California Border Health Collaborative 

Background

In February 2011, the California Office of Binational Border Health (COBBH); County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA); and Imperial County Public Health Department (ICPHD) formed an alliance to create the California Border Health Collaborative.

Our Vision is:  United for a healthy border region

Our Mission is:  To enhance communication, collaboration and coordination among public, private and academic institutions in order to protect and improve the health of individuals, families and communities along the California/Baja California border region.

Our Values are: Commitment, Inclusivity, Equity, and Sustainability

Long-term and Short-term Goals: 

Communicate

What: Communicate with stakeholders, funders and policy makers to address emerging public health needs, gaps and disparities affecting individuals, families and communities.

How: Adopt a proactive approach to communicate a unified agenda for advocacy, education and funding priorities.

Actions:

·         Launch health education and awareness initiatives aimed at target audiences utilizing electronic and social media

·         Create a clearinghouse of information on health issues and resources specific to border regions

 

Collaborate

What: Collaborate on approaches, policies, and practices to address shared priorities in health.

How: Seek new partners to strengthen the impact of the Collaborative.

 Actions:

·         Increase membership in the Collaborative

·         Create inventory of existing organizational initiatives that could be broadened or enhanced through collaboration                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               How: Provide opportunities for partners to identify shared goals, policies and initiatives.

 Actions:

·         Establish workgroups around key focus areas or initiatives

·         Provide a venue for organizations, policymakers and donors to come together to exchange information on border health issues

·         Expand capacity for advocacy

 

Coordinate

What: Coordinate efforts by leveraging resources and aligning activities to ensure sustainability and improve health outcomes.

How: Devise an infrastructure that allows for the successful operation of the Collaborative

 Actions:

·         Conduct asset and needs mapping to help identify critical areas and opportunities to  inform Collaborative work

·         Identify potential funding sources or opportunities, inside and outside of the Collaborative, that align with the Collaborative’s goals                                                                                     

How: Maximize the resources and activities of the partners to advance the goals of the Collaborative

Actions:

·         Secure and/or leverage additional resources to support joint activities on border health

·         Conduct joint activities or initiatives that produce measurable impacts on border health