care and supervision for foster children 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Once a Resource Family is approved, the family is able to provide placement, legal guardianship, or adoption for children, youth, and young adults.

To learn more about the program and how you can help, please call 209-558-2110 or visit the Community Services Agency

Area Agency on Aging Surveys Needs

The Area Agency on Aging launched a survey for older adults, persons with disabilities and caregivers to assess needs in our community.

Under the Older Americans Act, Stanislaus County Area Agency on Aging receives federal and state funds to administer and directly provide a multitude of services for persons over the age of 60, persons with disabilities, and informal caregivers.

By law, the Agency must conduct a Needs Assessment Survey every four years to determine the best way to assist older adults and persons with disabilities. This data will be used to assist in making determinations regarding how to assist older adults and persons with disabilities with basic needs, and find ways to fulfill those needs through referrals to existing programs. The information collected from the survey will also help the Agency determine how the staff can collaborate with other agencies, seeking ways to creatively address more difficult situations where resources may be limited. To participate in this brief survey, please click here.

The Area Agency on Aging currently provides various services to this population, including congregate meal sites, home delivered meals, exercise and fall prevention programs, information, case management, respite and assistance for un-paid caregivers, legal assistance, long-term care ombudsman and elder abuse prevention programs as well as Medicare counseling and advocacy.

For questions about the survey, please call 209-525-4612 or email moc.ytnuocnats@lewol Questions about services for older adults, persons with disabilities, or caregivers, can be directed to the Information and Assistance office, 209-558-8698.

Stanislaus County Launches Commuter Study

Stanislaus County Workforce Development wants to hear from residents who travel outside the County for work to better understand your commute experience, job skills and employment needs.

As part of our efforts to help make your community a better place to live and work, Stanislaus County Workforce Development has contracted Resource Development Associates to survey Stanislaus County residents who travel outside the County for work to better understand your commute experience, job skills and employment needs.

Stanislaus County Workforce Development will use your responses to inform its ongoing outreach efforts to attract businesses that support and grow the local workforce. These efforts may ultimately lead to job opportunities closer to home for you and your family, shorter commute times, less traffic congestion, and better air quality from reduced traffic!

This quick 10-15 minute survey is completely confidential. The survey can be completed online at stancocommute. Only one employed person in your household should complete this survey, preferably one who commutes across Interstate-580 (I-580) Altamont Pass. Up to 100 people who complete the survey will win a $100 gift card. Individuals who want to tell us even more about their commute can goto the website to sign up for focus groups or phone calls. Eligible participants will receive a $50 gift card.

Thank you for taking the time to help Stanislaus County Workforce Development support the community through healthy business growth and a strong workforce. Questions?

Please contact the RDA Research Team at Stancocommute

Library Releases Mobile App

The Stanislaus County Library's new mobile app allows customers to access their library card accounts, find the nearest branch, search the library catalog, and more.

The Stanislaus County Library's new mobile app is now available in the App Store and the Play Store.

Library customers can continue to access their library card accounts, find the nearest branch, search the library catalog, and see upcoming events. The new app offers additional functionality, including access to library databases, online payments and a link to ZipBooks, a grant program that allows customers to request book purchases for items the library does not own.

“The new app gives our customers more convenient access to the library right from their cell phones or other mobile devices,” said John Fleming, Virtual Services Manager at the Stanislaus County Library. “One feature we're especially excited about is real-time updates to the library catalog. Mobile users can now find the latest best-sellers as soon as the items are added to the library catalog, just as if they were searching inside the library.”

Library app users can customize the appearance of the app by reorganizing options in the order they prefer. In addition, once logged into the app a customer's library card barcode can be viewed and used to check out materials at the library in place of a traditional library card.

To download the new app, search “Stanislaus County Library” at the App Store or Play Store or use this QR code to go there directly.

QR Code

For more information, visit www.stanislauslibrary.org or call 209-558-7814.

Flora Pulls in $12M for Fire Equipment

Assemblyman Heath Flora Pulls in $12 Million for Local Fire Services.

In September,Governor Newsom signed a budget clean-up bill containing $12,000,000 in one-time funding for the Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services to improve communications and coordination between local emergency service personnel.

The Modesto Fire Department along with other local departments in Stanislaus County are currently relying on an outdated and failing system that is in critical need of replacement. On June 5th, 2018 the Modesto Fire Department experienced a complete system failure that saw firefighters in the field unable to communicate with each other or with the command center.

“This radio funding is critical to the success and reliability of the fire service and we thank the Governor for authorizing the request,” said Assemblyman Flora. “Emergency situations change by the minute, and they don't wait for you to step outside to find a better signal.”

Funding provided to Stanislaus County would be administered to local fire departments within the county to upgrade radios and improve radio communication infrastructure that fail to meet state and federal regulations as well as first responder needs.

“Supporting public safety and providing efficient services are two of our top priorities as a Board,” said Supervisor Kristin Olsen, who helped in this effort. “I really appreciate Assemblyman Flora's hard work and dedication to secure this funding that is critical to protecting our community by improving the communication equipment and systems that our firefighters rely on.”

Homeless Strategies Expert to Speak Oct. 4

On October 4th, the Stanislaus Homeless Alliance will host a public workshop to learn best practices in addressing our homeless crisis.

On October 4th, the Stanislaus Homeless Alliance (SHA) will host a workshop to discuss best practices in addressing our homeless crisis. The SHA, a collaborative body which includes elected representation from all Stanislaus County cities, and the County, Focus on Prevention, the Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority, as well as the Community System Of Care was created in May 2019 as a new governance structure to more easily and practically assign funding to priority homeless projects.

The SHA prioritizes aligning decisions with community support quickly and building consensus among municipalities affected by the homelessness crisis in the Central Valley. SHA meetings are held monthly. A full-day educational workshop on housing projects and services, best practices for addressing homelessness, homelessness data and reporting requirements, and funding options will be hosted by the SHA and held on October 4. The workshop will feature Julia Orlando, Director of Bergen County Housing, Health and Human Services Center, who has reportedly eradicated chronic homelessness in Bergen County, NJ. Her presentation will cover her experience in implementing various successful measures, and the strategies that have yielded positive results towards ending homelessness. This workshop is free and open to the public.

Those who are interested in attending can register here.

Please direct questions to Kyle DeJesus at 209-480-2955.

Supervisor Chiesa Holds Hughson Town Hall

Supervisor Chiesa and elected leadership including Representative Harder, Assemblyman Heath Flora and Hughson Mayor Jeramy Young will host Hughson Government Night on Thursday, September 5.

Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa, District 2, will host Hughson Government Night on Thursday, September 5, 2019 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at Samaritan Village, 7700 Fox Road, Hughson, CA. The Samaritan Village is opening its doors for this gathering of federal, state, and local officials.

In Supervisor Chiesa's second Government Night of 2019, Hughson residents will have the opportunity to voice their concerns and hear directly from area representatives. Panel members will share their take on regional issues and legislative priorities that will impact members of the community. Audience participation is encouraged.

"We've got a great line-up of panelists to speak with Hughson residents about problems our region faces," said Supervisor Chiesa. "We have to keep an open line of communication and it is my goal to continue government nights to ensure accessibility to our elected and appointed leaders."

Supervisor Vito Chiesa and a panel of government officials, including Congressman Josh Harder, Assemblyman Heath Flora, and Hughson Mayor Jeramy Young will present information and commentary on challenges and opportunities and take questions directly from the audience. Supervisor Chiesa's event aims to address issues specific to the local, ag-based town of Hughson and assess what is being done to improve the quality of life there.

Seating is free but limited to the capacity of the facility. For questions about the event, accessibility or to request accommodations please contact Evelyn Starman or 209-525-6440.

Stanislaus Agriculture - A $3.5 Billion Commodity

According to the Stanislaus County 2018 Agricultural Report, released in August 2019, ag values dipped to $3.57 billion which is 2% or $78 million below 2017 values, but agriculture remains a steadfast industry in the county.

The Stanislaus County 2018 Agricultural Report which details the farm gate value of the various commodities produced throughout the County, notes that ag values dipped to $3.57 billion which is 2% or $78 million below 2017 values. However the report shows that agriculture in our county remains a steadfast and important industry in the county and across the world. And Stanislaus County ranks #5 in commodity values nationally when compared to other Counties in the United States.

Although some top commodities had large increases in total value, namely almonds and chickens, those increases were more than offset by decreases in walnut values due to global competition; fewer nursery fruit and nut trees and vines sold; persistent depressed milk prices nationally; and the fluctuation of turkey production within the county. Agricultural Commissioner, Milton O'Haire stated that, "although harvested almond acres increased by 8,496, overall harvested acres decreased countywide by 28,623 as a result of significant reductions in silage acres. As dairies close, silage acres used to feed cows are being transitioned to almond orchards which are young and still non-bearing." This exemplifies the trend over the past decade to permanent crops, mainly almond orchards which are a high value crop across the region.

A new Agricultural Economic Report produced this year quantifies agriculture's total economic contributions through production, local processing, employment, and economic multiplier effects to document agriculture's broader role in sustaining a thriving local economy. The report is based on 2017 agricultural and economic data and shows that agriculture contributed a total of $7.15 billion to the county economy, far exceeding the $3.65 billion figure from the Stanislaus County 2017 Agricultural Report. Agriculture supported 29,192 direct employees, just over one of every eight jobs in the county. Adding multiplier effects brought total agriculturally related employment to 34,425 jobs. The report also examines economic diversification within agriculture, which the authors say has important implications for countywide economic resiliency.

The reports are available on the Agricultural Commissioner's website.

UC Extension Offers Master Gardener Program

University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) offers Stanislaus County residents a new Master Gardener Program.

UCCE started a new Master Gardener Class in January of 2019. Twenty-three volunteers just graduated and are making a difference in the community with their newly acquired skills.

If you enjoy gardening, live in Stanislaus County, and are willing to volunteer your time and talent, this program may be exactly what you are looking for. The Master Gardener program is now filling up and taking applications for our 2020 class. The deadline to apply is September 8. To learn more and apply:

Visit our Become a UCCE Master Gardener website
Click on the bright yellow button to fill out our application form before September 8, 2019
Attend a mandatory orientation meeting in October
Interview in November
Acceptance letters mailed in early December

Call (209) 525-6862

Homeless Families Receive Gift of Shelter

Seven families with children at the Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter have been provided motel housing but the need remains for permanent housing.

Seven families with children who were living at MOES (the Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter) have been provided motel housing thanks to an Emergency Solutions grant from Planning and Community Development which funded the move through a nonprofit housing organization, Community Housing and Shelter Services. Permanent shelter is still being sought..

County staff worked through the week of July 21 to move all of the families as quickly as possible once they learned of available grant funding that could support the effort including sheltering six families for four weeks. The families' new home is conveniently located and close to schools where buses will pick up the children at the start of a new schoolyear. While the County works to identify and match individuals to housing, this motel provides a welcome shelter from heat and ability to live more comfortably while working toward long-term sustainability, which is important to those experiencing homelessness.

Alignment of department objectives and resources is critical in these efforts. Collaboration between the Community Services Agency, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Community Housing and Shelter Services and others made it possible to place all 24 individuals into housing. This transition signifies a new beginning for many of these families and a fresh start to a new school year for a handful of students.

Transitional housing and low income housing is in short supply. Anyone with available rental housing is encouraged to notify Community Housing and Shelter Services and speak to Romelia Wiley at 209-527-0444.

Cleaning Up the County

Stanislaus County is working to beautify our community and would like to make residents aware of ways to discard or recycle waste.

Recycling In Stanislaus County

Stanislaus County is working to beautify our community and would like to make residents aware of ways to discard or recycle waste materials. Recently, Stanislaus County launched an Alley Clean Up Pilot Program to reduce blight caused by illegal dumping, as well as inform residents about options for discarding waste. Awareness of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle can directly benefit Stanislaus County residents by creating a cleaner and safer community. Waste collects waste. If you come across trash in your neighborhood, please take action and clean it up promptly in order to prevent blight.

Toxics, Paint, and Oil Disposal

The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility in Modesto is free for Stanislaus County residents and open Friday and Saturday Mornings. Toxic materials including E-Waste, medical, yard, automotive, and house/garage waste can be discarded here. California has established the California Paint Take-Back and Recycling Program to reduce the amount of paint illegally dumped. Large businesses that engage in selling paint to consumers are required to take back and correctly dispose of unused paint. Large retailers including Kelly Moore, and Sherwin Williams are drop off sites within Stanislaus County. Used Oil can be dropped off at Certified Collection Centers, which include most auto shops in Stanislaus County. To report hazardous materials or potentially toxic chemical spills, please call 209-525-6727.

Recycling

California Redemption Value (CRV) is the amount given back to consumers for their recycling of eligible aluminum, plastic, glass and Bi-metal containers at a certified recycling center. Recycling Centers across Stanislaus County vary in what items they accept/do not accept. Residents are also encouraged to dispose of recyclable materials using the bins provided to residents in some areas for curbside pickup;, what can be recycled varies by garbage service provider.

Bulky Item Collection

Residents can pre-arrange to have bulky items picked up at their residence. All County garbage service providers offer two large item pick-ups for free each year to customers. We recommend taking advantage of this service to dispose of items that cannot fit in your garbage bin. Appointments can be made by contacting your trash company and should be made least two weeks prior to pick up. The items that can be collected include large appliances, water heaters, mattresses, bicycles and other large household objects that otherwise would not fit into residential garbage containers. The Department of Environmental Resources holds regular tire amnesty days, providing an opportunity to dispose of automobile tires for free. Contact your city or call Environmental Resources for more information. To report illegal dumping in a public right of way, please call our 24-hour hotline at 209-525-6700.

A Centennial Celebration

This month signifies a big milestone for the Community Services Agency, its 100th anniversary.

The Community Services Agency was established on July 21, 1919 and first known as the Stanislaus County Welfare Department. It has a rich history with a central mission that has remained the same throughout the last 100 years: to help residents become self-sufficient and independent and protect children and families.

On July 16, 2019, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors commended CSA and issued a proclamation on its 100th anniversary of providing social services in the community. Board Chairman Terry Withrow presented Director Kathryn M. Harwell with a Centennial Proclamation in honor of the historic occasion.

"As we honor the past and celebrate this Centennial, we also want to celebrate our staff and community partners", stated Director Kathryn M. Harwell. "I'm proud of the important work we do to help create a better future for our most vulnerable residents."

To celebrate the milestone, the agency is planning events to thank partners and staff across the agency.

Happy Birthday CSA!

Kids Connect Community Celebration

On Saturday, July 27th, the Stanislaus County Department of Child Support Services in partnership with the City of Modesto Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhoods Department will be hosting the third annual Kids Connect.

On Saturday, July 27th, 2019, the Stanislaus County Department of Child Support Services in partnership with the City of Modesto Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhoods Department will be hosting the third annual Kids Connect Community Celebration. The event will be held at Cesar Chavez Park, located at 619 Sierra Drive, Modesto, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

This community event will kick-off Child Support Awareness Month which is in August. This year the California Department of Child Support Services is highlighting the support they offer parents in supporting their children with the theme: You are there for them - we'll be there for you. The day will be filled with family fun and entertainment, opportunity drawings for donated prizes, a Kids Zone with bounce house and face painting, and multiple community agencies will be available to provide family-centered information.

The Department of Child Support Services offers a variety of ways to make a payment ranging from kiosks to paying at a store near you. There are many other services offered including debt reduction opportunities for past due child support owed to the State, payment plans, modifications of child support orders, referrals to community based resources for employment assistance, parenting programs, shelter assistance, food, and much more. The community is invited to join us at Cesar Chavez Park on July 27th, 2019, visit Child Support Service or talk to a Child Support Professional at 251 E. Hackett Road, Modesto, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

National Night Out

You can create safer neighborhoods through participation in National Night Out on August 6.

38 million neighborhoods around the country will take part in National Night Out on August 6th. In California alone, 363 cities will participate. In an effort to create safer communities to live, police officers and neighborhoods put on events to increase positive relationships between law enforcement and its residents. National Night Out events are aimed to fight crime through organized neighborhoods and caring communities.

National Night Out was founded 36 years ago by Matt Peskin, who saw a need for neighborhoods to become informed and involved in what was happening in their community. Today, that idea still exists with parents and family becoming exposed to what safety in and around their home looks like. It is the cooperation between the community residents and law enforcement that drives positive outcomes in our neighborhoods.

National Night Out events are free, safe, and fun for all ages. Events happening include block parties, parades, festivals and cookouts. Registration is free and required for putting together a National Night Out event. Once registered, NNO will provide a guide and coordinator tool kit, two weeks after registration. For more information and registration go to National Night Out.

Take Caution in Summer Heat

Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and strenuous outdoor physical activities.

What to do when the temperature is rising :

Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and strenuous outdoor physical activities…especially in the afternoon…since heat or sun stroke can occur quickly.

Use sun block and drink plenty of water. Also it is advised to check on those more sensitive to heat. such as the elderly, children and pets. The hot, dry and breezy weather also increases the fire danger.

Tips for staying cool during intense heat periods :

Stay out of the sun
Avoid going outside during the hottest part of the day, noon to 4 p.m.
Limit your activity
Reserve vigorous exercise or activities for early morning or evening.
Dress properly
Wear a large-brimmed hat and light-colored, light-weight, loose-fitting clothing that breathes. Don't go shirtless--a sweaty shirt will keep you cooler than bare skin
Drink plenty of liquids
Fluids help you sweat, which is your body's way of cooling off. Drink lots of water, juice or sports drinks. Avoid alcoholic or caffeinated drinks that promote fluid loss through urination.
Avoid hot, heavy meals
They increase your metabolism, causing an increase in your body temperature.
Keep it cool
Set your air conditioner between 75 and 80 degrees F. If you don't have an air conditioner, take a cool bath or shower once or twice a day and visit air-conditioned public places.
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps are painful spasms of muscles along with profuse perspiration, and occur most often during exercise in high temperatures. The muscles most affected are usually the ones you are using during your exercise or your abdominal muscles. You can usually resolve the symptoms by resting and drinking water mixed with a teaspoon of salt per quart.

Cool the person by covering him or her with damp sheets or spraying with water. Direct air onto the person with a fan or a newspaper, and monitor the person's temperature with a thermometer. Stop cooling the person when his or her temperature returns to normal. If breathing ceases, start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Heat stroke is an emergency that needs immediate medical attention.
Sunburn
Prolonged exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays produces red, tender, swollen skin that may develop water blisters. Severe cases of sun and heat exposure can result in more serious consequences needing emergency care. Sunburn happens relatively slowly, but can be treated adequately at home with a cool bath or shower followed by the application of hydrocortisone cream several times a day. Do not break the water blisters, but if they break on their own, remove the skin fragments and use an antibacterial ointment on the open areas. Dress them with clean gauze. Taking aspirin several times daily will help alleviate the general discomfort and may reduce swelling.
Heat Stroke
The main indication of heat stroke is a fever of 105 degrees Fahrenheit with hot, dry skin. Other signs include rapid heartbeat, rapid and shallow breathing, either elevated or lowered blood pressure, and confusion or unconsciousness. If you suspect heat stroke, get the person out of the sun and into a cool spot.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion occurs when your heart and vascular system do not respond properly to high temperatures. The symptoms of heat exhaustion resemble shock and include faintness, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, an ashen appearance, cold clammy skin, and nausea.
Heat Rash
To prevent heat rash, also known as prickly heat, use an air conditioner or fan and dress lightly, preferable in clothing made from pure cotton. Cotton allows sweat to evaporate more easily than most synthetic fibers. If you do get heat rash, taking frequent baths in lukewarm water can help relieve symptoms. Calamine lotion may also help.

Find a Cooling Zones near you.

Water Safety Education & Resources

Along with the summer water fun, comes risk if you aren't careful. Here are some tips and resources including a Water Safety Education event.

Summer is here! Along with the all the fun activities, comes many seasonal dangers. Here are some tips and resources to help remind us to take necessary precautions that can keep friends and family safe this summer.

BACKYARD POOLS are the most common site for child drownings in Stanislaus County. Pools must have at least two barriers in place, such as a fence and cover, designed to keep children out of the water while not in use. When children are using the pool, designate an adult as a "Water Watcher" to supervise without distractions, while keeping young children within arm's reach. Teaching kids to swim is one of the best ways to prevent drownings, so enroll your child in swim lessons, and always tell older kids and adults to swim with a partner.
OPEN BODIES OF WATER, like lakes or rivers, are much different than pools. The water can be very cold and murky, making dangers under the surface hard to see. Currents and undertow can pull swimmers down or away from shore. Never underestimate these elements. When boating, every child under 13 years of age must wear a properly fitting Coast Guard-approved life jacket, and it is recommended that everyone wears a life jacket when swimming in open water.

