David Favor

Longtime Chico resident, David C. Favor, the founder and CEO of Victor Treatment Centers, and a pioneer in the treatment of mentally ill children, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 of cancer. He was 73. Favor was awarded an honorary doctorate by California State University in 2010, in recognition of his accomplishments releasing children from state hospitals into compassionate residential settings. Favor was born in Ione, Washington in 1938. His mother died when he was five, and a difficult two-year stay in an orphanage became the driving force behind his career as a social worker. After David earned a master's degree in social work from the University of Washington, he moved to California and worked for the state, treating patients in several small rural counties. Favor was so successful forming collaborations with doctors, teachers, welfare workers, probation officers, and churches, and developing alternatives to institutionalization, that he became the director of several county mental health departments. Favor was a passionate advocate and lobbyist for the rights of the mentally ill. He spent many volunteer hours testifying before county supervisors and Sacramento lawmakers. In 1968, Favor and several colleagues opened Victor Treatment Centers. His commitment to children, and his reputation for honesty and integrity earned him many admirers and state contracts. Under Favor's leadership, Victor Treatment Centers provided thousands of children with a rich home life including art, theater, and music programs, recreational therapy, and social skills training. Later, Favor founded North Valley Schools, a state-accredited special-education academic program with schools throughout the state, and Victor Community Support Services, to provide services for children living with their parents. Favor's work in the 1970's helped change California mental health funding to allow money formerly used for state mental hospitals to be used for local county-run programs instead. Favor's mission was to release all mentally ill children from state mental hospitals, and into home-like environments. He become California's premier developer of community-based residential programs for disturbed children. Favor's advocacy in California inspired similar programs in several other states. The last children housed in California's mental health facilities were finally released after Favor created the first residential treatment program for deaf children. David Favor is survived by his wife, Sharon Favor; three children, Michael, Ray, and Penelope Favor-Wyllie; two stepchildren, Kate Hiller and Jake Weber, and 10 grandchildren. A Celebration of his Life will take place at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 at the Lakeside Pavilion in California Park. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the American Cancer Society .