Sonoma County’s Upstream Investments Initiative

Since April 2010, we as a Board of Supervisors have been involved in a project that we feel will have a profound effect on Sonoma County’s future: the Upstream Investments Initiative.

The concept of Upstream Investments is simple. Rather than spending limited resources to repair difficult problems once they occur, Upstream Investments prevent those problems early, with evidence-based programs and policies. Upstream Investments target some of our most intractable problems—poverty, racial/ethnic disparities, family dysfunction, anti-social behavior, and negative peer influences.

Upstream Investments produce a wide range of well-documented savings. By embracing Upstream Investments, we will reduce expensive downstream services such as criminal justice costs or public aid. And by reducing the obstacles to future employment, we strengthen our workforce and increase our tax base, building a more robust local economy.

We invite you to attend one of the following Upstream Forums where we will explain this policy initiative, describe what it means for Sonoma County, and suggest opportunities for your organization to partner with us in this visionary effort. We will answer your questions and invite your input.

· District 5, Supervisor Efren Carrillo
March 23, 2011 / 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Sonoma County Human Services Department Employment and Training, Training Room A&B,  2227 Capricorn Way, Santa Rosa, CA 95407
 
· District 1, Supervisor Valerie Brown
April 4, 2011 / 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Booker Hall at La Luz Center, 17560 Greger Street, Boyes Hot Springs, CA 95476
 
· District 3, Supervisor Shirlee Zane
April 13, 2011 / 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library, 6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
 
· District 5, Supervisor Efren Carrillo
April 22, 2011 / 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Guerneville Veterans Memorial Hall, 1st & Church St, Guerneville, CA 95446
 
· District 2, Supervisor David Rabbitt
April 27, 2011 / 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Petaluma Community Center, Lucchesi Park Conference Room 2, 320 N. McDowell Blvd, Petaluma, CA 94954
 
· District 4, Supervisor Mike McGuire
May 4, 2011 / 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Piper St., Healdsburg, CA, 95448

To help us plan for enough chairs and handouts, please RSVP to Info@SonomaUpstream.org. However, you are welcome to attend even if you do not RSVP.

As a Board, we look forward to seeing you at a Forum and to your contribution to Upstream Investments for our community.