HHSA Mental Health Program Allows Teens To Grow Through Gardening

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Mental illness doesn’t stop these teens from making a difference in the world. For 24 boys and girls, ages 13–17, living at the San Diego Center for Children’s Clark Adolescent Program, the focus is on positive behavior and the progress each adolescent makes to gain control of his or her behaviors and emotions. Staff works hard to create and sustain an environment where adolescents recognize they are cared for by people who see their potential.

The Center’s Life Skills Program, funded by San Diego County Mental Health, allows teens who live at the Center the opportunity to learn about sustainable living through a hands-on Green Program. Each week, the teens and staff pick up compostable material from Cucina Urbana (a Banker’s Hill restaurant), Currant American Brasserie (a downtown restaurant), and from the Center’s own kitchen. The teens deliver the compostable material to Olivewood Garden, Suzie’s Farm and the Center’s campus garden. Compost is created in these three places to help grow organic fruits and vegetables.

“This project is really about providing the opportunity for the teens to contribute to a sustainable community and build relationships with respected chefs and farmers in their community,” says Tina Reyes, the Life Skills Coordinator. The teens feel great when they get to go into “the back of the house” in a restaurant and talk to the chef, taking pride in helping the chef with composting while representing the Center in this community service project. The teens also love picking the freshly grown rosemary in the Center’s garden and taking it to the chefs so they can use it in their menus.

The teens look forward to visiting with the chefs and farmers each week and take pride in giving back to their community. They have also started their own garden beside the cottage they live in on the Center’s campus. The teens will begin to grow some of their own food because they have become more engaged in healthy living and creating a sustainable community. The teens also attend full-time school, and participate in the Center’s music, arts, and recreation programs.



Probation DUI Enforcement Team Makes a Difference

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The San Diego County Probation Department was awarded $575,000 in state grant funding to support a DUI Enforcement Team, which has resulted in a reduction of repeat drunk driving offenders.

“Many people will be on the roads to visit family and celebrate the holidays over the next few weeks, and this program helps keep our roads safer by closely supervising high-risk DUI offenders to make sure they don’t drive while impaired,” said Mack Jenkins, Chief Probation Officer.

The funding for the program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The County Probation DUI Enforcement Team supervises about 700 felony DUI offenders on probation who have serious offenses such as multiple DUIs or a DUI where someone has been injured or killed. 

Since the program began in July 2006, the nine-member team has been able to make significant strides in keeping felony DUI probationers compliant with the terms of their release. Overall, the annual recidivism rate for high risk DUI offenders on intensive supervision was just 1 percent in 2008-2009 and 3.6 percent in 2009-2010. Nationally, about one-third of all DUI arrests are repeat offenders.

The program involves intensive supervision of high-risk offenders through methods such as unannounced visits, random alcohol testing and frequent appointments with the probationers. Team members work with other agencies on special operations such as DUI checkpoints, warrant service, and saturation patrols in specific areas.

Since the program began, 340 probationers have been arrested, most of them for violating probation by drinking alcohol.

“These figures represent more people making it home safely and alive each day,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).  “But to keep this trend going, we will continue to strive to meet our vision  toward zero deaths, every one counts.”



Scholarship Opportunity for High School Seniors

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If you participate in the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and have a high school senior at home, they are eligible to compete for one of four $2,000 college scholarships from the National Association of Counties and Nationwide.

Here's how your student can apply:

Complete application on line - Go to www.naco.org/retirementscholarship or www.nrsforu.com/scholarship  

Eligibility requirements:

  • Graduating high school seniors who are legal U.S. residents are eligible to apply
  • Applicant's parent or grandparent must be enrolled in and contribute to the County’s 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
  • Applicants must enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study no later than the fall term of the 2011-2012 school year at an accredited two- or four-year college
  • Immediate family members of NACo employees, or members of the NACo Deferred Compensation Advisory Committee, or its governing board of directors, or Nationwide employees are not eligible to apply; this program is not offered outside the United States
  • Application and entry must be submitted on line no later than January 31, 2011

Judging criteria:

  • Scholarship entries will be reviewed by a committee of associates from both Nationwide and NACo; scholarship recipients will be chosen based on the content of their entry
  • All entries submitted will become property of Nationwide and may be used for educational and/or marketing purposes; the original author will be credited

How will scholarship recipients be notified?

  • Scholarship recipients will be notified in March 2011
  • Scholarship recipients will be mailed a check in mid-August 2011, payable to the institution and mailed to the student's home address
  • The winner must enroll in an accredited institution by the fall term of the 2011-2012 school year

Holiday Light Exchange

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County employees can bring in up to three incandescent holiday light strings and exchange them for 15 ft. multi-colored LED holiday lights (while supplies last).

All you need is a avalid California ID or a copy of your recent SDG&E bill to quailfy.

You can make your exchange at the County Parks and Recreation Office, 9150 Chesapeake Drive, Suite 200, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 7 or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 8 or 9.

For more information, contact Johanna Salomon at (858) 966-1337.