College of Health and Human Services

Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley

Health and Human Services Working Group

The Partnership

By an executive order of Governor Schwarzenegger in June 2005, a public-private partnership is focused on improving the region’s economic vitality and quality of life in the Valley.
The Central California Social Welfare Evaluation, Research and Training Center (SWERT) is a member of the Partnership through the working groups established at the State and Regional levels.

The Working Groups

Ten working groups will address air quality; economic development; energy; health and human services, higher education and workforce development; K-12 education; land use, agriculture, and housing; advanced communications services; transportation; and water.
Administrative support, communications, and oversight for work group activities are provided by the Office of Community and Economic Development, CSUF, and Great Valley Center of Fresno, CA.

The Health and Human Services Working Group

The Work Group will address regional health care issues through the Central Valley Health Policy Institute, led by Dr. John Capitman, Executive Director, and social services issues through the Central California Social Welfare Evaluation, Research and Training Center, directed by Dr. Jane Middleton, Chair, Social Work Education Department, CSUF.
The Work Group is focused on workforce education and training, enhancing access to health and social services, creating education and treatment programs, promoting safe and stable families, and improving access to state resources for health and human services.
In addition to basic state funding appropriated to the Partnership, the Work Group will seek other state, federal, and private resources to support its efforts.

The Challenges

The Valley is home to increasing numbers of immigrant and monolingual families, and relatively flat growth rates in non-agriculture industry.
Health, social, and economic well-being indicators in the Valley fall short of statewide and national averages.
The Valley’s health and human services sectors are poorly equipped to meet the challenges posed by a large and growing culturally complex population.
State and federal social service resources continue to fall behind the escalating levels of public demand, while local economies struggle to maintain fiscal viability.

The Social Services Goals and Opportunities

Develop methamphetamine education, treatment, and sustainable recovery programs
Support and promote foster care prevention services
Enhance access to social services to disabled and older adults
Consider alternative methods for allocating new funding resources to the region

David Foster, Staff Director,
Phone: (559) 228-4055
E-Mail: davidfo@csufresno.edu

Statewide website for California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley: http://www.sjvpartnership.org/