To learn more about upcoming community events, tips on how to stay safe, and resources near you please visit SafeKids.org, and follow your local injury prevention coalition SafeKidsStanislaus on Instagram and Facebook.

And join us for a Water Safety Education and Lifejacket Giveaway on Saturday June 15th, 2019 at 1PM-4PM at Woodward Reservoir 14528 26 Mile Road, Oakdale, CA (Main Boat Ramp Parking Lot). Learn more about:

Swimming pool safety
Open water safety
Hands only CPR

FREE lifejackets will be distributed to children who qualify!

For more information contact Rena Lepard, Safe Kids Stanislaus Coordinator at 209-342-3459.

American Graffiti bringing 1,500 Cars in its 21st Year

An estimated 1,500 classic cars will line the streets of Modesto June 7, 8th and 9th.

An estimated 1,500 classic cars will line the streets of Modesto June 7, 8th and 9th. The North Modesto Kiwanis club will be putting on the 21st annual American Graffiti Parade and Festival. Keeping the George Lucas era alive, The American Graffiti Festival Brings together families from far and wide to enjoy the beauty of classic cars. The classic car parade will take place June 7th starting at 6:30 pm. Hot rods and street rods will roll through the streets of Modesto starting and ending downtown, going through Mchenry Ave. and Briggsmore Ave. Live music will continue to play till 11pm on the Tenth Street Plaza. June 8th and 9th is full of cars lining the Modesto Municipal Golf Course. Hundreds of food and other vendors will be present, along with music playing as well. Entrance to the festival is $10, and all proceeds go to charity. For more information on The American Graffiti Festival.

Helping The Most Vulnerable

Elder abuse is a serious, widespread, but hidden problem.

It's estimated that as many as 5 million elderly residents nationwide are abused, neglected, and exploited each year. In 2017-2018, California Protective Services agencies received 191,000 reports of abuse, a 49% increase over the last six years.

It can be hard to imagine that anyone would deliberately harm an elderly person but seniors can become victims of financial scams, neglect, and physical and emotional abuse. They may also be unable to advocate for themselves but have the right to protection under the law, deserving of respect, attention, and compassion.

So how can you prevent elder abuse? And would you know the symptoms of abuse if you saw them?

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month. To find out more and how you can report and prevent elderly abuse in Stanislaus County, call 209-558-2637 or 1-800-336-4316. You can also visit http://elderabuseawareness.c4a.info/

Low Water Use Landscape Class

Residents looking to lower their water usage need to find creative ways to change the way they garden.

More than half of the water used in urban homes is applied to outdoor landscapes! Residents looking to lower their water usage need to find creative ways to change the way they water outside. The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners are offering a free Low Water Use Landscaping class that can help.

UCCE Master Gardener coordinator Anne Schellman and Orchard Systems Advisor Kari Arnold will highlight easy ways to reduce water use in landscaping, which plants thrive in our area with less water, and how to design a landscape that has color year-round and is welcoming to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

This free class will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2019, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Agricultural Center, Harvest Hall Rooms D&E at 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, CA 95358.

Source: Public Policy Institute of California https://www.ppic.org/publication/water-use-in-california

New Homeless Alliance Builds Strategy, Alignment

The Alliance is a collaborative entity formed early this year to align homeless services, planning, and funding among stakeholders in Stanislaus County

On May 9th the first Stanislaus Homeless Alliance meeting was held, kicking off a critically important partnership in the community. The Alliance is a collaborative entity formed early this year to align homeless services, planning, and funding among stakeholders in Stanislaus County. The group consists of several community leaders representing organizations or agencies that work to end homelessness.

In December of 2018, the community approved this structure to align efforts and streamline the process of making funding decisions in the County aimed at addressing homelessness. The Alliance includes City and County elected officials and nonprofit leadership as well as community members concerned with a growing homeless population in our communities. Participation includes representation from Stanislaus County, City of Modesto, City of Turlock, City of Ceres, West County (Patterson/Newman), East County (Riverbank, Oakdale, Waterford and Hughson), Focus on Prevention, Community System of Care, and the Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority.

The monthly Stanislaus Homeless Alliance pubic meeting will provide an opportunity for residents to be heard and policy decisions to be made. Ideally this structure will allow County, City and Community representatives to move more rapidly in concert, to make important policy decisions impacting some of our most vulnerable. Funding opportunities and project updates will be discussed each month. Cities will be responsible to bring forth their plans and match them to the broader vision of what we want to see prioritized as a County. Most importantly, the community will now have a single public forum in which to engage on the issue of homeless strategies, programs and outcomes in Stanislaus County.

Please visit Stanislaus Community System of Care for future meeting notices and agendas for the Stanislaus Homeless Alliance.

Mental Health Awareness Month

More than 2 million children, adults, and seniors are affected by potentially disabling mental illnesses every year in California.

More than 2 million children, adults, and seniors are affected by potentially disabling mental illnesses every year in California. Thirty years ago, the State of California cut back on its services in state hospitals for people with severe mental illnesses, without providing adequate funding for mental health services in the community. To address this issue, Proposition 63 was approved by voters in 2004. Proposition 63, also called the Mental Health Services Act, was enacted in 2005 by placing a one percent tax on incomes above $1 million. It provided the first opportunity in many years to expand county mental health programs for all populations: children, transition-age youth, adults, older adults, families, and most especially, the unserved and underserved.

The Mental Health Services Act is made up of five components: Community Services & Support; Prevention & Early Intervention; Innovation; Capital Facilities & Technological Needs; and Workforce Education & Training. The goal of the Prevention & Early Intervention component is to help counties implement services that promote wellness, foster health, and prevent the suffering that can result from untreated mental illness. Effective Prevention and Early Intervention requires collaboration with consumers and family members in the development of projects and programs, and has a strong focus on recognizing early signs of mental illness, promoting and improving access and linkage to mental health services, and reducing stigma and discrimination related to mental health.

On May 3, 2019, the Prevention & Early Intervention division at Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month with a special event open to County staff and the public. These efforts reflect our ongoing work to fulfill the promise of Proposition 63. As an agency and a community partner, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services is committed to improve Stanislaus County's public mental health system and invites you to become part of the mental health movement.

SSI & SSP Recipients May Qualify for CalFresh

Seniors and disabled residents who receive SSI and SSP may soon be eligible to receive CalFresh assistance.

More Help on the Way to Fight Hunger in Stanislaus County.

Stanislaus County seniors and disabled residents who receive Supplemental Security Income and State Supplementary Payments (SSI/SSP) may soon be eligible to receive CalFresh food assistance.

Beginning June 1, 2019, recipients can apply for monthly food benefits to buy food at grocery stores and farmer's markets that accept easy-to-use electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. The idea is to help stretch food budgets and provide more healthy choices.

For more information on how to apply, visit calfreshfood.org or C4Yourself.com You can also call 1-877-652-0734.

Master Gardener Workshop

How to Select, Plant, and Prune Your Landscape Tree

Modesto, California - How to Select, Plant, and Prune Your Landscape Tree workshop is offered by University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardener Program for Stanislaus County on Saturday, April 27, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Agricultural Center, Stanislaus Building Rooms H&I at 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, CA 95358.

This hands-on workshop is designed to help you choose the best tree for your landscape the basics of how to keep it healthy for years to come. You'll also learn about recommended trees for Stanislaus County and take home some helpful tree guides. Weather permitting, we'll have a planting demonstration outdoors.

This workshop is limited to 25 participants. UCCE instructors: Dr. Kari Arnold, Orchard Systems Advisor; Ed Perry, Horticulture Advisor (emeritus); Anne Schellman, Master Gardener Coordinator.

Alley Clean Up Project

Stanislaus County has recently allocated $100,000 towards a Community Cleanup pilot program to clean up trash illegally dumped in alleys.

The County has recently allocated $100,000 towards a Community Cleanup pilot program targeted at cleaning up trash illegally dumped in the alleys of unincorporated communities. Through this program the County hopes to team up with community volunteers to organize several community-led cleanups. The County will assist these community-led cleanups by funding the cost dumpster rental and, in some instances, heavy equipment.

If you are interested in coordinating a community-led cleanup please contact Patrick Cavanah, Senior Management Consultant at (209) 525-6333 or at cavanahp@stancounty.com. A cleanup application can be found here.

The Keep Stan Pilot Program will continue through June 2020 or until all allocated funding has been used. Community Cleanup requests will be considered on a first-come first-served basis.

In addition to the community cleanups, a portion of the $100,000 will go towards other activities such as outreach, education, piloting long-term strategies to prevent illegal dumping, and a service aimed at assisting our public utility providers. The pilot program will continue through June 2020 or until all allocated funding has been used.

If you come across illegal dumps or other potential code enforcement issues please report it using the County's GoRequest smartphone app, Customer Service Center found at www.stancounty.com, or by phone at 1-877-227-7478

Master Herb Gardener Class

Learn to grow an herb garden under the instruction of UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners.

Residents are invited to learn how to grow an herb garden with the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardener Program. Culinary herbs used in cooking will be the focus for this free class.

UCCE Master Gardener coordinator Anne Schellman will explain the sun, water, and cultural needs of herbs, which herbs do best in containers, and how to plan an herb garden. Free seeds will be made available to participants while supplies last.

Please join us for Growing Herbs for Beginners on Thursday, April 11, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Agricultural Center, Harvest Hall Rooms AB&C at 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, CA 95358.

or call Anne Schellman at (209) 525-6862 to reserve your space.

County Seeking Landlords

We are in search of rental units to house families who might otherwise experience homelessness.

On March 29, 2019 the Empire Family Cold Weather Shelter will be closing. This temporary shelter allowed 23 families to be sheltered during the cold winter months. Our team was able to transition 13 families from the shelter to permanent housing. Closure of the shelter is in a few days and we have yet to house 10 families.

If you are a landlord with rental units available and interested in helping us house these families, who might otherwise experience homelessness, please reach out to us as soon as possible.

The County has two important family housing programs to assist.

The Homeless Assistance Program works to help families in need of shelter services. The following is available for families who receive cash assistance: assistance with rental deposits - paid directly to the landlord, last month's rent, assistance with utility deposits.

The Housing Support Program is available to families who receive cash assistance AND qualify for the Welfare to Work program. Benefits include the same benefits as the Homeless Assistance program. The Housing Support Program also pays double rental deposits and pays utility bills in arrears, assists with rental subsidy, provides intensive case management, and offers a direct landlord liaison and partnership.

If you are an interested landlord, please contact:

Community Services Agency

Rebecca Monroe

Phone: (209) 857-1991

Email: CSA-Housing@stancounty.com

State of the County Address

Board of Supervisors Chairman Terry Withrow shares his state of the County message with the Stanislaus community. (Transcript)

Watch Video

Homeless Shelter Partnership Approved

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors and Modesto City Council unanimously approved a new partnership effort that will provide 180 new shelter beds.

Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors and Modesto City Council unanimously approved a new partnership effort that will provide 180 additional shelter beds for local homeless. The proposal was drafted over the past several months by the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office, Salvation Army and City of Modesto leadership, with the Focus on Prevention Stewardship Council, consisting of community members, area nonprofits such as the Stanislaus Community Foundation, Turning Point and United Way of Stanislaus County, along with other partners providing critical input.

This shelter expansion will require 18,000 square feet of space in the current Salvation Army Berberian Center on 9th and D streets in Modesto. The project will be funded by private donors, the City of Modesto, Stanislaus Community Foundation investment dollars and a considerable portion of the state Homeless Emergency Assistance Program (HEAP) funding received by the County earlier this month totaling over $7 million dollars. Roughly $4 million will be invested in this project. Site renovations will be required to accommodate 180 new shelter beds at the site.

Increasing affordable housing, starting with transitional shelter housing is critical to addressing our homelessness crisis. Supportive services made available through a Stanislaus County Access Center which will be located adjacent to the Salvation Army Shelter will provide mental health services, case management, and a convenient connection to social services that can help this population find stability.

While an estimated 400 homeless individuals have established camp in Modesto's Beard Brook Park over the past 5 months, these residents are currently being relocated to an official Emergency Low-barrier Shelter (Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter) set up beneath the 9th Street Bridge, just South of the Park. Over half of the homeless occupants of Beard Brook Park have been registered to the new site, occupying nearly 200 tents. More capacity through additional tents is being created as weather permits. The Stanislaus County Outreach and Engagement Team and Turning Point, the new site management organization are currently assigning tents and registering occupants. Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter is only open to homeless individuals who were camping at Beard Brook Park.

While the City and County have worked tirelessly on solutions to the homeless crisis, the understanding has been that success is only possible through partnership. According to Modesto City Manager Joe Lopez, “Government alone is not the solution to the homeless crisis, and we must rely on other public and private partners in bringing resources to the table.”

A comprehensive set of recommendations was brought to the County Supervisors and City Council for approval on February 26th, representing months of analysis and planning to determine the best use of limited City and County resources.

“Six months ago, we came before the Board of Supervisors to initiate an ongoing public discussion on the challenge of homelessness in Stanislaus County- the options and choices our community must make in order to respond to this challenge. Much has changed in that last six months, but our core mission has remained the same, to implement the Access Center vision and to establish a community-wide delivery system for addressing the challenge of homelessness in Stanislaus County,” said County CEO Jody Hayes.

Hayes also added perspective to the challenge, noting that most of the recent attention has focused on issues related to temporary emergency shelters. While these issues typically generate the most discussion, they are only the first step in a much larger discussion and strategic planning effort that needs to occur within our community. What the County is referring to as the “housing continuum” includes the major components from temporary emergency shelters, to transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and market rate housing.

“The true work of our community will only begin when we shift our focus to a discussion on the larger housing challenge before us,” said Hayes. “Building shelters to warehouse people is not our solution. The plan to develop 180 additional emergency shelter beds alone will not solve our homeless challenge in Stanislaus County, not even close. We need a more comprehensive strategy to include not just emergency shelters, but transitional housing to move individuals out of shelters and ultimately permanent housing options that reflect the incomes of our region.”

Since the Modesto Emergency Outdoor Shelter is only a temporary solution, mandated to be returned to Tuolumne River Gateway by the end of this calendar year, we must work together to plan for long-term tactic for addressing the affordable housing shortage. The County will continue to explore alternative housing options in the coming months. Ongoing strategy discussions with each of the nine cities in the County will help establish a framework for regional planning to prepare our community for current and future housing needs.

CalFresh Benefits for March

If you receive CalFresh benefits in Stanislaus County, be advised there may be a gap due to February benefits being issued early due to the federal government shutdown.

To help reduce that gap, March CalFresh benefits are being issued on March 1, 2019. If you don't get your March CalFresh benefits early, and you are still eligible for CalFresh, you will receive your March benefits on your regularly scheduled day (the first ten days of March). Please budget these CalFresh benefits carefully because your next monthly benefits will not be available until April. For more information, call 1-877-652-0734.

Black History Month in Stanislaus County

Wendy Byrd of the NAACP spoke about history and equity, representing the African American community on Feb 5.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors proclaimed February Black History Month in the County, honoring this time to learn about, recognize, and celebrate the achievements of African-American men and women throughout history in America. The origins of Black History Month can be traced to the scholar Carter G. Woodson, who in 1926 conceived of a yearly celebration to help rectify the omission of African Americans from history books. The story of America cannot be told without including the contributions and places where African Americans have made history.

The Association for the Study of African American Life & History (ASALH) has selected Black Migrations as the theme for 2019, writing "this theme focuses especially on the twentieth century through today. Beginning in the early decades of the twentieth century, African American migration patterns included relocation from southern farms to southern cities; from the South to the Northeast, Midwest, and West; from the Caribbean to US cities as well as to migrant labor farms; and the immigration of noted African Americans to Africa and to European cities, such as Paris and London, after the end of World War I and World War II. "

In various community meetings, residents have requested safety improvements and sought updated infrastructure. Efforts have been underway to deliver. The California Transportation Commission has been instrumental in securing this funding which is on track to be available this later this year while infrastructure plans, and environmental clearance are underway.

California is a melting pot of people groups, and our region has a long history with African American people. Stockton is the birthplace of Moses Rodgers, who was born a slave and came to California during the Gold Rush, where he became an expert in mining, purchasing several mines in Mariposa County where he was politically active.

In Southern California, the Dunbar Hotel (also known as Hotel Somerville) located in Los Angeles has hosted many important meetings for the National Association for the Advancement of Color People (NAACP) and has been the venue for several noteworthy jazz legends: Louis Armstrong, Dizzie Gelespie, Lena Horn, and Ray Charles.

From coast to coast America is full of hallowed grounds where the imprints of African Americans resonate leaving a legacy of important work imprinted on our past. These sites act as a reminder of the many challenges African Americans have endured and the many contributions that have been made.

This February, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors does proclaim February 2019 as Black History Month and urge all citizens, public officials, educators, and librarians to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities in support of this proclamation.

Airport Neighborhood to Receive $4.9 Million

Last week the California Transportation Commission awarded a $4.9 million grant from the Active Transportation Program (ATP), a State funded program primarily for bicycle and pedestrian safety projects, to the County.

Airport Neighborhood is an historically disadvantaged region, geographically split between the City of Modesto and Stanislaus County. This area of the community has suffered from patterns of disinvestment in basic infrastructure that plague many unincorporated communities. Many streets in this neighborhood do not have sidewalks and conditions are unsafe for pedestrian traffic.

"The Airport Neighborhood Active Transportation Connectivity and Safety Project is the result of a collaborative effort amongst Modesto, Stanislaus County and non-profits to make the Airport Neighborhood more bike and pedestrian friendly. Because the voters of Stanislaus County approved Measure L in 2016, local transportation planners now have the resources and matching funds to pursue these transformative grants for the portions of the community that need help the most. The California Transportation Commission is honored to partner with Stanislaus County to make the Airport District a safe place to walk and bike to school," said Paul Van Konynenburg, Vice Chairman of the California Transportation Commission.

The ATP Airport project will address many resident requests such as new sidewalks, bikeways, safely defined pathways for students in the Oroville Wright Elementary school area and various other traffic calming safety improvements like high visibility cross walks and speed cushions, in addition to bilingual safety outreach education.

"Another day to celebrate! The County submitted an excellent plan to improve air quality and mobility for the residents of our Airport District, and it was approved," said Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa. "This is going to allow us to build on the work we've begun, focused on high priority infrastructure in this unincorporated region of the county."

The grant funding will provide $4.9 million toward these improvements, while the County will match those funds with $1.2 million in Measure L (Bike/Pedestrian funds) provided by the county's half-cent sales tax. The total project cost will $6.1 million. Construction on the Airport Neighborhood improvement project should begin in 2020.

Laura's Law Supporting Stanislaus Families

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) also known as Laura's Law was implemented by Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services on October 29, 2018. The program is now taking referrals from qualified families.

The program was approved as a Three-Year Pilot Program by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors on April 24, 2018. Laura's Law (AOT) is civil, court-ordered treatment for individuals with severe mental illness who meet strict legal criteria. Individuals must be at least 18 years of age; reside in Stanislaus County; live with a severe and persistent mental illness; have multiple attempts to engage in treatment; have a condition that is substantially deteriorating; and, be unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision. Often, these individuals are too ill to recognize the need for treatment and the mental illness impacts their ability to make decisions in their own best interest. AOT is an outpatient mental health program and includes mental health support, case management, medication support and education. AOT also includes 24/7 access and services and support in the community.

Referrals can be made on behalf of the individual in need of treatment by a Qualified Referring Party (QRP). Individuals who meet the qualifications for a QRP are the following: a roommate, family member, police officer, licensed therapist, agency director or hospital director.

Additional information and referrals can be found on-line and can be made by completing the on-line referral form on the Stanislaus County Website at Behavioral Health and Recovery Services or by calling BHRS Warm Line at (209) 558-4600.

In Honor of Mentor Awareness Month

Celebrating Miguel Galvez, our mentor of the year who was honored at the Board of Supervisors meeting on January 15. Here is a synopsis of his acceptance presentation.

Miguel Galvez, former Stanislaus County Mentor of the Year, shares some thoughts on the merits of mentoring.

At its core, mentoring recognizes that every person has DIGNITY, a right to be valued and respected for their own sake. As mentors, we invest ourselves in the well-being and future of our mentees. We provide insight and understanding. Having a mentor is like having a friend that helps you to see the richness that is within you - a quality that you cannot yet see in yourself.

