About Us
In 1972 H.I. Tom Sawyer, a dairy farmer and a volunteer member of the Stanislaus County Mental Health Advisory Board envisioned a group home that could provide the high level of care needed for children in Stanislaus County. The agency's foundation was built on the belief that children need positive and loving role models to grow into healthy adults.
Over the past four decades, Sierra Vista has grown into one of the largest nonprofit agencies in the region, serving on average more than 20,000 children and families each year with nearly 250 dedicated employees, 28 programs, and providing services in every school district throughout Stanislaus and Merced County. The integration of these programs into the community has created a sustainable continuum of child and family services that are accessible and tailored to address a broad range of needs. By offering quality programs that meet the growing needs of the thousands of people of all ages who are overwhelmed with mental illness, child abuse or substance abuse, children and families have found healing and hope at Sierra Vista. Through our continuum of services, we meet the needs of thousands of children, families, and individuals who struggle with mental health issues, child abuse, domestic violence, social behaviors, special education needs, parenting, and challenges within the family unit, and children who need Forever Families.
Mission, Vision & Core Values
Our Mission:
We strengthen families and communities by transforming lives!
Our Vision:
A Commitment to Caring!
Our Values:
Our values are fundamental to our mission. They are the foundation of our agency and shape the culture and define the character of our organization.
Excellence
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of performance and continually push ourselves to do more.
Professionalism
We meet the ethical and technical standards in our field and show compassion and respect for others at all times.
Integrity
We are honest and straightforward: our actions and operations are transparent.
Collaboration
We produce results not through our actions alone, but in partnership with clients, community organizations, and one another.
Dedication
We meet our commitments to clients, partners, and the community with reliability and dedication.
Leadership
Sierra Vista Child & Family Services is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of diverse individuals from various professions and geographic areas of the county. The Sierra Vista Board is a policy setting body charged with the responsibility of oversight of the financial solvency of the agency, as well as the quality of services provided to the community.
Board Of Directors
Michael Donohoe
Chairperson
Ramsbacher Prokey Leonard, LLP
Wendy Kennedy
Vice-Chairperson
Retired Human Resources Director
Sandi Young
Co Vice-Chairperson
Retired School Administrator
Brandy Barnes
Secretary
Rodarakis & Sousa
Molly Withrow-Cox
Treasurer
Withrow Koftinow & Baggett, LLP
Adrian Luna
Fire2Wire
Gary Erickson
F&M Bank
Jane Johnson
Grimbleby Coleman Certified Public Accountants, Inc.
Rob Powell
Grover Financial Group
Roxanna Smith
Wells Fargo Bank
Administration
Judy Kindle
Chief Executive Officer
Jeff Anderson
Clinical Director
John Gilfillan
Chief Financial Officer
Jean Edwards
Director of Human Resources
Program Directors
Jacob Gregg
Director of Educational Services
Fernando Granados
Director of Cultural Services & Community Based Programs
Director of Perinatal Substance Abuse Treatment
Stacey Bronken
Director of Quality Assurance & Data Management
Tiffany Rivera
Director of Outpatient Services
Tim Mathews
Director of Foster Care & Adoption
Our Partners
Sierra Vista would be very different without the many partners who work alongside and in support of Sierra Vista and its programs. Sierra Vista has formal membership and partnerships with many entities.
Sierra Vista Child & Family Services is a member of:
Foster Family-Based Treatment Association
California Alliance of Child and Family Services
Modesto Chamber of Commerce
Turlock Chamber of Commerce
Merced Chamber of Commerce
Hughson Chamber of Commerce
Waterford Chamber of Commerce
Sierra Vista Child & Family Services' partnerships include:
Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Stanislaus County Focus on Prevention Initiative
Stanislaus County Health Services Agency
Stanislaus County Probation Department
Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors
Stanislaus County Community Services Agency
Stanislaus County Children & Families Commission
Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE)
Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department
Merced County
Merced County Department of Education
Merced County Department of Mental Health
Merced County First 5
Other Partners
California State University, Stanislaus
Modesto City Schools
School Districts throughout Stanislaus and Merced Counties
Central California Child Development Services
Center for Human Services
Parent Resource Center
United Samaritans
California Wellness Foundation
Bright Family Foundation
United Way of Stanislaus County
Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Program
Accreditation
Accreditation is one of the means by which the agency strives to champion quality of services.
Joint Commission
Sierra Vista Child & Family Services has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Behavioral Health Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective care.
Established in 1969, The Joint Commission’s Behavioral Health Care Accreditation program currently accredits more than 2,100 organizations for a three-year period. Accredited organizations provide treatment and services within a variety of settings across the care continuum for individuals who have mental health, addiction, eating disorder, intellectual/developmental disability, and/or child-welfare related needs.
The Joint Commission’s behavioral healthcare standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, quality improvement measurement experts, and individuals and their families. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help organizations measure, assess and improve performance.
Joint Commission http://www.jointcommission.org/
Joint Commission PDF
California Alliance
Sierra Vista Child & Family Services is a member agency of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services.
The California Alliance of Child and Family Services is a statewide association of more than 130 private nonprofit child and family serving agencies committed to providing the highest quality services in the most caring and effective fashion.
Formed on January 1, 2000, through the merger of the California Association of Services for Children (CSC) and the California Association of Children's Homes (CCH), the Alliance and its parent associations have a combined history of more than 60 years of advocacy on behalf of California's most vulnerable children and families and the organizations that serve them.
California Alliance of Child and Family Services www.cacfs.org