About Sierra Council
Our History
With a camping cot, sleeping bag and a $10,000 Federal grant, the Sierra Transition House in South Lake Tahoe got underway in 1972. In September 1972, we were incorporated as the Lake Tahoe Council on Alcoholism and went from a small information referral center to a multi-service center in one year. Since that time we have added and changed some of our program services in response to service requests. In 1990, we updated our agency name to Sierra Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, to reflect the growth in our service delivery programs and treatment service areas.
Our history shows a long-standing commitment to supporting community needs. By 1975, we operated information and drop-in programs in Alpine, El Dorado, Nevada, Sierra, Inyo, Mono, Calaveras, and Placer Counties.
Our offices in South Lake Tahoe evolved from the Sierra Transition House to a 24-hr. information center and, in 1975, we built a short-term residential facility adjacent to the service center. In 1977, we started a new alcoholism information and referral center on Donner Pass Road in Truckee where DWI classes were also conducted. We now offer DUI and out-client program services at our current location in Kings Beach. Our residential treatment services have been relocated to our larger facility in Auburn at the DeWitt Center.
In 1978, California contracted with Sierra Council to provide our Multiple Offender DUI (driving-under-the-influence) program and, in the early 1980’s, California again contracted with us for our First Offender Program. These services are still provided today, over 25 years later, at our Auburn, Kings Beach, Lincoln, and Roseville offices.
Beginning in September 1980, we developed specialized treatment services for women and their children. We originally housed our co-ed residential treatment program at the Kings Beach Motel, and then in June 1986, Sierra Council was awarded specialized grant funds to convert all services to a residential treatment program for women and children, which remained in operation until 1994. In 1999, Sierra Council opened our Intensive Day Treatment Program in Auburn for women and children.
Sierra Council’s Roseville Treatment Center opened in 1972 as a single-room drop-in center on Washington Boulevard. This facility relocated in 1983 and our South Placer Residential Treatment Program opened at DeWitt Center in Auburn. Sierra Council maintains our commitment to Roseville and surrounding communities in our office location located on Sunrise Avenue. In this location, we provide our Out-client and DUI program services.
The Auburn Service Center opened in 1973 as a branch of the Roseville Service Center offering information and counseling to callers or people dropping in and a meeting place for alcoholics in support of their personal programs of recovery. We still provide an array of services there today, almost 35 years later.
In 1977, we opened our administration office in Loomis, a central location for all of our program services and offices.
Sierra Council opened up another satellite office in Lincoln in 2002, a small program that operated only one or two days per week. Since opening, Lincoln became a state licensed site, expanded and added to hours and services to provide out-client services and our DUI program in both English and Spanish.
Over past years, Sierra Council has been funded by various State and federal grants as well as private donations. Today, in response to community needs and economic changes, we seek funding support also through private contracts, client fees and donations. Sierra Council appreciates all of our supporters and encourages our staff, program participants, volunteers, and community partners to support our Business Teams and Partners.