It does not stop there, every person has the potential, and often the desire, to be something more than they are - they just need a trusted guide who provides impartial advice and encouragement. When I first meet a mentee, we talk a little bit about ourselves, including our families. For example, I have heard from a previous mentee: "I have three mothers, 15 brothers and sisters and my dad lives with his girlfriend." So I said "Well, who takes care of you at home?" "My mom works, so my grandmother takes care of me." How often do you see your dad? "Oh, he comes to see me on my birthday."

Most of the mentees that participate in this program come from a place of poverty. Financial poverty. Emotional poverty. A lack of safe living conditions, where the school is the only safe and stable environment. Some of these kids even experience a poverty of hope. Most are just trying to survive each day, the best way they know how…In today's society, we are valued - not based on our dignity and our potential, but on our circumstances, our appearance: the clothes and shoes we wear, the type of home we live in, the car that we drive, the material goods we have, our presumed status in society. Even at school, children can be cruel and merciless.

They may be called names, be left out, picked last for a team, feel unloved, or lost. Those are lies that they are told. They just need to hear a different perspective - One that has their best interest at heart. Mentors have a unique opportunity: to leverage their skills and experience, to shed light - where there hasn't been enough to give and invest a portion of their life to instill different insight into who they truly are and can be. Mentoring requires you to be truly present, lean-in, look, listen, bring light, teach, lead the mentee in discovering that they not only have value, but can bring value to others. And that they are loved for who they are. I recently heard a quote that best captures the role of a mentor to me.

"The older a teacher gets, the more they stop advancing their own career and begin celebrating the accomplishments of their students." Indeed, it is a pleasure to be here, not to hear about, what, we the mentors do and accomplish, but to value and reflect on what our mentees can and do accomplish. It is a wonder-filled journey of discovery. I invite you to come along.

Anyone interested in joining the County mentoring program can learn more by calling Norma Baker at 209.525.4357.

Government Shutdown and CalFresh Benefits

If you receive CalFresh benefits in Stanislaus County, be advised of important changes that could affect you and your family due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

February CalFresh benefits for most participants will now be issued early, on January 16, 2019, for Stanislaus County residents. This includes the following:

All clients who do not have a CalFresh report due in January
Clients who have a CalFresh report due in January and whose report has been received and continuing eligibility has been determined in advance of the early issuance process

If you receive your February CalFresh benefits early, you are encouraged to plan your food budget knowing that there will be a longer period between the early issuance and your next normally scheduled issuance in March. Clients not included in the "early issuance" group will get February food benefits through normal processes and on their normal issuance dates, as long as they are determined eligible.

New applications will continue to be accepted and processed, and expedited services will be available as usual.

For more information, contact 1-877-652-0734.

Get Married at the Mansion

"Marriage at the Mansion" offers each couple a romantic setting at the beautifully restored historic McHenry Mansion.

"Couples planning to tie the knot in 2019 should reserve their Valentine's Day wedding early for this romantic venue," stated Linder. "The non-religious civil ceremonies will be conducted in English or Spanish. Guests are limited to 15 for each wedding and children must be age 12 or older to attend."

For more information contact the County Clerk Office at 209-525-5250 or call 209-525-5230 for assistance in Spanish

Public Health and the Opioid Crisis

Anyone who takes prescription opioids can become addicted to them. In fact, as many as one in four people receiving long-term opioid therapy in a primary care setting struggles with opioid addiction.

In 2017, Stanislaus County had nearly 1 opioid prescription dispensed for every resident, with 529,832 prescriptions dispensed. There were 15 overdose deaths documented.

“The current opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis in American history. Overdoses, fueled by opioids, are the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 years old – killing roughly 64,000 people last year, more than guns or car accidents, and doing so at a pace faster than the HIV epidemic did at its peak.” New York Times, October 2017

The Stanislaus County Opioid Coalition is a collaboration of healthcare, education, community based organizations, law enforcement, county agencies, and concerned citizens determined to turn the tide of our local opioid epidemic. Our mission is to build a sustainable community of partnerships committed to preventing and reducing opioid misuse & abuse by promoting a culture of wellness through education, prevention, treatment and recovery support. There are four workgroups, summit planning committee, community education & outreach, provider education & safe prescribing practices, and opioid use disorder treatment.

During our December, 2018 meeting we finalized our mission statement and our summit planning committee updated us on their progress. For community education & outreach, the timeline for website was discussed and public service announcements were approved. There was a presentation on wound botulism associated with black tar heroin use. An increase statewide has been seen in 2018 with some local clusters. In Stanislaus County, there have been two confirmed and one still undergoing testing since the beginning to October 2018.

Our next meeting will be held on January 16, 2019, 8:30 am-10:30 am at Sutter Gould Education Center, 1700 McHenry Ave, Ste 60B, Modesto. We are planning an Opioid Awareness Summit on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at the Modesto Centre Plaza from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. For more information on coalition activities, please contact Jennifer Marsh at JMarsh@StanBHRS.org or call (209) 525-5315.

Measure L Means Local Roads First

Measure L provides funding for local transportation improvements, like fixing potholes and maintaining roads, providing safer routes to schools and improving the safety of our streets.

$20 Million Awarded to North County Corridor Project

Senator Dianne Feinstein announced yesterday the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded four California projects $72.5 million in grants.

In November 2016, residents of Stanislaus County voted overwhelmingly to approve Measure L, instituting a special 25-year, one-half cent sales tax increase for local transportation improvement projects. This designated Stanislaus a "Self-help County," creating opportunities for federal funding like the TIGER and BUILD grants.

"Stanislaus County has had strong leadership in the Public Works department. The team has worked hard to secure the necessary funding for road infrastructure work," said Paul Van Konyenburg, of the California Transportation Commission. "But they didn't do this alone. We are so grateful that Senator Feinstein fought for us, and that Jeff Denham represented well in Washington on our behalf to highlight the needs of our community."

"The passage of Measure L and becoming a Self-help County has made an enormous difference. We are able to compete well with leveraging funding," said Vito Chiesa, Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors.

"This is outstanding for Stanislaus County. The North County Corridor is a critical inter-regional connectivity project that will positively impact the movement of our goods and services," said Supervisor Terry Withrow, who has been a champion in leading our regional projects and ensuring their forward momentum.

Congress tripled the funding for the program this year to $1.5 billion. California's $72.5 million is double what California received on average during the Obama administration and eight times the amount received last year

"Investment in our transportation infrastructure is necessary for California's long-term economic growth," said Senator Feinstein. "These grants, combined with state and private funding, will ensure these vital projects can move forward

California projects

$15 million for San Francisco roadway improvements on Market Street between 6th and 8th streets, including roadway resurfacing, streetcar track replacement, upgrading traffic signals and a new F-line streetcar turnaround loop at McAllister Street and Charles J. Brenham Place.
$20 million for Imperial County to widen the existing bridge at the Calexico Border Patrol Station to accommodate two additional northbound commercial truck lanes, two additional northbound passenger vehicle lanes, and bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
$17.5 million for Kern County to widen 5 miles of Route 46 to four lanes in each direction, add 1 mile of bike lanes and sidewalks, and build a new bridge.
$20 million for Stanislaus County to build 3 miles of the new SR 108 North County Corridor, a six-lane expressway.

A Home For Homeless Families This Winter

Nineteen families in Stanislaus County now have a place to call home this winter thanks to a unique community project.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors has designated the Empire Migrant Center in the community of Empire as a cold weather shelter for homeless families. The shelter will utilize 21 of the 90 dwelling units as temporary housing for homeless families during the winter months when the property is not in use.

"Lack of affordable housing is the leading cause of homelessness among low income households," stated Kathryn Harwell, Director of the Community Services Agency (CSA). "Our goal is to help families become self-sufficient. This program will provide them needed stability so they can engage in services and continue their search for permanent housing and employment."

Families that are currently being case managed in CSA's Housing Support Program are eligible for the housing units. The program will run from November 2018 through March of 2019. In addition to housing, families will also receive services and supports utilizing wraparound services that include referrals and employment services.

Developing the temporary housing project involved collaboration and partnership among several community agencies.

The Stanislaus County Housing Authority is operating the shelter located at 5132 South Avenue. CSA is leasing the units and working with the Stanislaus County Affordable Housing Corporation (STANCO) to provide property management services. Other county partners include Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Planning and Community Development, and Community Housing and Shelter Services.

The projected cost is $125,000 with funding coming from the CSA CalWORKS Housing Support Program. It includes the building lease and property management. The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors approved the housing project at its meeting on November 6, 2018.

Beard Brook Homeless Outreach Offers Pathway Out

Outreach Offers Pathway Out of Homelessness

Michael Merenda began camping at Modesto's Moose Park up until the 9th Circuit ruling passed where he was then moved to Beard Brook Park.

Michael Merenda became homeless on July 11, 2018. He began camping at Modesto's Moose Park up until the 9th Circuit ruling passed where he was then moved to Beard Brook Park. Michael became homeless after having lost custody of his children and admits having gone through stages of depression. Michael stated he knew of the county's Homeless Outreach and Engagement Center (OEC) through outreach staff who would regularly visit Beard Brook Park offering services, however he was too "ego-minded" and did not want help from anyone. It was not until he decided to open up and ask for help that his life began to change. One day in early October, Michael decided to accept services from the outreach staff. He was connected to OEC's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) Outreach Worker, Regina Brown. After having identified Michael's needs, Regina immediately connected Michael through BHRS programs as well as the OEC's Housing Assessment Team to gather the appropriate documents needed for housing.

Michael was also connected to Turning Point Community Program's Empowerment Center where he was provided assistance for his employment needs. After several weeks of working with Michael, the OEC was able to help him obtain housing through Community Impact Central Valley for a two-year transitional housing program. He is also now employed at the Empowerment Center as a Career Explorer where he will be providing peer support to homeless individuals and assisting them in their job search. In addition to working hard to gain back custody of his children, he states he wants to work for the county to give back to the community. Michael would like to thank the following staff who have assisted him as he states they have been "an answer to his prayers": Regina Brown of Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Christina Kenney and Danica Freitas with the Housing Assessment Team, and Nicole Mitchell of the Empowerment Center.

Stanislaus Sheriff's Deputy Killed in Pursuit

Stanislaus County is grieving the loss of Deputy Tony Hinostroza, who was killed on November 25th during a collision during a high speed vehicle pursuit.

Riverbank CA - Deputy Antonio "Tony" Hinostroza (45) was killed in a vehicle collision just before 10:00 PM just outside of Riverbank, CA. Deputy Hinostroza was responding to assist Riverbank Police Services deputies on a vehicle pursuit when he collided with a power pole at the intersection of Terminal Avenue and Claribel Road.

Deputy Hinostroza was a 19-year veteran with the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department. Deputy Hinostroza was hired as a deputy sheriff in January 1999. He was assigned to the patrol division out of the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department main office. During his career, Deputy Hinostroza served as a patrol deputy, K9 handler, Gang Detective, SWAT team member, and Field Training Officer. Hinostroza was a Police Explorer for Ceres Police Department from 1990 until 1992 when he enlisted to serve in the United States Marine Corps until 1996. Hinostroza then worked as a reserve police officer and dispatcher for the city of Waterford before being hired by then-Sheriff Les Weidman. Hinostroza leaves behind one adult son.

At 9:48 p.m., Riverbank Police Services deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Oakdale Road and Patterson Road in Riverbank for a report of a driver of a silver Cadillac Escalade passed out behind the wheel. Deputies arrived and the driver of the Escalade sped off leading deputies on a pursuit. Deputies deployed spike strips on the Escalade which became disabled at the intersection of Fine Avenue and Cambridge Court in Modesto. The driver fled from the vehicle and began fighting with deputies forcing them to deploy a less-lethal bean bag to subdue him and take him into custody.

Dispatch began getting 911 calls of a Sheriff's Department patrol vehicle crashed into a power pole at Terminal Avenue and Claribel Road. CHP, Deputies, Ambulance and Fire responded to the scene in an attempt to rescue Deputy Hinostroza, but he died of his injuries at the scene.

Jonathan Carrillo-Gonzalez (30- Modesto) was the driver of the Escalade. He was arrested for driving under the influence, felony evasion, and resisting arrest. His license was suspended in June 2018 for DUI and has had at least 3 prior convictions for DUI in the past 9 years.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the collision.

Midterm Canvass Continues

This week the Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters continued with the canvass process of the General Election.

Over 650 volunteer election officers worked to support this General Election. There were also 23 adopt-a-poll volunteer organizations 88 student poll workers and 14 field inspectors supporting this election at the polls. Preparation for the election officer stipend process has begun.

Reconciliation audit process on each of the 141 polling site rosters and materials continued today and is 50% complete. Today the office began work on a 1% hand tally of the vote which will continue until completed. Damaged ballots have been organized and prepared to be duplicated and the duplication process of damaged, military and overseas ballots has begun.

Approximately 11,000 provisional ballots and several thousand military, damaged, 7-day absentee and reconciliation ballots remain to be reviewed and processed before they are ultimately counted. Provisional ballots are voted at the polls when a voter's registration is in question, or when our records indicate the voter has already sent in a vote by mail ballot. Provisionally voted ballots are sealed in special envelopes at the polls and must be individually researched and verified at the ROV's Office before ballots are counted or rejected in accordance with election laws.

The canvass will continue until complete. The office will be closed Thurs.-Fri. Nov. 22-23, 2018 in observance of the Thanksgiving Day holiday and the canvass will re-commence on Mon. Nov. 26th. California law requires certification of this election to be on or before Thurs. Dec. 6, 2018, which is 30-days following Election Day.

More information regarding the November 6, 2018 General Election is available on the website at Stanvote or by contacting the Elections Office at 209-525-5200.

Butte County Fires Create Health Hazard

Smoke from the Camp Fire in Butte County is affecting our air quality and has created a potential health hazard in Stanislaus County.

Smoke from the Camp Fire in Butte County is affecting our air quality and has created a potential health hazard in Stanislaus County. Based on current air quality levels, Stanislaus County Public Health is not recommending school closures or cancelling normal business activities.

For the General Public:

Please be aware that poor wildfire containment and shifting winds can drastically change air quality in a short period of time. Smoke from wildfires can affect health. The most common symptoms are eye and throat irritation, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Persons with health problems, especially heart or respiratory conditions, should take extra caution. Follow these precautions to protect your health:

Minimize outdoor activities
Stay indoors with windows and doors closed as much as possible
Do not run fans that bring smoky outdoor air inside
Run your air-conditioner or heat only if it does not bring smoke in from the outdoors
Consider leaving the area until smoke conditions improve if you experience symptoms related to smoke exposure
Know current air quality by checking at Valley Air

For Outdoor Workers:

Limit exertion
Take frequent breaks
If prolonged outdoor activity is unavoidable, proper masks (for example N95 masks) can protect against harmful exposure
Bandanas and typical surgical masks DO NOT protect against wildfire smoke particles
Consult with your employer if you have specific concerns

For Schools:

Outdoor activities should be limited
Windows and doors should be kept shut as much as possible
When air quality is unhealthy, activities such as athletic events or practices should be cancelled or rescheduled. Unhealthy is when the Fine Particulate Matter in air is greater than 75 μg/m3.
Watch for symptoms and take action as needed
Students with asthma should follow their asthma action plans and keep their quick-relief medicine close at hand

When to Seek Medical Attention:

Contact your health care provider if you experience the following symptoms that do not improve after moving indoors or into a safe air quality environment:
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Wheezing
Chest tightness or pain
Palpitations
Nausea or unusual fatigue
Lightheadedness and/or feeling faint

As always, if you or someone you know is experiencing an emergency, call 9-1-1.

Additional Information:

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

California Department of Public Health

Wildfire Advisory (Spanish)

Crows Landing Prepares for Take Off

Developing a healthy economy means providing jobs and encouraging local investments.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Environmental Impact Report(EIR) for the Crows Landing Industrial Business Park, certifying that the 1,500 acre plot used in World War II and for later military functions is now ready for rebirth. Since 1999, when site clean up first began, there have been talks about infrastructure, meetings about job opportunities, conversations with legislators and planners, strategy sessions on infrastructure but nothing as momentous as today's decision, moving us “one step closer to this promising and exciting opportunity,” as stated by Supervisor Kristin Olsen.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors dedicated $22.9 million in the 2018-2019 Final Budget to support development of the Crows Landing Industrial Business Park. At full build out, Crows Landing could provide 14,000 jobs for local residents, eliminating the need to commute out of county. It is also primely located for easy access to the Bay Area and boasts a usable air strip. The appeal of a Northwest to Southeast runway sets this site apart from other development opportunities in the region.

It provides a path to creating jobs where people live. “Either we are serious about creating jobs or we're not,” according to Supervisor Olsen, who has remained close to discussions on this project for many years as an elected official with the City of Modesto, State Assembly and now as a Stanislaus County Supervisor. Assistant CEO, Keith Boggs addressed this topic in his message to Supervisors on Tuesday as well, attesting to the woes of commuters in Stanislaus County.

“Ours is a commuter culture,” said Boggs in his presentation and staff reqeust to accept the EIR and allocate millions of County funds to infrastructure, planning and general support this effort. “So many of our fulltime workers leave the County each day, traveling significant distances to work, only to face the same commute in the evening, spending tragic amounts of time in a car or van pool, in traffic congestion, not at home, not with family, without the time to engage with neighborhood or community. The Crows Landing Industrial Business Park will further contribute to providing living wage jobs here, reducing or eliminating many work commutes. This is about creating jobs where our people live,” Boggs concluded.

Developing a healthy economy means providing jobs and encouraging local investments. This is the target approach of the new Opportunity Zone designation approved earlier this year, which the Crows Landing Industrial Park has been designated part of - allowing investors to avoid costly Capital Gains tax and defer payment for ten years on property investment/development in any of the designated tax incentive “Opportunity Zones.” The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 provided the new tax incentive to inspire private investments in low-income areas of the United States, based on U.S. census data. Earlier in October, the Treasury department released regulations that economists believe will facilitate hundreds of billions of dollars in private capital.

Phase I of Crows Landing Industrial Business Park development can begin as soon as the final entitlement processes are complete in early December. For the right investors, this is a diamond in the rough. Located less than one mile from CA Highway I-5, the location is well suited for logistics and goods distribution. A ten-minute connection flight to San Jose Airport, twelve minutes to Oakland Airport, or thirteen minutes to San Francisco, as well as quick and easy freeway access to the Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, provide a level of convenience the County believes will appeal to most developers and corporate decision makers in the urban bay region.

Crows Landing project objectives include a regional employment center, attractive location for manufacturing, industry and distribution, a mix of land use classifications, services (i.e. transit, banking and child care for workers), shovel-ready infrastructure, general aviation capabilities, a walkable/attractive industrial business park campus, and historical recognition of the site's original use.

Transportation studies and environmental impact reports of the area, indicate increased traffic impacting West County regions of Newman and parts of Patterson. Negotiations are underway to prepare for road use increases as the County works with the cities affected. A thirty-day comment period, through November 13th will allow for reaction to the EIR, found here Phase I of the Crows Landing Project is on track to be shovel ready in early 2020 and is expected to develop in phases over the next thirty years.

More information at Crowsbizpark.biz.

Keith Boggs Honored as Literacy Hero

In the first year of the program, 30 employees of Stanislaus County started mentoring.

Friday, Oct 12, 2018 (Manteca, CA) - Keith Boggs of Modesto/Oakdale was recently honored by the leaders of the Great Valley Bookfest, who presented him with their Literacy Hero Award.

In 1999, Keith Boggs developed a mentor program to address Stanislaus County's dropout rate of 23.6%, which was one of the highest for the state of California. He initiated a community-driven solution to combat apathy and hopelessness caused by gaps in academic skills, low self-esteem, lack of role models, emotional detachment, and/or language barriers.

In the first year of the program, 30 employees of Stanislaus County started mentoring. Last year, 188 mentors worked in teams to provide over 2,500 hours of youth mentoring.

The Stanislaus County mentoring program uses a team-based approach to help volunteers balance their busy schedules. Teams are comprised of as many as three individuals, so volunteers can rotate their mentor days and provide backup when someone has an unexpected scheduling conflict, ensuring that their young protégé consistently receives visits twice a week.

The program has grown in large part due to participation from partner organizations. Over the years, Boggs has forged working partnerships with other local agencies, including city governments (Hughson and Modesto), the Stanislaus County Office of Education, and Modesto Junior College. He has also developed partnerships with community organizations like the 500 Lions Club, Modesto Rotary, and City Ministries.

In addition to his volunteer role, Keith Boggs is the Assistant Chief Executive Officer for Stanislaus County. In spite of his heavy workload, Boggs has remained the champion and guiding force of the Employee Mentoring effort, serving as a mentor himself and contributing enormous amounts of his personal time to the program.

