Special Publications

SUNNY HILLS SERVICES IS NOW SIDE BY SIDE! Sunny Hills Services has had a long history in Marin County. Founded in 1895 as an orphanage, we became known as "Sunny Hills" in the 1930s in reference to our idyllic San Anselmo campus (with our street, Sunny Hills Drive, subsequently named for us) – and we are still headquartered on that same campus today. In recent years though, we've evolved signifi cantly to meet the needs of young people in our communities, and we needed a name that would refl ect our expansion beyond the "Sunny Hills" location and unite our broad spectrum of programs. We also wanted a name that evokes the essence of our work with young people. The experience of our direct care staff is one of walking with our young clients on their journey – not leading or following but meeting them where they are without judgment or hierarchy. The name Side by Side encapsulates this simple, but most essential aspect of our work. And, importantly, Side by Side describes our relationship with partners in the community that make our work possible. Today, Side by Side operates in four counties, reaching nearly 2,000 young people ages 5 to 26 and their families with critical services. In Marin County, we provide behavioral and mental health, special education, and, our newest service area, substance abuse recovery, with ReStart offering both residential and after school programs for teens 13-17. But we couldn't do any of this without the support of our community. We hope you'll walk with us, side by side, on the next leg of our journey. With gratitude, Mary Denton, CEO Dear Neshia, "…We now have been working together for a little over two years and have established a relationship where I feel extremely comfortable expressing myself to you, no fi lter needed. I have never felt judged by you, and appreciate that you are always there to listen when I need to vent. And you be having me crackin' up! At the end of the day, I wouldn't want any other person to be my therapist…" -Timbo We asked our youth and providers to refl ect on their journey together at Side by Side. Following are excerpts from letters between Shawneshia and Timberlie. You can see more of them, and three other pairs, in our video at SidebySideYouth.org. MEET TIMBERLIE AND SHAWNESHIA Dear Timberlie, "…You taught me that it's ok to laugh and be playful in session. But most importantly you have welcomed me into your world. I have witnessed your hurts, your challenges, your experiences with discrimination, heartbreaks, and even homelessness fi rst hand. You had every reason under the sun to drop out of services but even still you never disengaged. You have always been the leading navigator of your treatment and I appreciate your ability to trust me in supporting you…" Love, -Neshia 2 | SIDE BY SIDE

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