b'1994 Charitable Council is founded by a Audacity of Necessity group of community volunteers to help ll the gap in services left in the wake of welfare reform.1996 Changes name to Insights from Executive DirectorAction Council to Larry Imwalle better reect its role in inspiring change in the region.The Action Council ofAction Monterey County(ACTION)Council was formed in 1994 toFirst Community stem the impact of welfareWide Forumreform that would be put1998 Incubated Mobile Dental Clinicinto law two years later. The2001 CHERISH Project Personal ResponsibilityCompleted-First Receiving Center for and Work Opportunitychildren exposed to Reconciliation Act of 1996abuse and neglect shifted the countrys welfareis recommendedsystem from cashindependent nonprot,the capacity of theAs others said no, weAs the economy reboundedGirls Inc. starteddistribution to families toACTION could adapt to thecommunity and ourkept saying yes. Withand opportunities returned,Second community block grants to controlledchanging needs of thepartners to bring evenscarce resources, wewe were ready to jump in. forum2002 Takes a local girls by each state.community and satisfymore solutions to life. knew collaborationempowerment program in-house them quicker.and aWhen the Californiato nurture its growth As a result, direct nancialPathways to Safety, whichstrengths-basedWe were in aEndowment selectedinto an independent unique positionchapter of the assistance was cut off forIn those early years,you will read about on theapproach would helpSalinas for their Buildingnational nonprot, nearly one-quarter of U.S.ACTION worked onpages ahead, helpedour county weatherto harness theHealthy CommunitiesGirls Inc.citizens on welfare,resolving urgent issues. Wedene this turning point inhardship andcapacity of theinitiative, we were able to2003 Fiscal sponsorship including 27 percent offocused on fortifyingour history. Leveraging ourrecover. Ourshape its future.expandedcommunity andNAMC-Nonprot Monterey County residents.existing services andresearch and strongperseverance paidCommitted to sustainingAlliance of Monterey It was evident that reformmaking up for needs in therelationship with theoff, keeping manyour partners tothe program, we adaptedCounty startedwould strain an alreadycommunity. We partneredDepartment of Socialdoors open andsee theour model and stepped inChildren Circle of overburdened social servicewith organizations in theServices, we seized theushering a spirit ofpossibilities. as the umbrella for theFriends incubated to support Foster system.community and supportedopportunity to dramaticallyreceptivity in themany grassrootsParents needing projects that would deliverchange child welfare in thecommunity. organizations. homes Our organization was bornmeaningful results.county. Pathways could2006 Pathways to Safetyof the minds ofkeep families together andprogram launches through a forward-thinking communityAlong the way, cultivatedmake them stronger. Wepartnership volunteers who recognizedknowledge, resources anddecided to go all in. between Action Council and the the need for swift actionrelationships, and realizedMonterey County Department of to ensure continuity ofthat we could scale up ourWe continued with thisSocial Services as a strengths-based care for vulnerable peoplework. We were in a uniquebold approach even as theapproach to child countywide. As anposition to harness therecession hit.welfare.Action Council Third community forum'