"The Bookfest leadership team was impressed and inspired by this mentoring program and the investment Mr. Boggs has made in the lives of local children," commented Melissa King, who chairs the award committee. "It is our great pleasure to recognize him among our region's Literacy Heroes."

Now celebrating the completion of its twentieth year, the Stanislaus County Employee Mentor program continues to attract employees and partner organizations who wish to give back and become involved in the lives of young people in Stanislaus County. Anyone wishing to volunteer as a mentor can apply online: Employee Mentors

Learning to Save Lives

Stanislaus County encourages everyone to be CPR and First Aid trained and to learn how to use an AED before trying to save a life.

When a heart stops, it only takes six minutes before the brain starts dying from lack of oxygen. This is why Stanislaus County makes life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) available to each department, allowing those who are trained to use them, the chance to delay this process by minutes can be crucial in the event of a heart related emergency.

Prior to this recent training, only third floor investigators in the District Attorney's office were trained to use the AED. However, as peace officers, many investigators are not always physically in the office. Depending on assignments and emergency callouts, the response time for them to assist with a person down could be longer than six minutes. To address this need for additional trained staff, recently the District Attorney offered AED, CPR and First Aid training to any employee interested in taking the class. Now there are multiple employees throughout the department who are trained to save a life.

The three-hour training provided class participants the opportunity to practice using the AED and doing CPR on mannequins. They learned how to keep chest compressions going for several minutes while waiting for fire or ambulance personal to respond, which can be physically exhausting. Using the AED is simple since the machine voice prompts you every step of the way, but it is no substitute for CPR.

Stanislaus County encourages everyone to be CPR and First Aid trained and to learn how to use an AED before trying to save a life.

Regional Tourism Roundtable Rebooted

In Stanislaus County, the landscape is changing. We have officially rebooted our Regional Tourism Roundtable with a small, representative group of partners.

Rural areas once inhabited only by trees and visited only by their growers and harvesters are now frequented by everyday folks - people who want to be closer to their food. So close, in fact, that they can interrupt the food chain to pluck what they eat straight from the earth. "Farm-to-table" is now a do-it-yourself experience.

Urban areas are transforming empty commercial spaces that once housed department stores into multi-use gathering spots with coffee shops, tech hubs, gift shops and hotels - brimming with locally sourced items. Boutique distilleries with posh tasting rooms can be found in industrial parks on the outskirts of town and craft beer makers are becoming destination spots.

We're using space differently. Newly ordained "Opportunity Zones" are places where incentivization can bolster imagination. Smart planning can lead to a future of local job creation and economic growth. So, how does tourism play into this changing landscape?

Tourism is one of California's the most lucrative "export-oriented" industries. During 2016, visitors to California contributed $126.3 billion to the economy with Stanislaus County seeing roughly $41.3 million due to tourism.

During the economic downturn, direct travel spending decreased by 3.9 percent. But a happy accident occurred. The "staycation" phenomenon. In-state travel surged as travelers focused on local destinations, avoiding airfares and finding new leisure activities nearby. We Californians continue to be the mainstay of the state's travel and tourism industry. Nearly $135 million was spent in 2016 by Stanislaus County visitors on day travel.

With almost 600,000 people living in Stanislaus County and 4 million within a 50-mile radius, it's time to amplify what there is to see and do where we live. It's time to sell our community.

We have no famous mouse, landmark bridge, or awe-inspiring mountains. But we do have a thriving arts scene, classic car culture, farm-fresh cuisine, the largest privately-owned winery worldwide and an Americana experience that could captivate millions of tourists simply driving through week in and week out. We just have to find the best ways to tell them about it.

It's time we appeal to those who visit for a conference but then leave. We should lure them into staying, eating, drinking, taking in a show. But how? And whose job is that anyway?

Enter the Regional Tourism Roundtable. The County convened a tourism focused group 20 years ago, in 1998. This effort included all nine Stanislaus County cities, chambers of commerce and key tourism businesses. We talked about all things tourism and focused on how we could leverage funds, tell our stories and promote our region collaboratively. When the economy took a hit, this meant all of us had to take a hard look at priorities. We were forced to refocus on core missions.

We asked the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors to reconsider the investment in regional tourism. And we have officially rebooted our Regional Tourism Roundtable with a small, representative group of partners to our first convening. The discussion provided us with incredible insight as to how we can begin leveraging the power of local "fun makers." Our hope is the Regional Tourism Roundtable can promote our beautiful communities and all we have to offer to a traveler or tourist.

Original story here: The Modesto Bee

State Route 132 Transformation Begins

The state highway system was designed to move people and products efficiently, helping to make California's economy one of the greatest in the world.

The state highway system was designed to move people and products efficiently, helping to make California's economy one of the greatest in the world. Whether transporting people from their home to their job, or vegetables from the San Joaquin Valley to Southern California, highways make it happen. Our State Route 132 (SR-132), which transports commuters, truck drivers, travelers and others as they depart Modesto and begin their journey to the Bay Area has been virtually unchanged for 85 years.

SR-132 from the City of Modesto to Gates Road started as a two-lane state highway in 1933, and it remains two lanes - despite dramatic population growth, an increase in trucking and the daily crush as legions of commuters drive back and forth to their Bay Area jobs. The traffic congestion experienced by these commuters can be unbearable. But this is changing, thanks to a cooperative game plan by Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto. The County has started environmental work on its SR-132 Dakota Avenue to Gates Road Project, a four-lane freeway that will transport vehicles and cyclists the 6 miles from Dakota to Gates. When that roadway opens in 2027, it will connect to State Route 132 West - a City of Modesto project - and provide a four-lane route from SR-99 west to Gates Road.

"A safe and well-planned transportation infrastructure is critical to the success of any community. As our agriculture and other industries continue to expand, we must have adequate transportation corridors to get goods and services in and out of our County," said Terry Withrow, the Stanislaus County Supervisor. "In addition, the improvement to a four-lane divided highway, versus the old two-lane, slow and dangerous route, will help ensure that residents who have to commute long distances to work each day will make it back home safely with less time stuck in traffic," Withrow noted.

Local residents and others will have an opportunity to learn more about the project, voice their opinions and discuss the plan with Stanislaus County and Caltrans officials, during an October 10 meeting at Franklin Elementary School, 201 S. Emerald Avenue in west Modesto. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. The project plan has four alternatives all will transform SR-132 as we know it. The City of Modesto's SR-132 West Project will create a new route from SR-99/Kansas Avenue to Dakota Avenue, shifting SR-132 north from its location on Maze Boulevard. Phase 1 of that project is expected to start in 2019, while Phase 2 begins in 2026 and is expected to be completed in 2028. This is significant, because Phase 2 expands that route to four lanes that will flow into The County's four-lane SR-132 Dakota Avenue to Gates Road Project, scheduled to break ground in 2025 and be completed in 2027.

A four lane SR-99 to Gates Road will meet the needs of our community well into the future and bring relief to commuters, businesses and others. The County's project could build the new route adjacent to existing SR-132/Maze Boulevard or it could mirror Kansas Avenue - blazing a new trail west to Gates Road. This will require patience due to legal requirements that mandate environmental studies be performed before the SR-132 Dakota Avenue to Gates Road project breaks ground. Experts will carefully weigh alternatives, making sure the final route is the most efficient use of money and best for motorists.

Construction estimates range from $78 million to $143 million, depending on the alignment. A range of costs is typical during planning, until detailed studies are done and the preferred alternative selected. "The County has entered into a unique partnership with Caltrans to deliver this proposed project. We look forward to fulfilling the County voter's mandate to improve safety and mobility in our region when they approved the Measure L Transportation Sales Tax," said David Leamon, Interim Director for Stanislaus County Public Works. "Also, environmental law requires us to explore viable alternatives. We have developed four. It's important that we engage with the public to make sure we're not having a negative impact on the people, or the environment. We want to do it right."

Because the project's timeline extends to 2027, the county has created and will continually update a website to keep residents informed as work proceeds. Please visit

State Route 132 Dakota Avenue to Gates Road Project for additional information and to view the four routes under consideration.

Libraries Welcome Electric Vehicles

Green living Stanislaus County residents in Oakdale and Modesto who drive electric vehicles now have the convenience of two new charging stations...

Green living Stanislaus County residents in Oakdale and Modesto who drive electric vehicles now have the convenience of two new charging stations made available for use last weekend. The stations were recently installed at the Downtown Modesto and Oakdale libraries.

In 2016 County officials became aware of the fact that there were very few charging stations in our county and most of them were located at car dealerships instead of public spaces. With approval from the Board of Supervisors, and grant funding, the process of installing the stations began. The stations were opened for use this week. Modesto library on I street is the only charging station currently available in Downtown Modesto according to the PlugShare app which locates and maps electric vehicle charging stations. Each site has one charging station which holds two ports (each port can charge one car at a time).

Library staff is eager to see the stations used. “The charging stations will promote clean air technology, and the use of low or zero emission vehicles enhances the library's digital presence, which may attract a new group of people to the library,” said Library Director Diane McDonnell.

Both locations use Level 2 (240V) dual plug (J-1772) charging stations. To use the stations, electric vehicle drivers need a ChargePoint card or the ChargePoint app. A Level 2 voltage charge provides about twice the charging power of the average Level 1 home charger.

The total cost of the project was $38,000 including installation. The project expense was shared by the County Library and General Services Agency Fleet Services Division, the Oakdale Tourism and Visitors Bureau and a grant from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. There will be no fee for the use of any County charging station in the first year of operation. However, there is a 4hr charging limit per customer.

The Modesto Library station is open M-Th 8:30am - 8pm, Friday & Saturday 8:30am - 5pm, and closed on Sundays. The Oakdale Library station is open Monday & Wednesday 10am - 6pm, Tuesday & Thursday 10am - 8pm, Friday & Saturday 10am - 5pm, and closed on Sundays.

Homeless Outreach Goes Mobile

On August 29, 2018, the Stanislaus Community System of Care Outreach and Engagement Team organized the fourth bi-monthly Mobile Access Center event at Mellis Park in West Modesto.

On August 29, 2018, the Stanislaus Community System of Care Outreach and Engagement Team, a group of multi-sector community partners and other community agencies, organized the fourth bi-monthly Mobile Access Center event at Mellis Park in West Modesto. The purpose of the event was for outreach staff and community agencies to connect with and provide services to individuals in the community who are currently experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness. This unique event offers a "meet you where you are" approach where outreach staff go straight to those in need of assistance.

The event was a success with 33 organizations present and over 200 individuals served at the event. Some of the organizations at the event included: Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Community Services Agency, Health Services Agency, Turning Point, Modesto Police Department, DRAIL, Community Housing and Shelter Services, Golden Valley Health Center, Center for Human Services, and many others. One new important partnership is with the DMV. Identification is key to helping people getting off the streets. The DMV has partnered to provide on-site applications. This type of strategic partnership and services are crucial in preventing and reducing homelessness. Many services were provided at the event, some of them included ID registration; STD testing; mental health services; housing assistance; and services for youth, victims, and veterans. Even veterinary checks for pets were provided.

These events are most successful if we can provide the wide range of services needed for our residents who are at risk for and experience homelessness. Ultimately, we hope to provide services that will eventually lead to housing, the betterment of individuals' social and mental condition, and an improved quality of life.

"Our mobile access centers are a learning process for us, allowing us to test ideas. We are seeing the value of taking our partners and moving our outreach and engagement teams to where people are," said Stanislaus County Deputy Executive Officer Ruben Imperial who leads the Focus on Prevention initiative. "Homelessness is a county wide problem and the mobile access centers allow us to provide services in rural areas as well as our major cities across the county. We should be out in our community as much as possible seeking individuals who need our help. We will take what we learn and further improve our efforts."

The next Mobile Access Center event will be held at the end of October in Turlock.

Valley Residents Can Fast Track Commute to Capital

In May, Amtrak San Joaquins launched a “Morning Express Service” that brings riders throughout the San Joaquin Valley north to the state capital before 8:00AM.

In May, Amtrak San Joaquins launched a “Morning Express Service” that brings riders throughout the San Joaquin Valley north to the state capital before 8:00AM. San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority has focused on making the Amtrak train more usable to valley residents and sees this as a move in the right direction. Governed by Board Members representing each of the 10 Member Agencies, the Authority is currently chaired by Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa.

The daily Morning Express service begins in Fresno, CA, departing before 5:00AM and makes stops in Madera, Merced, Turlock-Denair, and then Modesto at 6:00AM. It then stops in Stockton, and Lodi and arrives at the downtown Sacramento Valley Station just before 8:00AM. Return service departs Sacramento after lunch hour and again around 5:30PM, making stops at each of the stations along the San Joaquins southbound line. Weekend routes run later. The schedule is currently changing slightly based on rider feedback. So it is advised to check the website for planning purposes.

This new schedule offers a much more convenient option for business travelers and same-day leisure travelers alike. According to the Bay Area Council Economic Institute's Northern California Megaregion Study, over 23,000 daily-trips occur from as far south as Merced County to Sacramento. This new service reaches even further south to Madera and Fresno Counties.

Until the launch of this Morning Express service, the first northbound train was not scheduled to arrive in Sacramento until 11:20am. The old model also only offered two round trips each day. You could arrive in Sacramento either around noon or 11:30pm. This made it a challenge to attract business travelers who need to arrive early in the day or arrive home for dinner.

Passengers can transfer to Sacramento Regional Transit's local bus and light rail system once they arrive in Sacramento, or the station is only a short walk from the Capitol, as well as many state agencies and downtown businesses. Additionally, Amtrak has a formal partnership with Lyft, as passengers who sign up to request a Lyft through the Amtrak App will receive $5 off each of their first four rides.

Amtrak San Joaquins' onboard amenities make travel time much more productive and enjoyable than driving. Comfortable seating and free Wi-Fi allow passengers to work or relax while they ride. And the trains feature a regional selection of snacks, sandwiches, coffee, craft beer and more. Not only is this new offering good for business travelers, but the environmental impact is noteworthy as well. Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions were a consideration in pulling the trigger on this new route.

Tickets for the Morning Express service can be booked at Amtrak San Joaquins

Share Your Thoughts on Issues that Impact Kids

You can share your opinion on the status of children in Stanislaus County by completing a quick survey

The Stanislaus County Children and Families Commission / First 5 Stanislaus is developing a strategic plan and your help is needed. They are looking for community feedback on issues facing children and families in Stanislaus County.

You are invited to take a short, online survey. This survey is anonymous and will take 15 minutes or less to complete. The survey is available in both Spanish and English.

Please respond to the survey no later than Friday, August 3rd.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F5Stanislaus

Your voice is important. Please let it be heard. Thank you!

Stanislaus Animal Services Best of 209

With over 100,000 votes over a 6 county spread, 209 Magazine readers have voted for Stanislaus Animal Services for BEST Pet Adoption!

Visit Site

Still Worth Your Fight

The State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) continues to propose that 40% of the water produced by the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers watershed be released to the San Joaquin River...

The State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) continues to propose that 40% of the water produced by the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers watershed (“unimpaired flow”) be released to the San Joaquin River so that it can flow into the southern Delta under their Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan (Plan). The Water Board asserts that this flow regime will have limited harmful effects. In truth, this is a water grab and it will have long-term, devastating impacts to our region.

Following years of tug-of-war with the Water Board, multiple review and public input sessions, including extensive scientific research, the Water Board is giving voice to our region for only 21 days to review and comment on the latest draft, the Final Amendments to the Plan. The local irrigation districts, whom are most directly affecting by the Plan, are working to petition the Water Board for more time to comment. As it currently stands, comments will be accepted only through noon on Friday, July 27, 2018.

Assembly member Adam Gray released the following statement condemning the announcement from the State Water Resources Control Board proposal to adopt radical new requirements to seize and waste critically needed San Joaquin Valley water. “The State Water Resources Control Board's decision today is the first shot fired in the next chapter of California's water wars. The board has chosen to create, in their own words, ‘a permanent regulatory drought' and shrugged off our concerns as ‘significant but unavoidable'…A small group of special interests have spent years plotting one of the largest water takes in our state's history. People [could] question why the proponents of a plan designed to save fish cannot demonstrate any meaningful benefit to those very fish or why the questions and concerns of a million people do not deserve even a halfhearted response.”

Stanislaus County will stand with those who oppose the new proposal and will continue to negotiate in favor of the best interests of the Valley. We will support a policy that opposes such extreme increases in unimpaired flows. Local control of water is the only way we can meet local needs.

The Water Board will hold Public Hearings in Sacramento on August 21-22 to consider adoption of the Plan. Speakers will be limited to three minutes. We encourage you and or your representatives to attend. Stay close to the conversation by following the Worth Your Fight on Twitter and Facebook feeds.

Collaborative CARE Program

The Community Assessment Response and Engagement effort is a targeted approach to addressing what many see as a crisis in our community.

In December 2017, over fifty community leaders were convened to discuss noticeable problem behaviors in and around the core of downtown Modesto. The group made a commitment to support a 90-day review and strategy process focused on addressing what many see as a crisis in our community. Out of that meeting, the Community Assessment Response Engagement (CARE) program began as an intensive effort to address the issues that arise in communities when homelessness is coupled with mental illness and substance use and/or alcohol abuse.

While recent efforts such as Focus on Prevention have begun to make progress in strengthening the community's system of care in response to local homelessness, an urgent response was not available. A small population is in need of immediate help- individuals experiencing significant distress for themselves while also causing distress to the community. These are individuals that often exhibit high-risk health and safety behaviors, engage in vagrancy-related criminal behavior, experience high-frequency emergency department use, high-frequency jail detention due to behavior resulting from serious mental illness and substance use disorders, and many experience frequent detention for evaluation and treatment.

The CARE initiative is an innovative approach to a complex problem. Over a 90 day period, a work group met weekly to map assets, unpack problematic processes, and identify service gaps while building a new approach that could increase accountability, and alignment- developing a system and service model that has never been utilized in our community. The group was made up of representatives of twenty or more partners who directly serve this population, regularly working with those who show signs of high-risk health and safety behaviors, mental illness, criminal behavior and substance use. This effort was led by Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto with Emergency Medical Services, Doctor's Hospital, Probation, Board and Care Homes, Probation, District Attorney and many others at the table.

"This really represents what a true partnership is. With public agencies joining together, along with the private sector," said County CEO Jody Hayes. "It began with a discussion about what we can realistically expect to accomplish through the long term efforts of the Focus on Prevention initiative, recognizing that even with all of our work, it is going to take us some time to see meaningful results. But many of us are driving to work each day seeing individuals in distress in our community. We knew we needed to challenge ourselves to come up with something else to serve individuals who are not being served through the system."

A Multi-Disciplinary Team(MDT) made up of police & fire department from the Homeless Engagement and Response (HEART) Team, behavioral health and recovery services clinicians and other support services were deployed as a pilot program model to engage this priority population, determine how individuals might be helped, and how ongoing issues might be addressed. Over a span of two weeks the pilot program tested a new service model with multiple agencies working in tandem to engage individuals on a case-by-case basis. Results of the two week pilot indicated that many were willing to engage (75% signed the release of information, 25% agreed to services).

On June 26, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors approved the continuation of the CARE MDT strategy to address vagrancy and help individuals in distress due to severe mental illness and substance use disorders in our county. Contingency funds of $500,000 from the Focus on Prevention budget will be used if needed, along with the following approved resources:

Three staff including one Fire Fighter-Paramedic, one Police Officer, and one Police Sergeant provided by the City of Modesto at an estimated total cost of $616,000.
One Public Health Nurse/Registered Nurse provided by external partners at an estimated total cost of $241,000.
One Deputy District Attorney allocated to the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office at an estimated total cost of $157,000.
One Supervising Deputy Probation Officer and one Probation Officer provided by the Stanislaus County Probation Department at an estimated total cost of $274,000.
Staffing and funding for one data analyst will be determined.
One Social Worker Case Manager provided by the Stanislaus County Community Services Agency at an estimated total cost of $104,000.
A Mental Health Team comprised of two case managers and one Mental Health Clinician provided by the Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department at an estimated total cost of $273,000.
One Public Defender provided by the Stanislaus County Public Defender's Office on a part-time basis at an estimated total cost of $66,000.
A placeholder of approximately $121,000, should resources not be available from any of the partner agencies to provide needed training, operating supplies, and/or emergency client support services that could include meals, clothing, temporary shelter, etc.

The City of Modesto will continue to support the HEART team by sustaining and adding public safety personnel. For the 18/19 budget, the city has added a dedicated crew who will come in after the MDT and HEART teams have delivered care in order to provide the necessary restorative clean-up work throughout impacted areas of the city.

