SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator John Laird announced that he has named Community Human Services (CHS) as Nonprofit of the Year for the 17th Senate District.
CHS is dedicated to providing high quality mental health, substance abuse and homeless services to Monterey County residents.
“Community Human Services’ ability to address the root causes and underlying issues of substance abuse and mental illness through counseling and recovery services for underserved individuals and families in Monterey County has led to a significant reduction in the reliance of social services, the need for high utilization of emergency services, and recidivism in the criminal justice system,” noted Laird.
Other comprehensive services offered by CHS include both outpatient centers and residential substance abuse treatment programs like the Genesis House whereby children can live with their parents, sober living like the Elm House for men and the Sonoma House for women, as well as youth intervention and drug prevention programs like Drug and Alcohol Intervention Services for Youth (DAISY).
Each year, nearly every California legislator chooses a nonprofit organization in their district to honor in collaboration with the State Assembly Select Committee on the Nonprofit Sector and the California Association of Nonprofits. Last year, Senator Laird selected El Camino Homeless Shelter of Atascadero.
###
Senator John Laird represents the 17th State Senate District, which includes all of Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties, the majority of Monterey County, as well as parts of Santa Clara County. He previously served as the Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, member of the State Integrated Waste Management Board, a member of the State Assembly, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Aids Project, and two terms as Santa Cruz Mayor. His lifetime of public service and social justice advocacy saw him become one of the first openly gay mayors to serve in the United States. Senator Laird has been a long-time resident of Santa Cruz with his spouse John Flores.