April is Alcohol Awareness Month | | |
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, established in 1987 by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency to raise awareness nationally and locally. It is estimated that 178,000 people die from alcohol related causes annually making it the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Young people who begin drinking before the age of 15 years old are significantly more likely to develop an alcohol dependence than those that begin drinking after the age of 18 years old. Signs of alcohol misuse include drinking more or longer than you intended, being unable to reduce or stop drinking, needing to drink more to get the desired effect from drinking, loved ones making comments about your drinking, spending a lot of time thinking about drinking, consequences from drinking interfering in your life such as legal problems, impact on family relationships, not engaging in social environments in order to drink or recover from drinking, withdrawal symptoms impacting ability to go to work, school, or other typical activities.
During the month of April, BHRS is raising awareness of alcohol use, misuse, and abuse, and also sharing resources for education and treatment about substance use treatment and prevention. BHRS has recognized April is Alcohol Awareness Month for over 15 Years as a time to raise awareness and understanding of alcohol use and misuse.
BHRS & PH will be in the community at several events including but not limited to:
the CFHL Tribal Symposium on April 9th, Coyote Valley’s Spirit Run on April 12th, Native Roots event and Mendocino College on April 18th, Coyote Valley Earth Day on April 19th, City of Ukiah Earth Day on April 19th, Dia del Nino in Ukiah on April 27th.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol misuse, call Mendocino County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Substance Use Disorder Treatment (SUDT) services at : 1-800-765-9703/TTY: 1-800- 735-2929 or 711.
Call or stop by a nearest office to you for Substance Use Disorder Treatment services at:
- 1120 South Dora Street Ukiah, CA 95482 Phone: 707-472-2637
- 125 E. Commercial Street Willits, CA 95490 Phone: 707-472-2637
- 790 S. Franklin Street Fort Bragg, CA 95437 Phone: 707-961-2665
Learn more at www.mendocinocounty.gov/departments/behavioral-health-and-recovery-services/substance-use
| | Mendocino County Strategic Plan | | |
In May 2022, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors approved the first five-year strategic plan that will help guide the critical decisions the Board of Supervisors will face over the next five years with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for County residents. Departmental reporting will align with the strategic plan.
Click HERE to download the Strategic Plan.
| | Departments and Divisions | |
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Agriculture/Weights & Measures is excited to announce the soft Spring release of our new and improved Department website. This new website is a work in progress. We still need to add Mendocino County photographs and welcome any photos you would like to share of Agriculture or Weights & Measures activities in Mendocino County. Another exciting option is the new Ag E-Notification email alert function. More new and exciting features to come. Scan the QR code in the link below to register and receive timely email alerts related to the department. Send Department Website suggestions to agcomm@mendocinocounty.gov.
Click HERE to read more...
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The Animal Care Services program areas include: Shelter, Clinic & Animal Protection Services; these programs provide animal education outreach, adoption, volunteer opportunities, fostering, lost & found services, feral cat trap-neuter-return programs, dog licensing, low cost spay & neuter, veterinary care, animal health education, rabies vaccinations, micro-chipping, impounding lost & stray animals, responding to injured-ill and suspected cruelty complaints and promoting responsible pet ownership.
Click HERE to read more...
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Behavioral Health and Recovery Services and Public Health will be in the community to share education and resources around awareness raising and prevention resources at several events including but not limited to: The CFHL Tribal Symposium on April 9th, Coyote Valley’s Spirit Run on April 12th, Native Roots event and Mendocino College on April 18th, Coyote Valley Earth Day on April 19th, City of Ukiah Earth Day on April 19th, and Dia del Nino in Ukiah on April 27th.
Click HERE to read more...
