San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency partnered with San Diego State University to address countywide healthcare issues, including child welfare, aging, behavioral health, and housing insecurity.
The collaborative venture between researchers and programs from the institutions will be called the Live Well Center for Innovation and Leadership. The agreement was signed Thursday and will last five years.
“I am very proud that the already strong partnership between SDSU and the county's Health and Human Services Agency will continue to grow and expand after today,'' said SDSU President Adela de la Torre. “Through the Live Well Center for Innovation and Leadership, we are creating something new. There will be a focus on workforce development and county internships for SDSU students in public health and social work, creating a highly educated and better-trained workforce to address many of the health disparities pervasive in our community today.''
According to the HHSA and university, faculty and the public will also benefit from a closer connection with the county's many health initiatives to further expand research collaborations. SDSU's College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) students and faculty conduct extensive research projects and explore innovative methods to tackle health disparities and emerging public health issues in the region’s urban and rural communities.
​“This type of partnership is a first in the state of California,'' said Nathan Fletcher, chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “We will be streamlining workforce development through new internships and training, and this will be a great relationship as we continue to scale up our behavioral health workforce.
According to De La Torre, the center’s launch will make the County of San Diego a healthier, safer place for its citizens.”