Interim Modesto City Manager Joe Lopez is very encouraged by this process, stating, "This effort has proven to be a tremendously successful collaboration with the County. It's a unique program that seeks to help - not only our community who sees the effects of mental illness and homeless in their neighborhoods - but also the individuals who need additional support in connecting with the necessary services. The City has learned a lot in this process about the need that exists, and the services aimed at providing help."

In addition to the fiscal resources allocated, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution in support of Senate Bill 1045 Conservatorship: Chronic Homelessness, Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders and issued a letter of support for this conservatorship bill requesting inclusion in the legislative language. As written, this bill proposes targeted treatment of homeless individuals who struggle with mental illness and substance abuse disorders, individuals that experience high-frequency emergency department use, high-frequency jail detention due to behavior resulting from serious mental illness and substance use disorders, etc. in San Francisco and Los Angeles Counties only.

CARE Program Report

Stanislaus County Elections

The unofficial Election Day result may be viewed at the stanvote.com website and includes ballots voted at the polls and vote by mail (VBM) ballots received and processed as of last week.

Modesto, CA - June 7, 2018 Lee Lundrigan, Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters / County Clerk / Recorder has released the daily Stanislaus County Elections Update.

Today the Elections Office continued with the canvass process of the Statewide Direct Primary Election. On Election Day Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters Lee Lundrigan reported her office had counted 46,195 ballots for the June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election. The unofficial Election Day result may be viewed at the stanvote.com website and includes ballots voted at the polls and vote by mail (VBM) ballots received and processed as of last week.

Stanislaus voters received two ballot cards to contain all the races and propositions for this election. Together both cards create 'one' complete ballot. However, one voted ballot consisting of two ballot cards has doubled the amount of voting materials to prepare and count through the high speed scanners thus increasing the amount of work and time required to canvass the election.

Approximately 38,800 VBM ballots remain to be processed and counted. VBM ballot processing includes:

checking the signature on each VBM envelope against the signature located on the original affidavit of registration;
signature verification:
sorting the VBM envelopes into one of the 327 precincts in which they would have voted had they not voted by mail;
opening and flattening 2 ballot cards for each of the 38,800 VBM ballots;
processing each of the VBM cards through the high speed ballot scanning equipment to tabulate them;

Today a random 1% of the precincts was selected to be manually tallied and balanced against the computer counts to verify the accuracy of the election tally system. This process is required by law. The office will begin work on the 1% hand tally of the vote next week. The hand review of ballots to identify qualified write-in candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, United States Senator, State Senate Member District 12, State Assembly Member District 21 and Superintendent of Public Instruction is underway. Certified write-in candidates include:

Governor

K. Pearce	Republican
Veronika Fimbres	Green
Armando M. Arreola	No Party Preference
Arman Soltani	No Party Preference
Peter Crawford Valentino	No Party Preference

Lieutenant Governor

Marjan S. Fariba	No Party Preference
Marjan S. Fariba	No Party Preference

United States Senator

Seelam Prabhakar Reddy	Democratic
Ursula M. Schilling	No Party Preference
Michael V. Ziesing	Green

State Senate - District 12

Dennis J. Brazil	Democratic

State Assembly - District 21

Justin Ryan Quigley	Libertarian

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Douglas I. Vigil	(Nonpartisan)
Thomas L. Williams	(Nonpartisan)

Approximately 3,000 provisional ballots require examination. This process will begin following the scanning and uploading of voter signatures located on the rosters from the 145 polling locations. These signatures and those on the VBM ballots must be reviewed to determine who has voted prior to processing the provisionally voted ballots.

California law now extends the time period VBM ballots must be accepted beyond Election Day and will increase the number of ballots to be processed. Elections Code § 3020 ("Postmark Plus 3") extends the dates VBM ballots are timely received from 8 p.m. on Election Day for three additional days. Nearly 3,600 of these timely mailed VBM ballots were received today and yesterday. They are included in the VBM count and must still be processed and counted.

California Election Code § 3019 now requires each Registrar of Voters (ROV) office to allow eight days after an election for voters who have not signed their VBM envelopes to come into the office to sign them or submit an Unsigned Ballot Envelope Statement. The election cannot be certified until this time limit is met. ROV Lee Lundrigan's office will contact each of these voters and advise them they have eight days, until Wed., June 13, 2018, to sign their envelopes. Over 348 of these unsigned ballot envelopes remain.

The canvass will continue until complete. The office will be closed Wed., July 4, 2018 in observance of the 4th of July and the canvass will re-commence on Thurs., July 5, 2018. California law requires certification of this election to be on or before Thurs., July 5, 2018, which is 30 days following Election Day.

Celebrating Outstanding Seniors

This month the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors recognized a handful of senior citizens in our community who have done and continue to do great work in many areas of important service.

We commend the following for their exemplary leadership and service throughout Stanislaus County.

Mr. Ernest Ray Richardson who served in the United States Air Force for 16 years, providing support during the Korean and Vietnam War eras and volunteered for the past 19 years, as a Board Member for the Central Valley Opportunity Center where he currently still volunteers as well as serving as a Board Member for the local Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Other involvements include the Kiwanis Club, Salvation Army, the Modesto Airport Neighborhood and VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program to help senior taxpayers or those with special needs file tax returns. , Mr. Richardson is currently volunteering as a Board Member for the GRID Alternatives Central Valley. GRID offers energy technology and training to underserved communities, and provides hands-on experience in the solar industry and related fields. The program also coordinates with local high schools and many students volunteer to learn how to install solar panels.

Mr. Joe Madden is a Korean War Veteran who served in the United States Air Force. He voluntarily drove homebound Veterans to their medical appointments in Modesto and throughout the state using his personal vehicle and gasoline for over 5 years starting in 2008 helping Veterans in Stanislaus County who had no way of getting to their appointments. Most of these Veterans were frail and required assistance. Madden was appointed by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors as an At-Large Member of the Stanislaus County Veterans Advisory Commission in 2012, and became the Chair of the Transportation Committee as soon as the Committee was created. He was dedicated and persistent in getting an established program in place and worked to get handicapped-accessible vans donated in 2014.

Ms. Sterling Fountain has been a member of the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church for 43 years. She also has been an active volunteer with the King Kennedy Center Board of Directors and has served for 20 years with the Women's Auxiliary, where she is a founding member. She served as a PTA member for Modesto City Schools for many years and served on the Modesto City School Board of Education's Advisory Committee and as a Mentor for the Special Programs Department for Modesto Junior College. She volunteered as a Board Member with the Girl Scouts for 9 years and voluntarily provides transportation for disabled persons in her handicapped- equipped van. She served as United Way Campaign Coordinator for the Modesto Irrigation District for 6 years. In addition, she served as City of Modesto Affirmative Action Commissioner and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as Membership Chairman and Founder Advisor of Young Achievers.

Mr. & Mrs. Bill and Marsha Silveira have been active volunteers for over 28 years with the Society for disABILITIES, and have been instrumental in the Adaptive Winter Ski Program, helping with the Adaptive Bowling Program, with the Loan Closet Program making sure the durable medical equipment is clean, working, and ready to be loaned out. They assist with various fund raising activities and donate many hours hosting big events and helping with recreational, social, and educational programs. Mrs. Silveira was the Volunteer Coordinator of the Sign Language Club at Rose Avenue School in Modesto for 15 years. Marsha has been involved with the Ceres Rotary Club's Read-a-Thon program and she is currently volunteering at Fair Oaks Elementary School in Oakdale with “Art Core," a special program for youth to enjoy art.

Ms. Delores Raymundo has been actively involved at Sacred Heart Catholic Church's Eucharist Ministry in Patterson and has served as a cook for the Church Homeless Minitsty for several years. Raymundo has been volunteering for over 10 years for the Congregate Senior Meals Program at the Hammon Senior Center, where she serves on the Board. She also helps with craft projects at the Center, supplying materials and teaching others how to make various items, along with making craft items and donating them to the Senior Center. Delores has voluntarily been providing transportation for over 10 years to those who need help getting to a medical appointment, getting groceries, etc. She donates baby hats/caps to the Turlock Pregnancy Center and makes tiny baby caps for the Preemie Ward in a San Francisco hospital. In addition, she makes and donates adult caps for the homeless people in Patterson.

We are thankful for these seniors and others in our community who show compassion, who serve the less fortunate and willingly shares their time, talent and treasure for the good of all residents.

Rail Project Receives Major State Grant

Valley Rail Project Receives Major Grant Funding Today by State - Will Fund Series of New Stations and Track Improvements to Increase Connectivity and Frequency of Passenger Rail Service to Sacramento

Press Release

April 26, 2018, Sacramento, CA – Today the California State Transportation Agency announced a series of grant awards under the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), and selected the Valley Rail Project as a major awardee providing $500,500,000 to fund a series of new stations and track improvements to increase connectivity and frequency of service to the Sacramento region. The Valley Rail Project is a joint proposal by the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority and the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission to dramatically improve passenger rail service to the Sacramento region with both Amtrak San Joaquins and Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) service.

The Valley Rail project will implement a new transportation vision for serving the Sacramento region with integrated intercity and commuter rail service. The grant funds will help perform track improvements on the existing Union Pacific Railroad Sacramento subdivision freight corridor that runs just east of Interstate 5 to make it usable for passenger service, and build new shared San Joaquins and ACE stations in Lodi, Elk Grove, Sacramento City College, Sacramento Midtown, Old North Sacramento, and Natomas which will include a shuttle connection to the Sacramento International Airport.

“The Sacramento community is very excited about this project,” said Sacramento Vice Mayor Steve Hansen. “Right now we have train tracks that run through midtown without providing any benefit to the local area. By building a new station in midtown we will now tap into that existing infrastructure, bringing customers to our local businesses, giving business travelers access to the Capitol without clogging up our roads, and providing new easy access for our local residents to reach key parts of the Bay Area or destinations throughout the Central Valley.”

“This TIRCP grant will revolutionize the way that the SJRRC can grow by adding new service that would now include Sacramento for ACE and adding additional trains for the Amtrak San Joaquins. The State of California recognizes the important part the SJRRC plays in connecting the Central Valley, Bay Area, and State Capital, and we are grateful for their support,” says Steve Dresser, Chair, San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission

Additional new stations will also be constructed along the ACE and San Joaquins routes as a result of this award: on the San Joaquins line, new stations will be built in Madera and Oakley; on the ACE route, new stations will be built in Ceres, Modesto, Ripon, Manteca, and North Lathrop.

The TIRCP grant program receives significant funding from SB 1, the state's gas tax program that provides critical resources to improve California's highways and local streets, bridges, and transit systems – providing broad benefits to every community in California.

“This project would not be possible without SB 1,” said Vito Chiesa, Chair of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority and Stanislaus County Supervisor. “With this funding, we will be able to move quickly in implementing an incredibly important transportation project that will better connect communities, improve mobility, reduce congestion, improve air quality, and support a good quality of life.”

The Valley Rail project is a transformational, megaregional initiative. Valley rail results in the initiation of San Jose bound commuter service from Sacramento using existing commuter rail equipment (expected by 2020). Four trains from Ceres are included in the proposal, with three heading up to Sacramento (with a transfer to San Jose in Lathrop) and one direct route to San Jose by no later than 2023. Feeder electric bus service will connect to Ceres from Merced. Valley Rail also adds two new San Joaquins round-trips between Fresno and Sacramento, on top of the two round-trips currently available. Total rail service between Stockton and Sacramento will be nine round-trips across all available routes and service providers, including one Sacramento to Stockton only round-trip.

The award also includes funds for ACE to procure zero emission buses to support feeder service between Merced and Ceres, and rolling stock for both corridors to support service increase. The grant is coordinated with 2016 TIRCP investments that are already being implemented in order to expand platforms to accommodate longer 10-car trains to add capacity on the four ACE round trips that currently cross the Altamont Pass.

In addition, Valley Rail funding will help convert the entire fleet including the thruway bus network to renewable diesel fuel, providing greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits across the entire existing (449 track miles) and proposed expanded (119 track miles) San Joaquins and ACE services.

“Improved passenger rail is an integral part of Sacramento and the Valley's regional transportation network. It is essential to support travel and economic growth in this interconnected economy, and connect communities in ways that are convenient and sustainable,” said Chiesa.

Project Overview:

Measure L Pays Off

This week the County received the first installment of Measure L funds.

This week the County received the first installment of Measure L funds. The sales tax passed by voters in 2016 made clear that we have prioritized, "Local Roads First" in Stanislaus County. The check for over $4.5 million was received by an enthusiastic Board of Supervisors on April 17. Measure L, the 25-year, ½ cent sales tax to address road maintenance and renovation needs was seen overwhelmingly as a necessary step to improve road conditions locally. Revenues available to operate, maintain and improve our local transportation system have not kept up with the needs of our community and the Modesto-Metro area road conditions were in the top 20 worst in the nation when the tax measure passed. Many other counties in California have approved similar measures making us 'Self-Help' Counties. Not only are we better able to maintain and improve our roadways and transportation systems, we are also more successful in competing for funding and leveraging a larger share of state and federal dollars. Self-Help funds generated must stay local and can only be spent on transportation. Funds will be used for various projects.

South County Service Center Now Open

Applying for assistance programs and brushing up skills to land the perfect job just got easier for residents

Applying for assistance programs and brushing up skills to land the perfect job just got easier for residents in southern Stanislaus County. The South County Service Center is now open for business. The building located at 1310 West Main Street in Turlock is a multi-agency facility and home to the Community Services Agency (CSA) and Workforce Development. At the new location, residents can apply for assistance programs that include Medi-Cal, CalWORKS and CalFresh. They can also receive job training and access to computer labs.

“Access and convenience for customers is important to us,” stated Kathryn M. Harwell, Director for the Community Services Agency. “The south side of the county is growing and we want to provide the best service possible.”

Community Services Agency(CSA) occupies the majority of the new building which includes office space for more than 100 employees, customer interview rooms, and conference rooms. The building will also serve as a training center for new staff to learn how to administer CSA programs. Prior to the new building construction, CSA had been housed at 101 Lander Avenue in Turlock, a location the agency outgrew.

The South County Service Center will also be home to other county and community partners including Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Learning Quest (Stanislaus Literacy Centers), Aspiranet, and Haven Women's Center. This unique county and community partnership offers a "one stop shop," housing several agencies under one roof. The office is located in the new business park on West Main Street, centrally located in Turlock.

$9M En Route for 132

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced a $9 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program grant for State Road 132, the Gateway Express Project in Modesto. The grant was issued as a result of persistent support from U.S. Representative Jeff Denham. “At a time when we see increased congestion and travel times, this project will move trucks around the city and improve commute times on local roads,” said Rep. Denham. “Efficiently transporting our agricultural commodities from the Valley is critical to our economy, and this grant will get Valley goods to market faster while reducing traffic and improving the public safety of Modesto residents.” The $9 million grant will be used for the first phase of a newly-constructed, two-lane highway traveling east/west around Modesto. The Gateway Express Project will increase capacity by allowing trucks to avoid the most populous areas of the city. Approximately 8.2 million tons of freight per year, or 34,000 tons daily, are moved over SR-132 to and from the I-5 corridor. The project will allow for continued growth of Valley agricultural exports. Modesto was the only TIGER grant recipient in the state of California of the 41 total projects. “SR132 is our region's number one transportation project. It is a key economic engine for region,” said Matt Machado, Stanislaus County Director of Public Works. “Local agencies partnering together is a successful combination! Thank you Congressman Denham for your unwavering support!”

Creating Lifelong Readers

A team from the County spent the morning reading to Beard Elementary School students

A team from the County spent the morning of March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss, reading to Beard Elementary School students from kindergarten to fourth grade as part of the Read Across America program. Celebrating literacy and the importance of education is a top priority for the county as noted in our mission, vision and values, where "First-rate Learning" is named.

Volunteers throughout the nation participate in the Read Across America initiative created by the National Education Association. Fluent reading is an important factor for academic success and student achievement. The goal of the initiative is to create lifelong readers by highlighting the importance of books.Stanislaus County is proud to support efforts that lead to student success and we take every opportunity to impact the lives of local youth.

"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child." -Dr. Seuss

REACT Center Dedication

The REACT (Re-Entry and Enhanced Alternatives to Custody Training) Center

This innovative, programs-based detention facility is part of the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center. The REACT (Re-Entry and Enhanced Alternatives to Custody Training) Center was built to provide transitional housing and program opportunities to incarcerated adults. This facility allows the County to close the antiquated downtown Men's Jail, with the exception of Court holding space.

In October 2013, Stanislaus County applied for $40 million in State funding through the Adult Local Criminal Justice Facilities Construction Financing Program under Senate Bill 1022 for this project. Stanislaus County was originally denied funding but appealed that decision and was granted full funding of $40 million in March 2014. The County-required match of $4.445 million brought the total project budget to $44,445,000. This project was completed on time and significantly under budget.

The REACT facility has 288 inmate beds which include four Transitional Housing Units at 48 beds each and three minimum Housing Units at 32 beds each...Providing more secure housing space for incarcerated persons, availability and access to education, counseling and viable programs are the key features of this new facility slated to open for public safety use in May. REACT is intended to reduce the tragic cycle of recidivism by closing the gaps between incarcerations and provide preparedness for release and overall rehabilitation.

Special thanks to the bridging architectural team of HOK and LDA Partners and constructed by the design-build team of Lionakis and Roebbelen contractors.

Community Leaders Gather and Skill Build

Municipal Advisory Council members were invited to attend training courses intended to build-up the knowledge and skills needed to be informed and effective community representatives.

Recently a group of Municipal Advisory Council members were invited to attend training courses intended to build-up the knowledge and skills needed to be informed and effective community representatives. Training topics included the Brown Act, Running a Public Meeting, the County budget as well as Land-use Planning, all led by the County. A discussion highlighting the twelve principals of civility was led by Stanislaus County Office of Education as part of its Choosing Civility initiative from a few years ago.

A group of over 40 dedicated citizens serve on Municipal Advisory Councils throughout our county representing their community to the Board of Supervisors. There are Councils for the unincorporated communities of Denair, Empire, Hickman, Keyes, Knights Ferry, Salida, South Modesto, Valley Home and Wood Colony. Members have two main priorities: Working with the County, offering the collective and overall views of the community and working with their represented community, sharing information about County proposals and providing a place where individuals can discuss community issues.

These trainings are the beginning of a more supportive and robust Municipal Advisory Council program in Stanislaus County. In addition to future trainings, webpages dedicated to each of the nine MACs are currently in development, and reference materials and guides will be created for council members to use with the goal of supplying our community leaders with the tools they need to bring positive change to their communities. For more information, email CavanahP@stancounty.com

DeMartini Gives State of the County Address

Discussing topics ranging from the future of the County and the retirement system to the Focus on Prevention Initiative and the protection of our water supply. (Transcript)

Discussing topics ranging from the future of the County and the retirement system to the Focus on Prevention Initiative and the protection of our water supply, Supervisor Jim DeMartini, gave a heartfelt and thorough State of the County Address. (Transcript)

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System Update Strategy Saves Big Money

Updating a database this complex was like building a 10,000 piece puzzle according to Software Developer, Lisa Steed.

Stanislaus County has saved over $1,000,000 by completing a required update to the Oracle PeopleSoft application version 9.2 with a team composed entirely of county staff. Outside consultants were not hired to complete the project, which is typical for this level of technical work. Beginning in December 2016, county staff across multiple departments, including Auditor-Controller Payroll, Chief Executive Office, Human Resources, Risk Management, and Information Technology Central launched a system upgrade in order to bring the application to the required version by December 2017 in compliance with Oracle maintenance requirements and to avoid additional maintenance costs.

This is the second time county staff alone have upgraded Oracle PeopleSoft. In 2011 a similar upgrade to version 9.1 was performed. Without the use of consultants, the extensive upgrades were challenging but saved a combined estimated $1.6 to $2 million to the county. Throughout the duration of the project, payroll processing remained seamless. Special thanks to Lisa Steed, Senior Software Developer for her diligence and hard work on the project.

Collaboration Leads To A New Beginning

Stanislaus County Veterans Services and the Modesto Police Department Homeless Engagement and Response Team (HEART)

Stanislaus County Veterans Services and the Modesto Police Department Homeless Engagement and Response Team (HEART) Unit have been working together on engagement and enforcement within the transient community. When Sgt. Hammond of Modesto Police began asking individuals if they were veterans, he was surprised at the number of homeless vets living on our streets. Statistics indicate that over 10% of homeless individuals are veterans.

Not long ago, Sgt. Hammond introduced Jose (Veterans Services staff) to a homeless veteran. Initially he was very upset, saying that he had asked for help more than two decades ago and the door was slammed in his face. Jose explained that he may be able to help, that he did not work for the VA, but for the County Veterans Services Office and asked this man to give us a chance to try to help him. Over several weeks, Jose met with him in the park. He helped order his discharge paperwork and military medical records and assisted with filing a claim for Veterans Pension.