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In March 2025, Mendocino Cannabis Department (“MCD”) reviewed and granted local authorization for 16 active local Cannabis Cultivation Business License (“CCBL”) applications. In addition to this review, MCD concluded Local Jurisdiction Assistance Grant Program (“LJAGP”) expenditures, including direct grant disbursements to assist local cultivators transition from State Provisional to State Annual licenses. Below are several key accomplishments of MCD in March of 2025:
- Issued and renewed approximately 122,000 square feet of commercial cannabis cultivation in Mendocino County
- Completed 16 inspections of proposed or existing CCBL sites
- Streamlined the Accela Citizen Access Portal, which went live on March 31, 2025.
CCBL applicants and licensees can find new Accela How-Tos HERE.
For more information on MCD’s Monthly Activity, please click HERE.
Click HERE to read more...
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The County of Mendocino is committed to ensuring that its employees are well-informed about their benefits. To support this, we offer training sessions designed to educate staff on their Health, Wellness, and Retirement benefits. Additionally, the County aims to increase awareness of the Employee Assistance Program, which provides valuable resources, including access to free and discounted legal services.
For more information about our upcoming training on May 15th and details on the Employee Assistance Program, click HERE.
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In March, Environmental Health's administrative team provided front counter support to 47 customers and processed a high volume of permits, public records requests, and annual payments. The Land Use Program managed multiple site evaluations, well applications, and building permits, despite operating with a 60% vacancy rate. Consumer Protection completed 45 facility inspections and processed various permits with a 75% vacancy rate. CUPA has completed 73% of its annual inspection goal despite staffing shortages, while the LEA Program is near its yearly target with no current vacancies. The department is also progressing on initiatives to relocate the Fort Bragg office and digitize Land Use and Consumer Protection files, which will improve efficiency and service delivery.
Click HERE to read more...
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The Contract Unit works directly with departments Countywide to execute contracts and amendments to ensure alignment with County Policy. All review/approval processes are administered through Cobblestone, an electronic contract review software platform. Specific reviewers/approvers are determined by the Mendocino County Purchasing, Leasing and Contracting Policy (Policy No. 1).
Mendocino County maintains a publicly accessible portal where contracts can be viewed. The initial search screen of the portal allows users to search all the County’s contracts by Department, Contract Number, Approving Authority, Contractor, and/or Keyword. The list generated by the initial search request can be further refined if needed.
https://contracts.mendocinocounty.org
Click HERE to read more...
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The Economic Development Division's role is to implement the priorities the Board of Supervisors' strategic plan for a thriving economy. In March, the Division began its Economic Development by Industry Sector Meetings, with Behavioral Health and Cannabis Industry on March 3 and March 27 respectively.
Click HERE to read more...
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The newly established Grants Unit, located within the Executive Office and staffed by 1 FTE, is committed to advancing County objectives by optimizing the impact of grant funding. This is accomplished through the identification of optimal funding opportunities and the implementation of efficient grant administration, as well as the development of long-term capacity. The unit is responsible for securing and managing external funding to support various county initiatives. Currently, it is overseeing 12 active grants, which have a total value of $15,756,566.64. Furthermore, the unit offers technical assistance to County departments to enhance their grant-related efforts.
Click HERE to read more...
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Facilities and Fleet Mission: To provide an accessible, efficient, safe, clean and comfortable working environment for all employees and general public who use our buildings and properties.
Facilities and Fleet maintains vital infrastructure and related services that enable County employees to serve the citizens of Mendocino County.
Click HERE for updates on telematics, County fleet and fuel consumption, County wide utility consumption, capital improvement projects, disaster/emergency preparedness activities, and facilities statistics.
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April hosts National Library Week. 2025’s theme is, “Drawn to the Library.” Millions of people visit their libraries every week. What's the draw? Everything. Celebration days include Monday, April 7: Right to Read Day, a day for readers, advocates, and library lovers to take action to protect, defend, and celebrate the right to read. The American Library Association (ALA) kicks off National Library Week with the release of its State of America's Libraries Report, including the list of Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2024. Tuesday, April 8: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, users, administrators, and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers. Wednesday, April 9: National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day), a day to celebrate library outreach and the dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are. Thursday, April 10: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates to support libraries.
Click HERE to read more...
