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Hilltop Recovery Services receives approval for new inpatient residential treatment center for women
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The county of Lake has given the final approvals for a new substance abuse treatment center in Lake County, which will be the only facility of its kind focusing just on women.
Hilltop Recovery Services’ new facility, Hilltop for Women Leandra’s House, received the Lake County Planning Commission’s approval for its major use permit on Jan. 13.
The facility is located in an expansive and fully remodeled former single-family home on 20 acres at 14725 Catholic Church Road in Clearlake Oaks.
Lori Carter-Runyon and her husband, Ryan Runyon, acquired the site in 2017, and have been working on plans to open the treatment center there since 2020.
Ryan Runyon said it will be Lake County’s only inpatient residential treatment center just for women, with a maximum of 20 beds at build out.
Another program in the county, Tule House in Upper Lake, is an eight-bed residential substance abuse treatment program but it’s different from Hilltop for Women in that it’s not for the general population but instead focuses on the perinatal population, welcoming women with children up to age 12.
Hilltop for Women is just across the road from Hilltop Recovery’s inpatient residential treatment center for men, which they purchased in 2015. That facility, located on five acres, has a capacity of 38 and as of Thursday had 32 residents, Runyon said.
Hilltop Recovery Services had been located for years on a 320-acre property that once had been a hot springs resort near Anderson Springs.
The 2015 Valley fire destroyed that treatment facility, prompting the Runyons to move their operations to Clearlake Oaks. They also have a clinic and three sober living environments — two for men and one for women — in Lucerne, Ryan Runyon said.
He said they purchased the Hilltop for Women property and did a complete renovation of the 3,500 square foot home, which also has a large garage.
Runyon said Leandra’s House is named for family friend Leandra Green, a talented young woman who was living on the East Coast when she overdosed on fentanyl and died.
A large sign with her picture is just to the right of the front door.
“That’s why we’re doing it, right there,” Runyon said, pointing to the sign and noting the danger of a drug that could kill such a capable and talented person.
The remodeled home has four bedrooms with bunk beds and four and a half bathrooms, and it’s ready to welcome residents.
On the walls are posters that read, “Bet on yourself” and “Actually I can.”
They’ve added a new pool in the big backyard, which also is being landscaped.
Runyon said residents from the men’s program have helped with the work and projects around the property. As part of their recovery, he trains them in new skills.
“Anything they learn they’re excited about,” he said.
The Leandra’s House property, much of it an old walnut orchard, occasionally sees bears and their cubs rambling through the trees. Runyon said they also have deer.
Nearby sits an RV and a trailer for evacuations. They’ve had experience evacuating, not just the south Lake County site but also from the men’s facility across the road, Runyon said.
At the men’s facility, two friendly dogs — Doofus, a big, good-natured mutt with a brindle coat who is good at scaring bears and Hope, with the looks of a large Labrador mix — roamed around and played with staff and residents.
The men’s facility also has a pool, a regulation-size beach volleyball court, a nine-hole movable disc golf course, a garden and a huge and ancient oak tree that Runyon hopes someday will feature a treehouse.
Lori Carter-Runyon said they are training staff for the women’s facility and it could be open as early as Feb. 15. If the training isn’t completed, they will plan for a March 6 opening.
“We have a waiting list,” Ryan Runyon said, explaining they have been doing screenings ahead of the county’s final approval in order to be ready, since they knew the need.
“We want people to get services,” he said.
Runyon said those who come for treatment often stay around 90 days, which in the scheme of things for an individual trying to rebuild their life after years of addiction isn’t long.
He said they’ve also had people stay longer — from six months and even up to a year.
Runyon said it’s not about going from bad to good; he wants the people who come for treatment to be happy and do well.
“I want them to heal,” he said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
The California Department of Social Services, or CDSS, said it is issuing one‑time $500 bonus payments to roughly 550,000 In-Home Supportive Services, or IHSS, providers throughout California.
The payments, which are already being distributed to IHSS providers, recognize these care providers for their critical efforts to help keep IHSS recipients safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The IHSS program provides critical care and support to some of California’s most vulnerable residents, allowing them to remain safely in their own homes.
To be eligible, recipients must be over 65 years of age, or disabled, or blind. Disabled children may also be eligible for IHSS.
The California Department of Social Services reported that there are more than 1,800 IHSS providers in Lake County, serving more than 2,150 authorized recipients.
As of Jan. 1, due to an updated contract between the county of Lake and SEIU Local 2015 Union, the union which represents Lake County’s IHSS providers, the providers’ wages now are $15.65 per hour.
“I’d like to personally thank all IHSS care providers for their continued hard work, which helped protect the health and safety of some of the most vulnerable residents in our state during the pandemic,” said CDSS Director Kim Johnson. “In addition to helping caregivers, we hope these payments help encourage caregivers to continue providing these essential services.”
IHSS providers began receiving their payments automatically on January 20, 2022. Current IHSS providers who provided care to program recipients for a minimum of two months between March 2020 and March 2021 are eligible.
A total of $275 million in federal funds are set to be delivered through this effort. The funds were included in California’s Home and Community-Based Services spending plan.
