Sunny Hills Services (SHS) and Bay Area Youth Centers (BAYC) announced on April 28 that they are proceeding with a merger of the two organizations, after months of study by the boards and management of the two agencies. An implementation team has been created to determine the best process and procedure for integrating the two agencies. It is expected that the merger will be completed by July 1, 2008.

“Sunny Hills Services is excited to announce this merger plan. Partnering in this way with BAYC allows us to expand our reach both geographically and programmatically. As the number of clients that we serve each year continues to grow exponentially, the addition of the BAYC services to our existing spectrum of care helps us meet the ever-changing needs of the vulnerable children and families we help,” explains Joe Costa , Chief Executive Officer of Sunny Hills Services.

Josh Leonard , Executive Director of BAYC, says that “BAYC is confident that this merger will help us continue to provide the crucial, high-quality programs that we have always been known for while also allowing us to utilize the Sunny Hills infrastructure to help us grow and add new dimensions to those programs.”

BAYC will continue to operate its existing programs under its own name. BAYC will be structured as a division of SHS and will utilize the SHS administrative umbrella. Infrastructure support provided by SHS for BAYC will include Human Resources, Finance and Accounting,

Fund Development and Communications. Josh Leonard will continue as Executive Director of BAYC, and will also serve as the primary SHS representative in the East Bay.

Neither agency foresees a change in existing services or is planning a reduction of staff as part of this merger. Continued opportunities for growth and development of program initiatives are expected as the two agencies combine forces and competencies.

Sunny Hills Background

Since 1895, Sunny Hills Services has been helping build better and brighter futures for vulnerable children and their families. SHS provides educational, community based, transitional and mental health programs for youth from 5 to 21 years old. Located in San Anselmo, the agency has programs throughout Marin and Sonoma Counties that serve youth from throughout the Bay Area and Northern California.

Information

Additional information about the merger will be available as plans are developed by the implementation team. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Josh Leonard at (510) 727-9401 x 104.