Because he has no mailing address, Jose had all of the VA correspondence to this man sent to the Veterans Services Office so that he could track his claim status and upcoming appointments. Jose kept close contact with him, making sure that he kept his pension exam appointment and called the regional office to have an exam rescheduled that had been missed by accident. Jose waited at the Modesto VA clinic from 5:30 am once to make sure that our veteran was there in time to catch the bus to Livermore.

Just before Christmas, the County Office of Veterans Affairs received a check in the mail addressed to this gentleman. It was a sizable retroactive benefits check along with a letter explaining that he was awarded the maximum monthly pension. This is a life changing event for a man that has been living on the streets for years with no other source of income. Not only does this resident have a steady income now, but he is eligible for low income housing, can afford basic necessities of food and shelter but more importantly, he has a fresh start in life.

Successful Start for Children's Crisis Intervention Program

The first year results of the program have far exceeded department expectations.

Last year Stanislaus County's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services began a one year pilot Crisis Intervention Program to focus on the needs of local children. The first year results of the program have far exceeded department expectations.

There were 192 children and youth averted from psychiatric hospitalization during the first year. On average, 16 children were seen monthly at the Children's Crisis Intervention Program, and only 13 of the 192 total seen in the year required hospitalization within six months after receiving services. 179 children were successfully averted from subsequent hospitalization, a 93.2% success rate in the first year of the Crisis Intervention Program.

The success of this program has had a positive economic impact on the county budget. Had the 179 children and youth who successfully utilized services prevention/intervention services been hospitalized instead, it is estimated to have cost the county $1.2 million dollars (based on the average 5-6 day length of stay for children's psychiatric hospitalization).

"We are very pleased to see such positive results from the initial launch of this program," said Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Director, Rick DeGette. "It's encouraging to know that we are helping children stay healthy with preventative services and realizing enormous cost savings as well."

Stanislaus County's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services provides integrated mental health services to adults and older adults with a serious mental illness and to children and youth with a serious emotional disturbance. The department also provides outpatient and residential alcohol and drug treatment and prevention services and serves as Stanislaus County's Public Guardian.

More information at BHRS

stancounty.com/bhrs

West County Service Center Hosts Open House in Patterson

Westside residents of Stanislaus County got a look at the new West County Service Center in Patterson.

Westside residents of Stanislaus County got a look at the new West County Service Center in Patterson during an Open House on October 23, 2017.

The building at 101 W. Las Palmas Avenue is home to several county and non-profit agencies, all providing services under one roof. The idea is to make it easier for residents to access services through this unique county and community partnership.

"It's important that residents on the Westside have a central place to go," stated Kathy Harwell, Community Services Agency Director.

The building houses the Community Services Agency, the Health Services Agency, the Department of Workforce Development, Center for Human Services, and Learning Quest, a literacy program.

The Center outgrew its former Patterson location at 66 N. El Circulo Drive where space became limited as demand grew for more social, education, and workforce services. The old location had 2,000 square feet. The new facility will offer 15,300 square feet. Stanislaus County has a ten year lease on the property

At the new location, residents can apply for programs such as CalWORKS and Medi-Cal, receive Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services, and get help finding a job.

Throughout the tour, partner agencies were on hand to answer questions and provide tours of the new facility

County Recognized for Outstanding Child Support Program

Stanislaus County Department of Child Support Services was recognized

Stanislaus County Department of Child Support Services was recognized by the Western Interstate Child Support Enforcement Council receiving the Excellence Award for Outstanding Program. Baljit Atwal, department director, happily received the award on behalf of the Department of Child Support Services, sharing that in 2016, through new and innovative approaches, the department collected and distributed a record breaking $51,558,831 ($2.1 million increase from the prior year). This increase in collections is attributed to many focused efforts by dedicated employees serving families in the community. Efforts included involving increased outreach to customers, enhanced training for staff in customer service, and collaborations with county partners, both governmental and non-profit.

The Department of Child Support Services, in addition to collecting and distributing child support to families in the community, also establishes child support and medical orders, establishes paternity, and modify child support orders. For more information about SCDCSS services visit Child Support Services

Mentors Make a Difference

POWER IN A MENTOR HOUR: County Youth Mentor Program Closes in on a Major Milestone.

Mentoring matters significantly when it comes to positive youth development, greatly impacting the lives of young people who are struggling in the classroom. Students can have a difficult time in school for any number of reasons ranging from home life struggles, lack of healthy relationships, self-esteem challenges, the basic need for dedicated time with a caring adult or other unique circumstances.

In 1999, County leadership launched the program as a means to address the high school dropout rate in our county, then among the highest in the state. We recognized that more could be done to help provide tools for our youth to succeed in Stanislaus county. During the cradle to career timespan, many of us fall off course and require the caring support of an adult to stay on track. The mentor program provides volunteers an opportunity to give back in a small way while fostering educational achievement in local youth.

This award winning project connects hundreds of County employees along with many other community partners with elementary schools across the county. Our team based approach allows mentors to form a team of up to three adults who pay regular visits to their students twice a week at lunch hour. The time commitment is minimal, while the impact lasts a lifetime for both mentor and mentee.

Getting registered as a mentor is simple. Mentors can start anytime during the school year following a simple application process and fingerprint appointment. Please consider mentoring and help contribute to the success of a local student. Find out more at www.employeementors.com

County Celebrates New CEO

Jody Hayes was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stanislaus County on August 12, 2017.

Jody Hayes was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stanislaus County on August 12, 2017 following the retirement of Stan Risen who served as County CEO from 2013 - 2017. Mr. Hayes is assuming responsibility for the sound and effective management of approximately 4,400 employees, 27 departments, and a $1.1 billion budget.

Hayes began his career with Stanislaus County in 1999 in the Probation Department, human resources division. In 2004, he accepted a promotion to the Chief Executive Office as a Management Consultant and was appointed two years later to Deputy Executive Officer. During the next eight years of hard work and dedication he rose through the County ranks to become Assistant Executive Officer with overall responsibilities for the County's budget and executive support for public safety and general government departments. After a nationwide recruitment, he was appointed as the new County Chief Executive Officer.

As CEO, Hayes is appointed by the Board of Supervisors with responsibilities for the overall direction and management of County resources, long-range organizational planning and the implementation of strategic goals and priorities as identified by the Board of Supervisors. Hayes has proven eager to engage with the community in this new role. “I am so honored to have the support of our Board of Supervisors in filling the role of Chief Executive Officer for the County,” Hayes said. “My pitch to the Board during the selection process was heavily weighted on my passion areas of community transformation and long-term vision for our future. I'm very excited to lead the organization through this next chapter on our journey of continuous improvement. Our future is very bright in Stanislaus County!”

Hayes is a proud graduate of the local education system, including Thomas Downey High School and Modesto Junior College. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly Pomona, and expanded his professional experience with key management roles in the manufacturing and hospitality industries prior to joining the County. Outside of the office, Hayes enjoys taking advantage of the many recreational opportunities available in the Modesto area with his wife Angela and children Sydney, Spencer and Aidan. In summarizing his appointment to Chief Executive Officer, Hayes is quick to point out his local roots and the long tradition of leadership throughout the County organization. “Stanislaus County is such a great place to work and to raise your family; it is a privilege to lead this organization and to dedicate my career to improving our community for many generations to come.”

First Ever Kids Connect Event

We hosted an event to connect with parents and support the health and well being of our children.

In honor of Child Support Awareness Month, we hosted an event to connect with parents and support the health and well being of our children.

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Solar Eclipse in Stanislaus County

The Modesto Library is hosting a viewing event to safely observe this amazing celestial phenomenon!

On August 21, 2017, from 9:02 - 11:40 am. there will be a total solar eclipse visible in a belt spanning all across the US. The exciting once-in-a-lifetime event is being called the Great American Eclipse because a Total Eclipse of the Sun that can be seen from the American West Coast to the American East Coast rarely occurs. The last time a total solar eclipse was visible from coast to coast was June 8, 1918. This is the first time since the total solar eclipse of January 11, 1880 that a total solar eclipse will occur exclusively over the continental United States. The Modesto Library is hosting a viewing event from 9:45 - 10:45 am. to safely observe this amazing celestial phenomenon! Stanislaus County has prepared a map that shows the procession of the eclipse customized for conditions in the County.

County CEO Stan Risen Retires

"It's been the greatest honor of my career to serve as your CEO."
-Stan Risen August 11, 2017

Stan Risen became the Chief Executive Officer of Stanislaus County in 2013. He has led one of the largest employers in the region with over 4,400 employees, 27 departments and a $1.1 billion budget. Today is his final day as Stanislaus County CEO. He will be succeeded by Assistant Executive Officer, Jody Hayes.

Risen has been instrumental as a leader of the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office, having served with unsurpassed dedication and professionalism. His career focus has centered on a strong belief in the power of servant leadership. That was demonstrated in his desire to mentor and develop others and earned him a reputation for humility. "I'm not sure I ever really felt qualified for this job," he told staff at a leadership meeting goodbye.

A commitment to giving back to the community through his dedicated service has been a hallmark of Risen's career from his start as youth pastor to his service on Ceres City Council, Planning Commission, and Redevelopment Agency. He has always been a strong proponent of government accountability and efficiency, continuous performance improvement and forward motion as an organization.

He began his career in public service starting in the Stanislaus County Assessor's Office in 1987 and was promoted to the Chief Executive Office in 1999 where he advanced to his appointment as CEO in November 2013.

As a visionary and inspirational leader for Focus on Prevention, a county-wide initiative striving to improve the quality of life for all Stanislaus County residents and families, Risen worked to align community members from ten different sectors around priorities such as homelessness, strengthening families, supporting youth, and reducing recidivism/reentry into criminal justice system. This ten-year initiative required coordination efforts that have broken down longtime silos across the county. "Giving 100% with all that he did, he gained trust and was greatly respected," according to Board Chair, Vito Chiesa. Risen's common sense approach to developing programs that address prevention rather than merely treating symptoms has garnered immense community support since the launch of the program in 2015.

His passion for collaboration and relationship building brought together community sectors including non-profits, health, education, faith, neighborhoods, media, arts, government, and business. His spirit of community collaboration has been commended by many. "The way you have led this county, broken walls down and found solutions has helped us build great relationships," said Supervisor Terry Withrow.

Stan enjoys outdoor life and maintains a strong focus on faith and family. He has been married to his wife Cheryl for 38 years, has four children and four grandchildren and is an active member of Crosspoint Community Church in Modesto, CA.

Focus on Prevention Opens Outreach Center

A new Outreach and Engagement Center in Modesto will coordinate the provision of services for those in our community struggling with homelessness

Stanislaus County Focus on Prevention collaborative welcomed a diverse and committed turnout of community members, nonprofit administrators, local government leadership and elected officials on August 1, to celebrate the opening of Modesto's new Outreach and Engagement Center, located at 825 12th Street. Assemblyman Adam Gray, Congressman Jeff Denham, and a host of other local officials acknowledged the need for homeless services and greater access, commending the efforts that went into the Outreach Center opening.

The new Outreach and Engagement Center will coordinate the provision of multiple services for those in our community struggling with homelessness. Initially staff from the County's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department, Community Services Agency, Homeless Court Program and Chief Executive Office will be housed at the Center. By this fall 2017 offerings will expand to include a Housing Assessment Team and other co-located homelessness service providers and community partners. This development allows the community to bring services directly to people experiencing homelessness who otherwise might not seek out help, and connect them to housing and necessary support.

Supervisor Terry Withrow, of the County's Stewardship Council said, “The opening of the Outreach and Engagement Center for the homeless in our community was the result of thousands of hours of work, and hundreds of dedicated and caring individuals in our county collaborating to make this a better place for all of us to live. It is only the tip of the iceberg as we watch many more great things come out of the Focus on Prevention Movement in Stanislaus County ”

For more on the Outreach and Engagement Center, visit their website.

For more on Focus on Prevention, visit their website

Excellence in Financial Reporting Awarded

Excellence in Financial reporting was awarded to Auditor-Controller's office

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to Stanislaus County by Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

Receiving this award is a notable achievement and is the second year in a row the award has been received by Stanislaus County. The CAFR was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program which includes clearly communicating its financial story.

“I am honored to receive the award for the second year in a row," stated Lauren Klein, the Auditor-Controller for Stanislaus County. "Providing an accurate financial report is extremely important to the public to assure the reporting of public funds complies with national standards and requirements. Additionally, providing accurate financial information is crucial for management decisions.”

Laura's Law

The Results Group has issued its summary and recommendations for Laura's Law Assisted Outpatient Treatment in Stanislaus County

County Receives National Financial Award

GFOA highlights excellence in County budgeting process

Stanislaus County has received the prestigious GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The award represents a significant achievement by the organization and reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.

The award is the 14th in a row received by Stanislaus County. In order to receive the award, the County has to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. The County's detailed budget document was reviewed by a national team of financial professionals for quality, completeness and the ability to meet the stringent criteria created by the national association.

“We are thrilled to once again be selected to receive this award,” stated Jody Hayes, the assistant executive officer for Stanislaus County. “The County spends a tremendous amount of time and resources to create a transparent and complete budget document the public can use to understand County finances and how funds are budgeted. This is a great honor.”

Measure L Citizens Oversight Committee

Keep an eye out on your voter approved taxt dollars for road improvements

Measure L is the Transportation Ordinance and Expenditure Plan approved by Stanislaus County voters on November 8, 2016. The measure raises the sales tax in Stanislaus County by one-half cent for a total period of 25 years to improve our local streets and roads, improve connectivity and reduce congestion. This money is administered by the Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) and pays for specific voter-approved transportation projects for local street and road improvements, and regional projects and transit programs specified in the Plan.

Measure L calls for an independent Citizens Oversight Committee to oversee compliance with the Ordinance as specified in the Transportation Ordinance and Plan.

The responsibilities of the 10-member Measure L Citizens Oversight Committee are to:

Ensure all transportation revenue collected from Measure L is spent in accordance with the Measure L Ordinance and Expenditure Plan;
Hold public meetings as necessary regarding the expenditure and status of funds generated by Measure L;
Review independent audits of the expenditure of tax funds and implementation of the programs and projects in the Expenditure Plan; and
Issue an annual report on its findings regarding compliance with the requirements of the Expenditure Plan and the Ordinance to the StanCOG Board.

Membership Application

An expedition to the County Corner

Staff from four counties converge at historic survey marker for the first time since 1868

In 1868 the County Surveyors of Alameda, San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties conducted a boundary survey to establish the county lines between the respective counties. An oak tree was selected on Mount Boardman, as the convergence point of these three counties along with the County of Santa Clara.

Approximately 148 years later, Chad Johnson and Larry Fontana from Stanislaus County Public Works had the opportunity to revisit the oak tree “County Corner” with the County Surveyors of Alameda, Santa Clara and San Joaquin. The group consisted of Michael Rubner, County Surveyor for Alameda County, Bill Slepnikoff, County Surveyor and his assistant Chris Wilson from Santa Clara County, Warren Smith County Surveyor from San Joaquin County, the retired Santa Clara County Surveyor Gwen Gee, and Mike Quartaroli with Quartaroli & Associates Inc.

This location was last visited by Stanislaus County Surveyor George Macomber in 1931. He set 1½ iron pipes as 20' witness corners (point marked by a monument) in the four cardinal directions; north, south, east, and west.

The tree is located on the property owned by N3 Cattle Company LLC. Contact was made with their ranch manager who provided access through the locked gates and acted as a guide up the hill. With a little searching, the oak tree was located - still alive - as well as the witness corners set by Macomber. They were able to occupy the witness corners with GPS units to determine coordinates and perform some old fashion chaining between the points on the ground to verify distances. The data collected will be shared by the four counties to improve all of our GIS platforms.

Story by Larry Fontana

New Probation Chief Swearing In Ceremony

New Chief Probation Officer takes over for retiring Jill Silva

Assistant Chief Probation Officer MIke Hamasaki was recently promoted by a panel of judges from the Superior Court to the position of Chief Probation Officer to replace the retiring Jill Silva.

Hamasaki was sworn in on Friday, February 24 by Superior Court Judge Thomas D. Zeff in a ceremony at the Tenth Street Place Board of Supervisors Chambers in Modesto.

During the ceremony, Hamasaki thanked multiple people including Silva, the staff of Probation Department and his family.

Hamasaki started working in the Probation Department in 1994 as a deputy probation officer after earning a criminology degree from Fresno State University.

Crows Landing Corridor Study Public Workshop

Stanislaus County proposes the Crows Landing Corridor Plan

The Corridor Plan is intended to support Stanislaus County's transportation and economic development vision and general plan policies as they relate to the southwest County between Patterson and Newman.

Stanislaus County proposes the Crows Landing Corridor Plan (Plan), which is needed to determine the feasibility of inter-jurisdictional transportation connectivity improvements along the Crows Landing Road corridor between Interstate 5 (I-5) and State Route (SR) 99 (planning area). The Plan area includes Fink Road from SR 33 to I-5. The Plan is needed to support and improve the mobility of goods and people to and from the proposed Crows Landing Logistics Center (formerly a naval air station) in southwestern Stanislaus County.

Additonal information

Stanislaus County Flood Information

Stay Updated on Current Information

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors approved to proclaim the existence of a local emergency due to flooding in various locations in Stanislaus County.

Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services (OES) is continuing to monitor all of the rivers and creeks in Stanislaus County. OES is in daily contact with the National Weather Service and Turlock Irrigation District to stay informed of current and expected conditions.

To sign up for emergency notification from Stanislaus OES please register at www.stanaware.com

Further information on flood conditions is available at the following sites:

Public Meeting for Westside Bridge

San Joaquin River Bridge at Hills Ferry to be topic of discussion for planned improvements

Members of the public are invited to a Public Information Meeting on January 26, 2017, to visit exhibits and discuss the retrofit planned for the San Joaquin River Bridge at Hills Ferry (River Road) with members of the Stanislaus County Public Works Department and other members of the project team.

The meeting will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2017, at the City of Newman Community Meeting Room, 1200 Main Street, Newman, CA. A brief presentation will be made at 6:30 p.m. to explain the project history, what studies are under way, and additional tasks that must be completed before construction begins.

The bridge was constructed in the 1960s and is travelled by thousands of vehicles daily.

For more information, members of the public are welcome to call the Project Hotline at (209) 464-4350, Extension 1, or send email to Hotline@buethepr.com. They are also welcome to mail written comments and inquiries about the project to Public Outreach Coordinator, San Joaquin River Bridge at Hills Ferry, P.O. Box 4436, Stockton, CA 95204.

County Clerk Holds Marriage at the Mansion

Valentine's Day ceremonies at the romantic site of the historic McHenry Mansion in Modesto

Stanislaus County Clerk / Commissioner of Civil Marriages, Lee Lundrigan invites engaged couples to be married on Valentine's Day at the McHenry Mansion in Modesto. “Marriage at the Mansion” offers each couple a romantic experience.

Ceremonies start at 9 a.m. and run through 4 p.m., on Tues., Feb. 14, 2017. Marriage licenses must be purchased and appointments made in advance at the County Clerk's Office located at 1021 “I” Street, Modesto. Cost of the license and ceremony is $121 or $126 for confidential marriage licenses.

“Romantic couples planning to tie the knot in 2017 should reserve their Valentine's Day wedding without delay,” stated Lundrigan. “The non-religious civil ceremonies will be conducted in English or Spanish. Guests are limited to 15 for each wedding and children must be age 12 or older to attend.

For more information contact the County Clerk Office at 209-525-5250 or call 209-525-5230 for assistance in Spanish.

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Candlelight vigil honors those lost to violence

District Attorney Victim Services event was for friends and family to honor victims of violent crime

Holidays can be a very difficult time of year for those who have lost loved ones to violent crime. The Victims Candlelight Vigil is held annually on the Stanislaus Superior Courthouse lawn as a way to remember loved ones and to honor their memory.

This year's 19th annual event featured a lighting of the victims' memorial tree and a candlelight vigil. Attendees were encouraged to bring a non-breakable ornament to hang on the tree as a remembrance of their loved one during the holiday season.

“Friends and family of homicide victims often feel alone in their grief which can be especially painful during the holiday season when there is such an emphasis on joy and spending time together," stated Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager. “The Candlelight Vigil is an important opportunity for them come together and share memories in a warm and supportive setting that specifically recognizes victims of homicide.”

