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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.18.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Amber Pangborn is asking to be put on the board of supervisors' calendar in March.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying.. From:Clerk of the Board To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts, Melissa; Krater, Sharleen; Lee, Lewis; Little, Melissa; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth; Kennelly, Scott Cc:Nuzum, Danielle Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Amber Pangborn is asking to be put on the board of supervisors" calendar in March Date:Wednesday, February 18, 2026 2:19:00 PM Attachments:Pregnancy‑Supported Sober Living Environment (SLE) Proposal.docx Please see Board Correspondence - From: Amber Williams <williamsmom1111@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 1:58 PM To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net> Subject: Amber Pangborn is asking to be put on the board of supervisors' calendar in March Dear Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, I am writing to propose a partnership with Butte County to address critical service gaps in our community, specifically regarding specialized treatment modules and the development of the new hospital. Drawing from my academic background and extensive personal and professional experience within the merit system, social services, and property management, I am developing a project called Earth Angels. My goal is to establish a 501(c)(3) organization focused on creating Sober Living Environments (SLE) and comprehensive treatment programs. I have noted a significant lack of Medi-Cal approved detox and treatment facilities for pregnant women in California, and I believe we can work together to provide these essential resources. I am seeking the County’s input on this project and would like to discuss potential collaboration regarding tax-repossession properties or other available resources to assist in this development. I have attached a proposal outlining potential grants and funding entities that could support this initiative. Furthermore, I wish to address serious concerns regarding past treatment and systemic issues I have encountered within the local correctional and social service systems. I have documented evidence concerning these matters and would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how we can improve these processes for the benefit of the community. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your guidance on how to present this proposal to the Board of Supervisors. Best regards, Amber Pangborn (Williams) Pregnancy‑Supported Sober Living Environment (SLE) Proposal** **GRANT‑READY NARRATIVE Transformational Sober Living & Recovery Support Program** Project Overview The Transformational Sober Living & Recovery Support Program is a trauma‑informed, evidence‑aligned recovery model designed to address a critical service gap in Butte and Glenn Counties: the absence of specialized sober living environments for pregnant women, mothers, and couples affected by substance use and trauma. The program provides safe, structured housing, recovery support, and stabilization services following medical detoxification, with the goal of improving maternal health outcomes, reducing CPS involvement, and supporting long‑term family stability. Statement of Need Butte and Glenn Counties currently lack a pregnancy‑supported sober living environment (SLE), despite high rates of substance use, trauma exposure, homelessness, and CPS involvement among pregnant and parenting women. The nearest comprehensive program for pregnant women—Prototypes—is located in Southern California, creating significant barriers to access. Women in Northern California must choose between traveling hundreds of miles for care or going without specialized support during pregnancy, a period of heightened medical and emotional vulnerability. This gap contributes to: • increased neonatal complications • higher rates of child welfare involvement • preventable maternal health crises • relapse risk during pregnancy and postpartum • lack of safe housing following detoxification A trauma‑informed SLE for pregnant women and couples would directly address these unmet needs and align with federal and state priorities for maternal health, family preservation, and recovery‑oriented systems of care. Program Description The program will provide: • Sober living housing for women and couples • Specialized pregnancy‑supported SLE beds for women transferring from medical detox (e.g., Enloe) • Trauma‑informed recovery support • Peer mentorship and case management • Family‑centered stabilization services • Coordination with medical, behavioral health, and social‑service providers The model is designed to reduce relapse, improve maternal‑infant outcomes, and support long‑term recovery and reunification. Target Population • Pregnant women with substance‑use disorders • Mothers with infants or young children • Women and couples exiting detoxification • Individuals with trauma histories • Families at risk of CPS involvement • Women experiencing homelessness or domestic violence Alignment With Federal and State Priorities The program aligns with: • SAMHSA Pregnant & Postpartum Women (PPW) priorities • HRSA maternal health initiatives • HUD Continuum of Care vulnerable‑population scoring • DOJ Second Chance Act reentry priorities • California BH‑CIP, CalAIM ECM, and Perinatal Equity Initiative goals By establishing a pregnancy‑supported SLE, Butte and Glenn Counties become eligible for multiple federal and state funding streams currently inaccessible due to the absence of such a program. Organizational Capacity The program is led by Amber Pangborn, a long‑term sober program director with lived experience, specialized training in trauma‑informed modalities, and extensive field research on maternal recovery models. Her leadership reflects stability, insight, and a strong commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable families. Expected Outcomes • Reduced neonatal complications • Reduced CPS removals • Increased maternal sobriety rates • Increased family reunification • Increased access to trauma‑informed care • Reduced emergency‑room utilization • Increased housing stability Sustainability The program will be sustained through: • federal grants (SAMHSA, HRSA, HUD) • state funding (BH‑CIP, CalAIM, MHSA) • foundation