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Mendocino County Museum staff are changing things up! Our next exhibit, Take Me to the Water: Histories of the Black Pacific, will be on exhibit in our main galleries in June. Visitors will be seeing lots of changes as we prepare for this exciting new loan from Exhibit Envoy. The Museum has numerous programs and activities planned throughout the fall!
Click HERE to read more...
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Mendocino County Office of Emergency Services (OES) is the primary local coordination agency for emergencies and disasters affecting residents, public infrastructure, and government operations in the Mendocino County Operational Area (OA). The Mendocino County OA includes the county and its cities, towns, and special districts, in coordination with tribes.
Click HERE to read more..
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The Planning and Building Services Department continues to work on the County’s Strategic Plan objectives while focusing on four primary internal goals: establishing tools to measure success, documenting and improving Department procedures, enhancing the customer experience, and cultivating a structured and productive workplace culture.
The Department’s tool for measuring basic performance criteria, and thereby measuring success, is monthly metric reports, which are posted monthly to the Planning and Building Services Department webpage. These reports quantify revenue vs. expense, applications received, workload inventory, and lead time for completion. The metrics are separated by division.
Please go to https://www.mendocinocounty.gov/departments/planning-building-services/metrics-and-permits for the latest metrics.
Click HERE to read more...
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Prevention, Recovery, Resiliency, & Mitigation
The Prevention, Recovery, Resiliency, and Mitigation (PRRM) Division (formerly Disaster Recovery) within the Executive Office was created in 2018 to work directly with state, federal, and local partners in the physical and financial recovery of the County. The Division works across public and private sectors to ensure unmet needs are being addressed within the community and uses a Whole Community Approach in planning for disaster and developing community resilience.
Click HERE to read more...
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April 21-28, is National Infant Immunization Week and April 24-30, is World Immunization Week.
Throughout the month of April, Public Health is raising awareness about the importance for infants, adolescents and all ages to stay up to date on their recommended vaccines.
For more information and resources about vaccinations please visit www.mendocinocounty.gov/departments/public-health/nursing/vaccines
Click HERE to read more...
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In honor of Social Work Appreciation Month, the Department of Social Services was pleased to share multiple stories of social workers making a difference throughout Mendocino County. Click on the full report to see each article published.
With the continued aging of the population of the United States, an increased number of individuals find themselves needing assistance to remain safely in their homes. In response to this need, IHSS has seen a 13% increase in aged and or disabled individuals utilizing the service over the last year, serving a total of 2,304 recipients as of January 2025. Click to see the full report and find helpful information on becoming an IHSS provider.
Lastly, CalFresh EBT cardholders in California are currently receiving new chip and tap EBT cards in the mail or from their local county office. More than 3.2 million chip and tap EBT cards statewide are set to be distributed through June 2025. Click on the full report for helpful links to learn more.
Click HERE to read more...
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The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) North Coast Viticulture program is committed to supporting grape growers across Mendocino County through research-driven resources, practical education, and strong community engagement. Our recent activities reflect this ongoing mission, with a growing suite of events and tools tailored to meet the evolving needs of local viticulturists. As we continue into 2025, our program has seen a notable increase in both participation and interest—demonstrating a strong appetite for continuing education and collaboration within the industry. The following highlights showcase some of our most recent efforts to serve Mendocino’s grape-growing community.
Click HERE to read more...
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Mendocino County Invites Public Input on Draft Drought Resilience Plan
The Mendocino County Water Agency (MCWA) has released a draft Drought Resilience Plan (DRP) and is inviting public comment through April 25, 2025. Developed to strengthen the County’s preparedness and response to drought, the plan outlines both long-term strategies and emergency actions to protect vulnerable communities and water systems. Public feedback is a critical part of finalizing this important document, which will guide local efforts to improve water security in the face of increasingly frequent drought conditions.
Download Press Release HERE...
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COME & VISIT
Main Ukiah Campus:
501 Low Gap Road
Ukiah, CA 95482
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