An estimated 500 people attended the ceremony where a special video was played with photos and names of homicide and vehicular manslaughter victims provided by families. The event featured several guest speakers including District Attorney Birgit Fladager, Sheriff Adam Christianson, Annette Ramirez (family member of a victim), Erin Nelson (the executive director of Jessica's House), and Cheryl Titus who is the victim services program coordinator for the District Attorney's office.

Local librarian receives national award

Youth Services Outreach Librarian Olga Cardenas has been recognized by the American Library Association

Youth Services Outreach Librarian Olga Cardenas has been recognized by the American Library Association with a 2016 I Love My Librarian Award. She is one of only 10 librarians in the country to receive this national honor. Cardenas is recognized for her exceptional contributions to the community and ongoing commitment to transforming lives through education and lifelong learning.

Cardenas is commended for reaching beyond the walls of the library to deliver valuable library programs and services to underserved residents. As youth services outreach librarian, a position created less than 18 months ago, Cardenas has bridged barriers for families by engaging with parents in English and Spanish where they live, work, and pray. This innovative approach to family engagement is highly effective, leading to new partnerships between the library and businesses, service organizations, and schools.

With her visits to Juvenile Hall and the Juvenile Commitment Center, Cardenas connects with incarcerated youth through her passion for books and reading. She has visited agricultural and industrial workplaces, apartment complexes, and community events, distributing free books, issuing library cards and offering tips on how to incorporate reading into daily life. Through a twice weekly Pop-Up Library at the county's Women Infants and Children nutrition program, she offers library services right at the WIC office, and shares techniques parents can use to enhance their children's early learning and development.

Cardenas has worked at the Stanislaus County Library for more than 10 years, having held various positions at the Patterson, Turlock, Oakdale, and Modesto Libraries. The Friends of the Modesto Library nominated her for the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award because of her demonstrated commitment to sharing the love of reading and lifelong learning.

Water crisis subject of state and local meeting

Local technical experts meet with State Water Board staff to examine water policy details

In September 2016, the State Water Resources Control Board released their updated Substitute Environmental Document (SED) unleashing a firestorm of criticism from the public, agencies and officials. The document references significant recommended changes to San Joaquin River flow which also impacts the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Rivers in Stanislaus County. The document also appears to significantly underestimate the economic damage that could be caused by the proposed changes.

Stanislaus County representatives recently hosted experts from the State Water Resources Control Board for a technical discussion and to ask questions about the SED. Questions centered around groundwater, drinking water as well as the economic impacts.

View the complete video recording of the meeting

The State Water Resources Control Board will hold a public hearing on the SED in Modesto on December 20 at 9 a.m. at the Modesto Centre Plaza in the Tuolumne River Room on 1000 K Street and the public is encouraged to attend and give comments.

County receives national website award

Stanislaus County awarded second in the United States for website redesign project

The Center for Digital Government has just announced the winners of the national 2016 Best of the Web Awards and the Stanislaus County website StanCounty.com was awarded second place for County Portals. The award honors city, county, and state innovative and citizen-centric web sites for their work to engage citizens online.

“We're thankful and excited that our County has been recognized for this award,” stated Mike Baliel, IT Applications Manager. “It is a visual testament to the hard work, strong partnerships and collaborative nature of our County employees and departments.”

Stanislaus County had recently completed a website re-design approximately six months before applying for the award. The re-design was done almost exclusively using county staff, with approximately $3,000 spent on outside services. The project could have cost up to $200,000 if contracted to outside vendors.

The county finished behind Baltimore County, Maryland, but ahead of San Francisco and San Diego counties.

More Information

Veterans Day one-stop center celebration

Veterans Day celebration features special hard hat tours of remodeled site

A Veterans Day celebration showcased the new Stanislaus Veterans Center under development in north Modesto. The center is located in the Sylvan Square shopping center and is an extensive remodel of an existing property.

The Stanislaus Veterans Center is a unique public/private partnership that could be the only veterans one-stop facility of its kind in the nation. It will be housed in a 37,500 square foot property that will hold a 315-seat banquet hall for events, a full-service kitchen, conference rooms and offices for service organizations.

“We are delighted this plan is coming together,” stated Patty Hill Thomas, Chief Operations Officer for Stanislaus County. “It is an honor to work with the City of Modesto, our Veterans Advisory Commission, the Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County, local veterans organizations and all of our partners to make this project a reality.”

The cost of the facility will be shared by the County, the City of Modesto and the Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County and is a 10-year lease with Stone Brothers. It is scheduled to open in late January 2017.

Carnegie Arts Center celebrates 100 years

World class Carnegie Arts Center rose up from a devastating fire to its new brilliance

In celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock, the Board of Supervisors received a report from Lisa McDermott, Director of the Carnegie Arts Center.

The Center has numerous events and activities scheduled throughout the year for people of all ages. Tens of thousands of people have attended events from art exhibitions, classes, tours, Family Fridays, field trips and much more. The Center features visual arts, music, dance, theatre, film, poetry and literature, architecture and more.

“You are filling a huge void – not just for Turlock, but for the whole community,” stated Vito Chiesa, Supervisor for Stanislaus County District 2. “It is a great venue. If you haven't had the chance, please get down there and let's help it thrive even more.”

For more information on the Carnegie Arts Center, you can call (209) 632-5761.

America Recycles Day on November 15

Award winning environmental documentary to be presented at State Theatre in celebration.

November 15 is national America Recycles Day and the Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Resources is partnering with the City of Modesto's Solid Waste Division, B green with Boyett Petroleum and the State Theatre in hosting an America Recycles Day event on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at the Historic State Theatre at 1307 J Street, Downtown Modesto.

The organizations will be holding free showings of the award winning environmental film Racing to Zero at 11:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The film takes a look at trash as a valuable resource and offers alternatives for recycling instead of disposal. In addition, the public will have an opportunity to meet the movie producers, Diana Fuller and Christopher Beaver to ask questions and make comments about the documentary filmed in the City of San Francisco.

“America Recycles Day”, a campaign instituted by the National Recycling Coalition, is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and buy recycled products. Since its inception in 1997, the America Recycles Day campaign has grown to include millions of Americans pledging to increase their recycling habits at home and work, and to buy products made with recycled materials. Residents in every State of the nation participate in America Recycles Day events. Held annually on November 15, millions of people become better informed as a result of the national America Recycles Day campaign.

For more information, contact Denise London, Resource Management Specialist at (209) 525-6788 or Vicki Rice, Recycling Program Coordinator at (209) 577-5495

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Second Chance Week!

Second Chance Week is a national public awareness campaign to promote the use of specific recycled items under the motto “Reuse, Repair, Resale and Donate”.

This year Stanislaus County, in partnership with the City of Modesto and Vintage Faire Mall, will be collecting new and gently used baby clothes. All the items collected will be distributed through five local nonprofit agencies, Center for Human Services, Modesto Pregnancy Center, Salvation Army, Cal Safe and the Modesto Gospel Mission, who will give them to residents and families in need throughout our community.

Please take the time to gather your donations and bring to any one of our many collection sites located in Stanislaus County and Modesto. Your contributions can truly make the difference and we look forward to providing much needed necessities for our babies and children. Look for donation bins at 1010 10th Street in downtown Modesto, Vintage Faire Mall, City and County Libraries, Modesto Police Station and Modesto Fire Stations.

For more information in Stanislaus County, please contact Environmental Resources at (209) 525-6700 or email Denise London at dlondon@envres.org or Janice McClendon at jmcclendon@envres.org. For more information in the City of Modesto, please contact the Solid Waste Division at (209) 577-5495 or email Vicki Rice at vrice@modestogov.com.

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Annual cultural event celebrates heritage

Food, music and fun to highlight upcoming lunchtime celebration in downtown Modesto

Food, entertainment and fun are all part of the upcoming 12th Annual Cultural Diversity Celebration in downtown Modesto.

Whether you are looking for mouth-watering treats with an international flair or just want to learn more about the cultural diversity of the community, this event is for you.

“It is our pleasure and commitment to uphold a community where diverse perspectives, cultures and values are accepted,” stated Tamara Thomas, Interim Human Resources Director for Stanislaus County. “There is a tremendous amount we can learn from one another when we celebrate our heritage.”

The event is open to the community and will take place in Modesto at 1010 10th Street Place in the courtyard on Wednesday October 5, 2016, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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The 2016-2017 tax roll is ready to roll

County officials sign and release the updated Assessment Roll figures for Stanislaus County

On June 30, 2016, Lauren Klein, County Auditor Controller, accepted and signed for the 2016/17 Assessment Roll figures from Don H. Gaekle, County Assessor. The Property Tax cycle involves the Assessor's, the Auditor-Controller's and the Treasurer/Tax Collector's offices to produce and account for your property tax bill and payment.

The Assessor follows applicable State laws to establish the assessed value of all property in Stanislaus County. The Auditor Controller uses the certified assessed values produced by the Assessor to develop voter approved debt service tax rates (such as school bonds). A total tax rate of 1% plus voter approved debt tax rate is calculated for each property. The total tax is applied to the assessed value of that property and any voter approved direct assessments are added to compute the tax amount due. The Treasurer/Tax Collector bills and collects tax payments. The Auditor-Controller later allocates the collected revenue to local taxing agencies, including the County, cities, schools and special districts.

“Our office is committed to serving our customers by processing, safeguarding, and providing information regarding the finances and public records of the County” stated Lauren Klein, Stanislaus County Auditor Controller.

Proving once again that the County displays a true team environment, it is pertinent that every County office diligently completes their responsibilities accurately in order for our community to be served with transparency.

Pay Property Taxes Online

Story by Evelyne Konedeng

Kiernan Interchange now open to the public

$42 million construction project opening to the public marked by ribbon cutting celebration

The new Kiernan Interchange in Salida has been officially opened and traffic is flowing smoothly after a massive three-year construction effort.

More than 250,000 vehicles pass through the Kiernan Interchange each day and the construction project will help to alleviate current and future traffic demands.

“This project is not only an example of how desperately we need funding to improve our local roads, but it is a shining example of how we can successfully deliver these types of projects when funding is available,” stated Stanislaus County District Three Supervisor Terry Withrow.

Stanislaus County and the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) reconstructed the interchange in an effective partnership that will benefit the community for years to come.

Love letter to community shows civic pride

Local foundation creates video highlighting changes taking place in local community

The non-profit Stanislaus Community Foundation teamed up with local artists to produce a video as a love letter to the people of Stanislaus County. Representatives of the Foundation presented the video at the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors in May.

Craig Lewis, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation stated “we have felt that it is time to change the perception that we have of ourselves, let alone from the outside world.”

The video titled “A Love Letter to Stanislaus County” opens with stark and stereotypical imagery about the County including smokestacks, junk cars and graffiti, as set along Highway 99. The video then moves past the stale stereotypes by showing the multitude of amazing elements of life in Stanislaus County and the people who make it special.

Watch the video in its entirety

Major campsite upgrades at Woodward Reservoir

Dozens of upgraded campsites coming online for public enjoyment after major renovation

The Department of Parks and Recreation is happy to announce the Grand Re-Opening of Woodward Reservoir's Muir Point, T-Island and Hackberry Full Hookup Campgrounds in May 2016.

“This renovation supports Woodward Reservoir's mission of developing and maintaining recreation areas serving every segment of society,” said Jami Aggers, the Director of Stanislaus County Parks and Recreation.

The $3.4 million project upgraded (61) campsites at T-Island and Muir Point from water only to “full hook-up” sites that include sewer and electrical. Roads were re-paved, campsites were improved and RV parking pads renovated.

“The outdoors at Woodward Reservoir is a local treasure,” Aggers said. “We have created a space for families and friends to come and enjoy the great outdoors.”

Woodward Reservoir is located at 14528 26 Mile Road in Oakdale and is a great place to spend the day, camp overnight, swim, boat, roast hotdogs, and make memories. Learn more at http://www.facebook.com/Woodwardres

Story by Cathy Gomez

Volunteers uniting around Animal Services

Love Modesto volunteers love on animals at the Shelter and help at Earth Day event

April 23, 2016 was a very busy day with events for Animal Services with participation in Love Modesto and Earth Day.

Love Modesto volunteers went to the Shelter and gave baths to adoptable dogs and assisted regular volunteers in caring for other animals. At the Earth Day event, Love Modesto participants helped showcase the six adoptable dogs that staff had brought. They did such a fabulous job that three of the six dogs were adopted.

“What a wonderful community we live in,” stated Connie Hooker, Animal Services Operations Supervisor. “So many people came out not only to show their love for Modesto, but to help the animals get forever homes.”

Stanislaus Animal Services Agency can always use wonderful volunteers to help year-round. If you are interested, please go to 3647 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, to pick a volunteer application packet.

Want to vote for president on June 7, 2016

What people registered as No-Party Preference need to know before going to the polls

To vote for the candidate you want, be aware of crossover voting!

Presidential Primaries are unique. Political parties decide whether voters registered as No-Party Preference can "crossover" and vote for one of their candidates. For the June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary, the American Independent*, Democratic and Libertarian parties allow “crossover” voting. *American Independent is a political party, not the same as being registered No-Party Preference.

Poll voters registered as No-Party Preference need to request a "crossover" ballot upon checking-in at their polling location. Choosing a “crossover” ballot will not change your registered party preference.

Voters registered as No-Party Preference who want to vote for a Republican, Green, or Peace & Freedom Presidential candidate must re-register to vote for one of those respective parties by May 23, 2016.

Re-register to vote on-line: http://www.registertovote.ca.gov

Request a registration form: 209-525-5201

See flyer: http://www.stanvote.com/pdf/crossover-one-pager.pdf

Unaffiliated Voter Ballot Request Form: English | Spanish

Family and paws walk event showcases adoption

Shelter dogs are walked by members of the public in an effort to promote animal adoption

Staff from the Stanislaus Animal Services Agency participated in the Family and Paws Walk for Clean Water as part of Earth month.

“The event was a great opportunity to showcase our dogs available for adoption,” stated Annette Patton, Executive Director of the Stanislaus Animal Services Agency.

Dogs from the shelter wore colorful “Adopt Me Now” vests. According to Kathy Fielder from the Agency, “many people asked to walk the dogs brought to the event, and we are hopeful they come and adopt their next forever friend from the shelter.”

You can find animals to adopt online at http://www.stanislausanimalservices.com/ or come in to the shelter at 3647 Cornucopia Way in Modesto.

Veterans one-stop center is one step closer

The center will bring together meeting rooms, facilities and services into one convenient location

The Board of Supervisors voted to approve a 10-year lease agreement for a new veterans one-stop center at the intersection of Coffee Road and Sylvan in Modesto.

Called the Stanislaus Veterans Center, it will be housed in a 37,500 square foot property at Sylvan Square in north Modesto. The facility will hold a 315-seat banquet hall for events, full-service kitchen, conference rooms and offices for service organizations.

“We are delighted this plan is coming together,” stated Patty Hill Thomas, Chief Operations Officer for Stanislaus County. “It is an honor to work with our Veterans Advisory Commission, local veterans organizations and all of our partners to make this project a reality. Today, we're one step closer.”

The cost of the facility will be shared by the County, the City of Modesto and the Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County. It is scheduled to open in November 2016.

Auditor-Controller's Office awarded for excellence

Prestigious national GFOA award highlights outstanding financial reporting for County

The Auditor-Controller's Office received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015.

“The GFOA award represents the work of dedicated staff with a determination to exceed expectations,” stated Assistant Auditor-Controller Kashmir Gill. “The staff optimized the use of technology to produce a comprehensive financial report in a timely manner.”

During fiscal year 2014-2015, the Annual Financial Report was converted to a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and submitted for GFOA certification. The last time Stanislaus County received the award was in 2002.

The primary goal of the CAFR is to provide financial data to assess the fiscal position of the County. The information is based on generally accepted accounting principles. You can read the complete report here: Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

A complete list of annual financial reports can be found on the Auditor-Controller's Office's Financial Reports page.

See All Financial Reports

Story by Evelyne Konedeng

Veterans get new Library Resource Center

Info for veterans on benefits, healthcare, housing, education, employment and more

Stanislaus County's Modesto Library hosted a grand opening celebration of its Veterans Resource Center on Monday, April 4. The event featured a performance by members of the Johansen High School Band, the presenting of the colors by cadets from the Stanislaus Military Academy, and local officials.

The Veterans Resource Center offers books, DVDs and pamphlets on topics such as state and federal benefits for veterans, healthcare, housing, education and employment. A dedicated computer is also available for veterans to access information online.

“Making benefits information and assistance available in our local library is a great way to reach our veterans close to where they live and work,” said Stanislaus County Library Director Diane McDonnell.

The Modesto Library is one of 38 public libraries offering a Veterans Resource Center through the State Library and the California Department of Veterans Affairs. This project is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

Story by Laura Ferrell

District Attorney's Office gets national award

US Attorney's Office recognizes local District Attorney staff for outstanding work

The United States Attorney's Office has awarded the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office with the Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency Award for the Eastern District of California. The award is in recognition of outstanding work on a federal racketeering case associated with a criminal prison gang and the work of a mortgage fraud task force.

“The investigators with the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office deserve particular recognition for their skill, diligence, and spirit of cooperation,” U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner.

Lt. Froilan Mariscal and Investigator Glenn Gulley were recognized for their efforts. Mariscal head up a federal task force investigation of the Nuestra Familia prison gang, resulting in a 20-year prison term for the lead defendant. Gulley participated on the FBI mortgage fraud task force and was instrumental in building the case against Xue Heu, who posed as a government official and fraudulently sold properties.

“Serving crime victims and holding criminals accountable can best be done when working together,” stated Birgit Fladager, District Attorney for Stanislaus County.

Get rid of your used tires for free by going green

County to offer opportunity to dispose of used tires in an environmentally friendly way

In California, there are more than 44 million reusable and waste tires generated each year and they all have to go somewhere. They used to all clog up the waste stream.

California passed the Tire Recycling Act in 1989, which has increased the number of waste tires diverted from the landfills and sent to tire recycling centers by turning them to beneficial uses. For 2014, CalRecycle estimated almost 86% of California waste tires are now recycled.

You have the opportunity to think green and recycle.

The Department of Environmental Resources, Solid Waste Division is having a Waste Tire Recycling Voucher Program Event, April 16th-30th. This event is for Stanislaus County Unincorporated Residents. The voucher allows you to take up to 9 waste tires to your garbage hauler for free disposal. This event is NOT for businesses and only passenger car and truck tires will be accepted.

Call (209) 525-6791 or walk into the Department of Environmental Resources at 3800 Cornucopia Way Suite C, Modesto to obtain a voucher.

Story by Avneet Mahil

Protecting customers all around the county

Weights and Measures staff make sure you're getting a straight deal from businesses

John Adams signed the first U.S. weights and measures law on March 2, 1799. Fast forward to today, where we celebrate March 1-7 as Weights and Measures Week.

Weights and measures officials operate in today's marketplace to protect consumers and provide fair competition among businesses by ensuring that commercial transactions based on weight, measure, or count are conducted according to established laws and regulations.

Stanislaus County inspectors test over 9,000 devices annually including livestock scales, gasoline pumps, propane trucks, taximeters, and utility sub-meters to name just a few. Inspectors also check signage, advertising and price computations in all types of businesses to make sure consumers are not misled or cheated.

The daily contributions of the weights and measures inspector go largely unnoticed, and so it is this week that we celebrate their efforts.

Story by Wendy Hahn

County park reservations are now a click away!

It's now easier than ever to make reservations for the County Parks and Recreation system

Making reservations for Stanislaus County parks now take just a few mouse clicks.

The Modesto and Woodward Reservoirs are now available for online reservations in partnership with ReserveAmerica.com, the largest provider of campsite reservations in North America.

Both of the popular reservoirs offer full hookup campsites with recreational opportunities including swimming, boating, water/jet skiing, fishing, picnic areas and other amenities.

Woodward Reservoir is located off 26 Mile Rd north of Oakdale, and Modesto Reservoir is located off Hwy 132 east of Waterford.

Library and Symphony make beautiful music

Music and literature are coming alive for children in this unique Library partnership

Children and families gathered at the Modesto Library on Monday, Jan. 11 for Musical Mondays, a program created in partnership with the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra. Musical Mondays combines music and stories into a one-of-a-kind musical experience.

Library storyteller Amber O'Brien-VerHulst presented The Gunniwolf by Wilhemina Harper, while harpist Brooke Cannedy enhanced the story with musical accompaniment. Following the story, children explored MSYO's Instrument Petting Zoo, learning about a variety of instruments in a hands-on environment. Children also had an opportunity to craft paper bag Gunniwolves and tissue paper flowers.

“We really enjoy other library storytelling programs but the combination of stories and music together brings new life to the story and gives voice to the instruments,” said parent Rachel Roseman.