IHSS providers who receive their regular payments through direct deposit will receive the $500 within 2-3 business days of issuance. It can take up to five to seven business days, or 10 calendar days, for providers who receive paper checks due to mail time.
The IHSS program is considered an alternative to out-of-home care, such as nursing homes or board and care facilities.
The types of services which can be authorized through IHSS are housecleaning, meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, and various personal care services.
“These $500 payments mark an important investment in the IHSS workforce who provide these critical services,” Johnson added. “We remain committed to supporting the continued recruitment and retention of California’s IHSS providers.”
Visit the CDSS website for information on how to receive IHSS care or how to become an IHSS provider.
- Details
- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
AB 1703 by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland) proposes to foster and encourage local schools to partner with tribes located or historically located in their region with the aim of developing accurate, high quality curriculum and classroom materials.
California is home to 110 federally recognized tribes, with more than 80 other tribes reported to be seeking that same level of recognition, the state reported.
Lake County is home to seven tribes.
“I authored AB 1703 because it’s critical that we teach all students about the diversity of California’s more than 100 tribes,” Ramos said. “They each have different languages, customs, culture and history. To teach students we need partnerships and collaboration between the tribes in a community and their schools. Without that interaction, we cannot develop the more complete and high quality curriculum we seek, and we will continue to see incidents like that involving the Riverside math teacher.”
Ramos said support for revamping the state’s Native American social science curriculum has drawn backing from the California Department of Education as well as more than 600 individuals and 28 organizations.
In addition to encouraging local engagement between tribes and schools, AB 1703 would require that local districts identify the extent of the achievement gap between Native American students and their non-Native peers and strategies to close them. The findings would be submitted to the Assembly and Senate Education committees.
“It’s past time for California to support Native American communities by building a strong foundation: teaching local California Native American history in our schools in a factual and respectful manner and ensuring that local tribes are consulted in developing that instruction,” said Joey Williams, director of organizing for the California Native Vote Project. “These are the building blocks toward increasing knowledge of California’s beginnings and the culture and history of the state’s First People.”
Ramos is the first and only California Native American serving in the California Legislature. He represents the 40th Assembly district which includes Highland, Loma Linda, Mentone, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands and San Bernardino.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The City of Clearlake Animal Association also is seeking fosters for the animals waiting to be adopted.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.
The newest dogs are listed at the top of the following list.
‘Annie’
“Annie” is a female Labrador retriever mix with a short black coat.
She is dog No. 49409961.
‘Chai’
“Chai” is a female Alaskan husky mix with a gray and white coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 49279552.
‘Claire’
“Claire” is a female border collie mix with a short black and white coat.
She has been spayed.
Claire is dog No. 49397880.
‘Ebenezer’
“Ebenezer” is a male American pit bull terrier mix with a short tan and white coat.
He is dog No. 49191651.
‘Fritz’
“Fritz” is a male Australian shepherd mix with a black and white coat.
He is dog No. 49278179.
‘Marge’
“Marge” is a female German shepherd mix with a tan coat and black markings.
She is dog No. 49375167.
‘Maui’
“Maui” is a male Labrador retriever mix with a short black coat and white markings.
He is dog No. 49334317.
‘Noodle’
“Noodle” is a male Alaskan husky mix with a black and white coat.
He is dog No. 49375787.
‘Andy’
“Andy” is a male American pit bull mix with a short gray and white coat.
He is dog No. 48995415.
‘Arnold’
“Arnold” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a short brindle coat with white markings.
He is dog No. 49029348.
‘Bear’
“Bear” is a male Labrador retriever-American pit bull mix with a short charcoal and fawn coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 48443153.
‘Bear No. 2’
“Bear No. 2” is a male American pit bull mix with a short tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 48731556.
‘Bella’
“Bella” is a female American pit bull mix with a short gray brindle coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 48448381.
‘Edgar’
“Edgar” is a male terrier-American pit bull mix with a black and cream coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 48634546.
‘Isabella’
“Isabella” is a female Chihuahua mix with a short tan coat.
She is dog No. 49292130.
‘Jaxx’
“Jaxx” is a male Doberman pinscher mix with a black and rust-colored coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 49022184.
‘Levi’
“Levi” is a male golden retriever-Labrador retriever mix.
He has a short golden coat.
He is dog No. 48975687.
‘Maria’
“Maria” is a female Shar-Pei mix with a short tan coat.
She is dog No. 49047315.
‘Nala’
“Nala” is a 1-year-old female German shepherd mix.
She has a medium-length black and tan coat.
She is dog No. 48289638.
‘Priscilla’
“Priscilla” is a female Brittany spaniel mix with a white and copper coat.
She is dog No. 49089138.
‘Sassy’
“Sassy” is a female American pit bull mix with a short black coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 48443128.
‘Snowball’
“Snowball” is a male American Staffordshire mix terrier with a white coat.
He is dog No. 49159168.
‘Terry’
“Terry” is a male shepherd mix with a short brindle coat.
He is dog No. 48443693.
‘Turk’
“Turk” is a male chocolate Labrador retriever mix.
He is dog No. 48911836.
Email Elizabeth Larson at