grants • program revenue • county partnerships **ONE‑PAGE COUNTY SUPERVISOR BRIEFING Pregnancy‑Supported Sober Living Environment (SLE) Proposal** Purpose To establish a trauma‑informed sober living environment for pregnant women, mothers, and couples in Butte and Glenn Counties, addressing a critical regional service gap and unlocking new federal and state funding streams. Problem • No pregnancy‑supported SLE exists in Butte or Glenn Counties • Pregnant women with substance‑use disorders must travel to Southern California for specialized care • Lack of local services increases CPS involvement, neonatal complications, homelessness, and relapse • Counties lose access to high‑priority federal funding due to absence of qualifying programs Proposed Solution Create a trauma‑informed SLE with: • dedicated beds for pregnant women post‑detox • women’s and couples’ sober living units • recovery support, case management, and stabilization services • partnerships with Enloe, county BH departments, and community providers Funding Advantage A pregnancy‑supported SLE unlocks eligibility for: • SAMHSA Pregnant & Postpartum Women (PPW) grants • HRSA maternal health grants • HUD Continuum of Care priority scoring • DOJ Second Chance Act funding • CalAIM Enhanced Care Management (perinatal pathway) • BH‑CIP infrastructure funding • Foundation grants focused on maternal‑child health These funding streams are not available to counties without a pregnancy‑specific program. Expected Community Impact • Reduced CPS removals • Improved maternal and infant health outcomes • Increased recovery stability • Reduced homelessness among pregnant women • Lower county costs related to ER visits, neonatal care, and foster care • Strengthened family preservation and reunification Leadership The project is led by Amber Pangborn, a program director with long‑term sobriety, trauma‑informed training, and extensive field research on maternal recovery models. Her lived experience and professional expertise position her to lead a high‑impact, sustainable program. Request Support for partnership development, county alignment, and eligibility for federal and state funding to establish the region’s first pregnancy‑supported sober living environment. Side‑by‑Side Comparison of Federal Funding Eligibility Pregnancy‑Supported SLE vs. Counties Without One** Exhibit F – Federal Funding Comparison Table Funding Source Pregnancy‑Supported SLE Present No Pregnancy‑Supported SLE SAMHSA – Recovery Housing Program (RHP) program serves high‑risk pregnant women, mothers, and infants. Strong alignment with federal priorities. without specialized programs cannot apply for pregnancy‑specific allocations. SAMHSA – Pregnant & Postpartum Women (PPW) Grants Fully eligible. These grants specifically fund residential and supportive programs for pregnant women with SUD. Not eligible. Counties without a qualifying program cannot apply. HUD – Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Eligible for housing stabilization, rapid rehousing, and supportive services for pregnant women fleeing DV or homelessness. homelessness services; cannot claim pregnancy‑specific priority points. HUD – Continuum of Care (CoC) Pregnancy‑focused SLEs score higher due to serving a federally recognized vulnerable population. Lower scoring. No specialized program means fewer priority points. VAWA – Domestic Violence Housing First Eligible if serving pregnant DV survivors. Trauma‑informed SLEs qualify strongly. services; cannot claim pregnancy‑specific trauma housing needs. DOJ – Second Chance Act (Reentry) community, especially pregnant or parenting individuals. without a specialized program. ACF – Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Strong alignment. Programs serving pregnant women with SUD score higher. Eligible only through county health departments; no direct program benefit. HRSA – Maternal Health Grants Eligible for maternal health innovation, wraparound services, and care coordination. demonstrate a maternal‑health recovery environment. Medicaid (through county BH plans) Can bill for case management, peer support, perinatal services, and SUD treatment coordination. services; no pregnancy‑specific reimbursement pathways. California State Funding (BH‑CIP, MHSA, HHAP) high‑priority population (pregnant women with SUD). Eligible, but lower priority scoring. Private Foundations (e.g., Blue Shield, Kaiser, Sierra Health) High competitiveness due to maternal‑health focus. Lower competitiveness; no specialized maternal‑health program to fund. Key Takeaways • Counties with a pregnancy‑supported SLE unlock multiple federal funding streams that are otherwise unavailable. • Butte and Glenn Counties currently do not have a dedicated program, which means they cannot apply for PPW grants, maternal‑health recovery grants, or pregnancy‑specific recovery housing funds. • A pregnancy‑supported SLE fills a federally recognized service gap, increasing county eligibility for millions in federal and state funding. • Programs serving pregnant women with substance‑use disorders receive priority scoring across SAMHSA, HUD, HRSA, and DOJ grants. • Establishing such a program in Butte and Glenn Counties would increase revenue, reduce CPS involvement, reduce neonatal complications, and improve maternal outcomes — all of which are federally incentivized. Key Funding Advantages of a Pregnancy‑Supported SLE 1. Unlocks exclusive federal grants • SAMHSA PPW • HRSA maternal health • Perinatal SUD pathways • Maternal‑infant outcome grants 2. Increases county competitiveness Pregnancy‑supported programs score higher in: • HUD CoC • SAMHSA RHP • DOJ reentry • State BH‑CIP 3. Aligns with federal priority populations • Pregnant women with SUD • Mothers with infants • Trauma‑exposed families • Women at risk of CPS involvement 4. Creates a regional service that currently does not exist Butte and Glenn Counties have no pregnancy‑specific SLE, which: • limits federal funding • increases CPS removals • increases neonatal complications • increases county costs Your program directly solves this. 5. Summary for County Supervisors or Courts A pregnancy‑supported SLE unlocks multiple federal and state funding streams that are unavailable to Butte and Glenn Counties without such a program. Women’s and couples SLEs qualify for general funding, but pregnancy‑specific programs qualify for high‑priority, high‑dollar grants focused on maternal health, infant outcomes, and trauma‑informed recovery.