Musical Mondays is a free program held at the Modesto Library. The last performance of the season will be held on Feb. 22 at 6:15 p.m.

Children and parents thrilled by mobile library

A colorful new pop-up library project is reaching many new people with the power of reading

Last July, the Stanislaus County Library was awarded a grant to establish a pop-up library at the County's Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) Office in Modesto. Bilingual library staff visit the WIC office for two hours, two days per week, where they read to children (individually or in small groups). They also demonstrate for parents the importance of reading aloud to young children, issue library cards, and check out materials from a targeted collection of children's and parenting books.

“We hope parents will be inspired to read aloud to their children daily and make visits to the library a regular practice,” said Olga Cardenas, children's outreach librarian.

Every Tuesday and Wednesday, portable bookshelves and a supply cart/checkout station are wheeled into one of the waiting rooms at the WIC office. A double-sided display unit, stocked with colorful children's books, is set up in the center of the room, and children who are eager to explore are instantly engaged with books and reading. Parents are showing interest too, with 136 new library cards issued and 798 books checked out in just the first five months. This is the result of a great collaborative effort between two County departments.

The WIC Pop-Up Library is a project supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

Story by Susan Lilly

Mentors making a difference every day

Children and adults had an exciting evening of celebrating the County's student mentor program

The Stanislaus County Employee Mentor Program provides the opportunity for County employees and community partners to engage in youth mentoring with students in grades 2 - 6.

Recently, the program celebrated 17 years of service in a fun, community-filled event that hosted over 200 attendees - including student proteges, parents, teachers and administrators, County leadership and employee mentors.

“It is just wonderful to see so many children and parents coming together to celebrate this powerful act of giving back,” stated program founder and County Assistant Executive Officer Keith Boggs.

The program has 123 mentors at six school sites using seven community and educational partners and is hitting full stride rolling into its 18th year.

For more information how YOU can become a mentor to a young person - please call 209.652.1514 for more information or visit our website at: www.employeementors.com

Stress, depression and holiday health

The holiday season can be filled with joy, but it can also be a time of real struggle for many.

The holiday season and family gatherings can be the most memorable and happiest times in life. But for some people, they can also be a time of stress and depression.

A loss of a loved one, scattered families, and money issues can contribute to mental health issues. However, being realistic, planning ahead, and seeking support can help. Here are some simple tips to help you or someone you know during this holiday season.

Acknowledge your feelings. If you've had a loss, it's normal to feel sadness and grief.
Reach out. Seek out events where you can connect with others. Consider volunteering.
Be realistic. The holidays don't have to be perfect and traditions can change as well.
Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are.
Don't abandon healthy habits. Overindulgence can add to stress and guilt. Plan ahead to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

These are only a few tips for keeping yourself feeling good through the season. So be patient with yourself, get professional help if needed, talk to others, and take a breather to refresh and refocus.

Story by Dan Rosas

District Attorney staff give to great cause

Staff gathered Christmas gifts to support clients from the Stanislaus Family Justice Center.

Stanislaus County Deputy District Attorney Beth DeJong and Chief Deputy Doug Raynaud enjoy standing amongst the gifts donated by members of the District Attorney Staff so that a family in need may still enjoy a Christmas.

“Such generosity shown by our office really puts everyone in the true spirit of giving during the holidays,” said Ms. DeJong, who helped coordinate the donation effort.

The project was a partnership with the Stanislaus Family Justice Center. The organization provided tags indicating what gifts were needed for each family and the D.A. employees eagerly provided the rest.

This is the second family adopted by District Attorney Staff this season.

Health agency releases disease statistics

See what diseases are hitting our community and how many cases there are.

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency released statistics for the reportable diseases for the first quarter of 2015. This is for the January 1 - March 28 time period.

The State of California mandates all health care providers to report any specified diseases and conditions mandated by State law to the local health department.

To minimize the report size, if there is not an instance of one of the mandated reportable diseases within the past five years, it is not included in the community report. In the event a disease returns, it will again be included in the report.

To see the detailed report on diseases and conditions in Stanislaus you can link here.

See The Report

Emergency training for information officers

Getting quick and accurate information to the public in emergencies was a recent training focus.

The recent tragedy in San Bernadino County is a reminder of how quickly a community can be impacted in a crisis.

Stanislaus County has a team of Public information Officers from government, non-profit and private organizations who meet and train together to be ready when crisis strikes.

The team recently came together to receive local updates and to also conduct a live Skype webinar with the Communications Director for Aurora, Colorado who led their response during the Century 16 theater shooting. Sadly, this pre-scheduled webinar was occurring at the exact same time the shooting incident in southern California was just starting to unfold.

The focus of the group is to effectively work with the County's Office of Emergency Service in getting accurate and timely information to the public in emergency situations.

Red ribbon schools contest results

Schools around the County competed in the annual contest promoting drug awareness.

The Stanislaus County Office of Education recently announced the winners of its Red Ribbon Week school decorating contest at a Board of Supervisors meeting.

Pictured is the first-place winning team from Davis High School.

1st Place Winners: Osborn Two-Way Immersion School, Turlock Junior High School; and, Davis High School
2nd Place Winners: Northmead Elementary School, Cardozo Middle School; and, Hughson High School
3rd Place Winners: Chrysler Elementary School, Oakdale Junior High School; and, Ceres High School
Honorable Mention: Elliott Alternative Education Center

Library home delivery bridges gaps

20 Library volunteers hand-deliver materials to home bound County residents every month.

Stanislaus County Library's Home Delivery Service is making a difference to homebound residents of Stanislaus County. Each month, trained volunteers deliver library materials to community members who cannot physically visit the library due to advanced age, illness, or disability.

This free program is staffed by 20 dedicated volunteers who deliver library materials to more than 80 people in homes and assisted living facilities. Home Delivery Service volunteers also provide invaluable social interactions for the Stanislaus County residents they serve.

“I always think: what if I was not able to obtain books? How sad and small my life would be,” said Rhoda Yare, who has enjoyed volunteering for more than 10 years. “These are readers, and bringing them what they love gives me so much joy. I wish you could see how happy a stack of books placed in their hands makes them.”

Those interested in joining this important group of caring volunteers are asked to call (209) 558–7817.

Avoid online scams this holiday season

The holiday season is prime time as online scammers are looking to take your money.

Avoid being a victim this holiday season by taking precautions when browsing and shopping online.

"No one wants to be a victim of online crime, but scammers are getting more and more sophisticated," stated Marcia Cunningham, Director of Information Technology Central for Stanislaus County. "The more you know about what they are trying, the better prepared you will be."

E-cards from unknown senders may contain malicious links and fake online advertisements or shipping notifications may deliver infected attachments. E-mail messages that are spoofed (e-mail crafted to look it is from a known sender, but is not) and fraudulent posts on social networking sites may request support for phony causes.

Cunningham stated there are a number of things people can do to protect themselves.

Avoid following unsolicited links or downloading attachments from unknown sources
Check your credit card statement routinely
Log on directly to the official website for the business identified in the e-mail, instead of “linking” to it from an unsolicited e-mail
If you are requested to act quickly or there is an emergency, it may be a scam. Fraudsters create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly.

If you believe you are a victim of a holiday phishing scam or malware campaign, consider the following actions:

File a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Report the attack to the police and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission.
Contact your financial institution immediately and close any accounts that may have been compromised. Watch for any unexplainable charges to your account.
Immediately change any passwords you might have revealed and do not use that password in the future. Avoid reusing passwords

Youth center opens in downtown Modesto

Foster youth center to make a big impact through life skills, education and employment assistance.

The Stanislaus County Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) recently had a grand opening celebration in downtown Modesto. The youth center, located at 1009 J Street, provides a variety of services to foster youth as they transition into adulthood.

Young adults leaving the foster care system are more likely to experience difficulties as they transition into adulthood. The ILSP Youth Center provides independent living skills, education and employment assistance to help with that transition.

“We are very proud of the ILSP Youth Center,” stated Kathryn Harwell, Director of the Community Services Agency. “We had a vision to create a comfortable place for these youth to get the support they need finding employment, housing and other important services. Child welfare and protection is not just the role of our agency. I would like to thank the Board of Supervisors, our partners and the community for their support.”

From the very beginning, the youth center was a collaborative effort. All stakeholders, including foster youth, were involved in the planning and development of the center.

The ILSP Youth Center is already making a difference. Open since the first week of September, the Center has been busy. “We are seeing an average of 60 youth per week attend classes and an additional 57 utilizing drop-in services,” stated Alma Garcia Mendoza, Center Director.

For more information on the Center call (209) 338-5444.

Banknote paper for certificates now available

Banknote paper is now available for authorized certified copies of birth, death and marriage certificates.

The Stanislaus County Clerk / Recorder's Office announced Friday that banknote paper is now available for authorized certified copies of birth, death and marriage certificates.

After the previous vendor suspended their operation without notice, the County was forced to limit the number of certified copies issued in the office. A Canadian supplier has since been found that is able to print the banknote paper containing special security features to protect it from counterfeiting.

"Secure banknote paper protects your vital records against identity theft," stated Lee Lundrigan, County Clerk-Recorder. "The new banknote paper has added security features to enhance the safety of vital records containing your personal and treasured information.”

Unlimited copies are now available. Visit the Clerk-Recorder at: 1021 “I” Street Modesto, CA between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Downtown building evacuates in exercise

Employees from city/county building evacuate as part of ongoing training for emergency situations.

On the morning of November 5, 2015, county and city employees at the Tenth Street Place building in Modesto participated in a drill to safely vacate the building in case of an actual emergency. Staff receive periodic training as to how to evacuate and where to relocate once an evacuation order is given.

Emergency drills may seem like a nuisance to any busy business, but they are vital to emergency preparedness. Running a drill is reliant on several factors: building types, occupancy, identified risks, and the kind of emergencies being tested. Communication plays a big role in all emergency plans.

In a recent email to all building staff, Modesto City Manager Jim Holgersson and County Chief Executive Officer Stan Risen emphasized the importance of evacuation and safety drills. "Real emergencies don't come with advanced warnings,” they stated. “Your safety depends on you being ready to act."

Visitors of the building are evacuated during exercises as well, with their safety a top priority. Designated building employees act as evacuation wardens to help direct employees and visitors from the building to safe locations and ensure that all floors are clear.

Story by Evelyne Konedeng

Oakdale homelessness summit targets issues

Hundreds of people joined together to address the topic of homelessness in the Oakdale community.

Over 200 people participated in a recent summit on homelessness in Oakdale as a follow-up to a regional summit held in early October in downtown Modesto.

The meeting was facilitated by Oakdale City Manager Bryan Whitemyer and the Stanislaus County Focus on Prevention Project Manager Ruben Imperial. People took the opportunity to express their concerns about the homeless issue and share their ideas about what would work in their community. The countywide Focus on Prevention Homelessness Initiative was also discussed.

"The meeting was needed and allowed the community to share multiple perspectives regarding the homelessness issue within Oakdale,” stated Whitemyer. He indicated there are already ideas he's pursuing that came as a result of this meeting and the larger countywide summit.

Participants also discussed how to track progress of the initiative and agreed to schedule a follow up meeting in early January, 2016.

County staff is working with other city leaders to convene follow up community meetings from the regional summit. The goal is to align efforts across the cities and communities towards a common set of results. For upcoming meeting schedules or more information, please visit www.preventionfocus.net.

Veterans Commission meets on local issues

Local commission receives update on development of a new one-stop services center for veterans in Stanislaus County.

The Stanislaus County Veterans Advisory Commission recently held its October meeting in Riverbank with nearly 50 people in attendance.

Attendees received an update on a process to receive proposals for the development of a one-stop shop for veterans services in Stanislaus County. The facility would contain a banquet hall, activity and conference rooms, meeting space and social services.

"There are very few public/private partnerships like the County has with the City of Modesto and the Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County as we work toward development of this Veterans Facility,” stated Patricia Hill Thomas, Chief Operations Officer for Stanislaus County. “We look forward to creating this Center to serve our Veterans with our partners."

Community member Diane Talbert also provided a presentation on activities helping Veterans in the Riverbank area.

The next Veterans Advisory Commission Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 23 2015, 5:30 pm at County Center III, 921 County Center III Drive, Modesto.

Get Stanislaus County election results online

County Elections Office to provide frequent online updates for election results after polls close in Stanislaus County.

The Stanislaus County Clerk Record/Registrar of Voters will be providing updates on all races in Stanislaus County after polls close the evening of November 3.

Results contain detailed information on each ballot item including total votes cast, percentage of vote, votes by precinct and by mail.

You can click the "Elections Update" button below to go directly to the site for updates.

Election Updates

Biggest losers shed pounds and feeling great

Six teams from the West Side of Stanislaus County competed to lose pounds and increase their wellness.

The team from Patterson Promotores was crowned the winner of this year's Biggest Loser competition on the West Side of Stanislaus County after losing 65.5 pounds.

The contest was a eight-week event where six teams of 10 people competed for the greatest team weight loss. The total combined weight loss of all the teams totaled nearly 288 pounds.

“This competition continues to motivate people to make positive lifestyle changes," stated Jim DeMartini, Stanislaus County Supervisor and Chairman of the West Side Healthcare Advisory Task Force. “Small changes turn into big changes over time. Our goal is to have a healthier community and this program has been a great start for so many people."

The contest is sponsored annually by the West Side Healthcare Advisory Task Force.

County officials meet for emergency planning

County officials gathered to learn about the potential impact of El Nino and risk of flooding in our area.

Representatives from around Stanislaus County attended the recent Operational Area Council meeting to discuss the status of emergency plans in preparation for the upcoming winter season.

Facilitated by the County Office of Emergency Services, the group heard from experts such as Cindy Matthews from the National Weather Service.

Matthews presented information that we are currently in an El Nino event cycle and that the area of Stanislaus County has a greater than 60% chance of receiving more rain than in a non-El Nino year.

Matthews also expressed that El Nino and the risk of flooding needs to be taken seriously even though the State continues in a drought.

The Operational Area Council meets on a quarterly basis to prepare and plan for emergencies within the County.

Living longer and better is focus for seniors

A free health screening and health fair attracted more than 1250 seniors to get empowered and independent.

The 13th Annual Healthy Aging & Fall Prevention Summit brought out more than 1250 older adults and their caregivers who were looking to improve their quality of life.

The event featured health screenings, educational seminars and vendor booths with a host of information on senior-related health issues.

"Older adults are living longer, and it is imperative that communities provide affordable options so this vulnerable population continues to live active, healthy and independent lives," stated Margie Palomino, the Director of the Stanislaus County Department of Aging & Veterans Services. "We want to keep them healthy in their homes and community for as long as possible."

The event was hosted by the Stanislaus Area Agency on Aging, the Healthy Aging Association and Kaiser Permanente with 75 different community organizations representing hospitals, non-profit organizations, county programs, health plans, and retirement communities.

Professional cyclist Benny Madrigal was the keynote speaker on the topic of Living with Diabetes and Achieving Success.

Equal rights celebrated by Stanislaus County

Three Stanislaus County employees were recognized recently as the County announced the 2015 Dale Butler Equal Rights Award Recipients.

JoAnn Sarhad (left) from Child Support Services, Christine Ferraro Tallman (middle) the Clerk of the Board, and Ruben Imperial (right) from the Chief Executive's Office were honored for their commitment to equal rights of all in the workplace.

This was the 27th annual awards ceremony by the County which is supported by the County's Equal Rights Commission.

The Annual Dionicio Cruz Celebrating Diversity Award was presented to the City of Modesto/Stanislaus County collaboration for their work on the 2015 Diversity Week Celebration at the Tenth Street Place plaza in downtown Modesto.

Public to see major improvements

The County dedicated a new Coroner's facility that will significantly improve service to the community in a time of need.

Officials from the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors recently dedicated a new Coroner's facility during a public event with more than 150 people in attendance.

The new facility boasts more than 21,300 square feet of space with state-of-the-art equipment and features that will benefit grieving families and the community. The $4.46 million in construction costs were used to renovate a former postal encoding center.

The new location will have significantly more capacity for holding bodies of the deceased. Capacity will increase up to 120 bodies compared to the old facility's 35 bodies. The new location will also better accommodate families of the deceased and provides significant space for a Stanislaus State forensic training program.

The facility contains available space for future expansion.

Probation opens doors to the community

A 15th anniversary open house at the County's Probation Department provided the opportunity for culinary academy visit and more.

The County's Probation Department held its 15th annual open house as the community took the opportunity to tour the Juvenile Commitment Facility, meet staff and learn about the services probation provides.

The department's community partnerships were featured including its unique culinary academy which provides job training skills for youth in the Juvenile Commitment Facility.

“The open house is a great opportunity for people to meet our staff and see the progressive ways we are serving our community,” stated Jill Silva, Chief Probation Officer for Stanislaus County. “Our goal is to provide excellent public safety service to the youth, adults and families in Stanislaus County. Our department represents the best qualities of the profession and we want to share our successes with the community we serve.”

The event featured tours inside of the living units within the Juvenile Commitment Facility, gang awareness presentations and K-9 demonstrations. Learn more about the Probation Department.

Summit on homeless attracts nearly 500 people

Nearly 500 people attended a historic homeless summit in Stanislaus County to examine the widespread issue and how to move forward.

Participants at the summit included individual community members, homeless individuals, representatives from multiple government agencies as well as non-profit, education and various business sectors.

"We wanted to make a statement today," stated Stan Risen, the Chief Executive Officer for Stanislaus County. "This is your day. It's about all of us coming together as a community."

Speakers at the summit included a number of community members who were homeless or recently homeless. They shared their personal accounts of how being homeless has impacted their lives, including the challenges they face and what assistance is needed.

The summit was the first large-scale community convening as part of the Focus on Prevention initiative being spearheaded by Stanislaus County.

For more information or to get involved in the Focus on Prevention initiative, go to www.PreventionFocus.net or call (209) 225-0315.

Stanislaus Animal Services staff respond to Butte Fire

County Animal Services staff were called into action as the Butte Fire raged in Amador and Calaveras counties during September.

County Animal Services staff were called into action as the Butte Fire raged in Amador and Calaveras counties during September. They were among many numerous Stanislaus County employees serving in an emergency capacity during the wildfire.

Employees Carly Bozsik, Steve Fielder, Justin Flores, Steve Giblin and Mavis Willliamson served on day and night shifts with a focus on supporting local animal services personnel in the fire area.

“People in the area were numb,” stated Annette Patton, Stanislaus County Director of Animal Services. “To have something like this happening to your family, friends and neighbors is inconceivable. Our staff were honored to pitch in and help the local program, including intaking dogs and reuniting them with their families. ”

The employees served for five days at the fire and noted how amazing it was to watch the community pull together during the crisis.

Winter flu vaccines now available

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that between 3,000 – 49,000 people die from the flu each year in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that between 3,000 – 49,000 people die from the flu each year in the United States. While the exact number can't be pinpointed, what is clear is that thousands of people die from the flu each year.

But, there is something you can do to protect yourself.

Getting a flu shot is the single most important thing you can do to protect your health and the health of your family. That's why the Stanislaus County Public Health Department is offering many low-cost or free flu vaccinations at more than 15 different special clinics around the County.

“The flu virus can be spread 24 hours before a person is aware they are ill,” stated Dr. John Walker, Public Health Officer for Stanislaus County. “Get the flu vaccine to protect others and those you love.”

Stanislaus County flu clinics

Stanislaus 2014 Crop report

The Stanislaus Agricultural Commissioner reported that farm income hit its highest level ever in 2014...

The Stanislaus Agricultural Commissioner reported that farm income hit its highest level ever in 2014 at nearly $4.4 billion dollars. This number is the total value of all agricultural commodities produced last year in Stanislaus County.

Almonds retained the number one position with $1.4 billion in value, followed by milk at $952 million, cattle & calves at $391 million and walnuts at $299 million.

"We must emphasize that this report represents gross values of agricultural commodities and does not reflect production costs or profits," stated Milton O'Haire, Agricultural Commissioner for Stanislaus County. A recent report indicates that because of rising production costs, profits actually decreased by 6%.

The total crop values were up 20% over the 2013 report which showed $3.7 billion in gross production value.

2014 Crop report

Pet of The Week

Recent News

Archived News

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2023 PIT COUNT

Who are the Homeless?

Where are the Homeless?

What are the Reasons for Becoming Homeless?

What are the Obstacles to Accessing Services?

Oher Homeless Populations (Adults Only)

Why is the PIT Count Important?

Who organized the PIT Count?

State of the County Address

Recycling In Stanislaus County

Toxics, Paint, and Oil Disposal

Recycling

Bulky Item Collection

Miguel Galvez, former Stanislaus County Mentor of the Year, shares some thoughts on the merits of mentoring.