Partnerships Power Thriving Community Schools

Nearly 200 educators convened for a morning of connections and sharing information at the first community schools network meeting co-hosted by the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) and County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) on May 22.

Attendees included principals, community schools coordinators, HHSA representatives, and those interested in learning about the community schools strategy, which addresses a student’s academic, social and emotional, physical, and mental well-being, and how county services can bolster that effort.  

SDCOE and HHSA are driving the effort to reimagine schools as community hubs where students, families, staff, and community members thrive.

“Only in our wildest dreams did we think this partnership with the County Office of Education could be so successful,” said Carey Riccitelli, director of the county’s Office of Strategy and Innovation, who welcomed attendees. “SDCOE and HHSA are realizing the Live Well San Diego vision of working toward a common dream of healthy, safe, and thriving families throughout San Diego County.”

A new video entitled, Thriving Community Schools and the Power of Partnerships, describes how partnerships are key to creating healthy environments for children to learn, grow, and reach their full potential. This video spotlights how SDCOE and HHSA are working together to create conditions for San Diego County children and families to succeed. 

“We’ve all heard the proverb, ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ and the beauty of the community schools strategy is that any school can be a community school,” said Dr. Erin Mahoney, senior director of community schools at SDCOE. “Today was the first step toward actualizing our vision of creating partnership opportunities between our schools and HHSA. The possibilities are endless.”

Throughout the meeting, participants were encouraged to connect with people from different organizations; share and align assets, services, and resources; and gain understanding and build on some of the shifts in public services and education in San Diego County.

Amy Isiaho, a policy analyst in the county’s Office of Child & Family Strengthening, described one of those shifts happening well beyond the region’s boundaries.

“We’re seeing a statewide shift from mandated reporting to community supporting, and that’s really powerful for children and families,” she explained. “Unfortunately, we find that poverty is often mistaken as neglect,” Isiaho said.

SDCOE’s North Star goal to reduce poverty and increase belongingness through public education aligns well with HHSA’s goals for thriving families and communities.

Attendees engaged in an HHSA program showcase that provided 10-minute overviews of county programs that are available to schools, including: Child and Family Wellbeing Fostering Academic Success in Education (FASE), Behavioral Health Services, Self-Sufficiency Services, Public Health Services, Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities, as well as 211 San Diego.

Chase Fite, a teacher on special assignment supporting five community schools in the San Diego Unified School District, said he’s interested in learning more about the FASE program and supports for unique linguistic and cultural needs.

“Parents are asking how to best support their students’ mental health, that’s something that was a top priority when we conducted a needs assessment with families and students.”

Pam Smith, director of the HHSA Live Well Schools initiative, described how, in 2023, SDCOE and HHSA began discussing how the two organizations can strengthen their partnerships and align resources and expertise to be more responsive to the needs of the students and families we serve.

“SDCOE’s community schools work is perfectly aligned with what we’re doing with Live Well Schools,” Smith said. “Place matters in our health, place matters in our safety, and place matters if we’re going to thrive. Schools are the best place for us to connect with kids and families,” she continued.

Tools for Schools is a database of more than 500 free or low-cost resources available to schools in San Diego County, and the Live Well Schools program map pinpoints the 34 Health and Human Services programs and services that are in place and available to the nearly 800 schools in San Diego County. SDCOE also provides support and resources to local districts and schools through the Southern Coast Regional Technical Assistance Center. 

“I was amazed by the amount of resources out there, either free or low-cost. This is really going to benefit our students and families,” shared Pilar Vargas, principal at Imperial Beach Charter School. “Before it seemed very difficult to gather all the resources and supports. Now that HHSA has them in one database, it makes the work so much easier and helps us serve communities better.”

As the network meeting wrapped up, making new connections and continuing conversations were just getting started. SDCOE and HHSA plan to host additional convenings leading up to and following the Live Well Advance Conference and School Summit on Nov. 21.