About Us

How We Work | CHIP Initiatives | Affiliated Programs

Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) was initially formed in 1995 to meet the requirements of California Senate Bill 697 a law that required private, non-profit hospitals to conduct a triennial community needs assessment.

Since then, CHIP has become known as an innovate think tank for a wide range of public health issues. CHIP staff manages volunteer work teams and public-private partnerships that address the critical healthcare issues identified in our triennial needs assessment through model projects that unify the community and effectively share resources.

With the core functions of assessment; outreach; education and advocacy; program development; and collaboration, CHIP currently has more than 20 programs, initiatives and work groups-many working with persons of diverse social economic status and cultural backgrounds. As a neutral convener, CHIP has mastered the ability to bring together multiple agencies, organizations and individuals in a unique partnership with the expectation that partners set aside their own agendas and work corroboratively for the benefit of the community-at-large.

How We Work: (BACK TO TOP)

CHIP achieves its mission and goals by working through initiatives, programs and affiliated programs. CHIP forms initiatives, coalitions or work teams on an ongoing basis based on the results of our triennial community needs assessment. These collaborative groups are made up representatives from public agencies, healthcare providers, community-based organization, institutes of higher learning, and businesses. CHIP works within these groups to help identify or implement strategies that address service gaps that affect public health. CHIP Programs are the resulting goal-oriented projects that derive from the planning and leadership of CHIP's many initiatives.

Similar to CHIP Initiatives, CHIP Affiliated programs also work in collaboration with public and private partners and address needs outlined in our triennial needs assessment. However, unlike CHIP Initiatives, Affiliate programs were initiated outside of CHIP, and for efficiency purposes, CHIP has been contracted to manage these work groups and programs.

CHIP's current initiatives and affiliated programs are as follows:

CHIP Initiatives: (BACK TO TOP)

Needs Assessment : The Needs Assessment provides a resource for individuals, agencies and institutions to identify community health needs and concerns. The triennial report outlines changes and trends in health issues in San Diego County and provides a basis upon which community health programs and interventions can be targeted, developed and evaluated.

Access to Care (ATC) : The ATC work team corroboratively develops ways to reduce or eliminate barriers to care by addressing issues of the uninsured and increasing competency in health literacy, cultural and linguistic issues, transportation, and care coordination.

Safety Net Connect (SNC) : The SNC project is developing a network and application that makes it possible for hospital emergency departments to schedule appointments at, and share information with, community clinics for patients without medical homes.

ICANATWORK: ICANATWORK is a free coalition of local business leaders, CEOs, human resource directors and wellness experts designed to help businesses of all sizes adopt effective wellness strategies. Investing in health and wellness in the workplace can help you boost morale, build teamwork, increase productivity and curb rising healthcare costs. In order to achieve a healthier San Diego County, it is our mission to help employers understand health and wellness as an investment rather than as a line-item expense.

Behavioral Health (BHWT) : BHWT contributes to the improvement of the mental / behavioral health of the public and the behavioral health services that serve them through augmenting existing and/or developing new programs that strive to make significant, measurable impacts to the community.

Suicide Prevention Action Plan Committee (SPAPC) : On April 1, 2010, the County of San Diego awarded CHIP a grant to form an interagency Suicide Prevention Action Plan Committee (SPAPC) to create and introduce a Mental Health Services Suicide Prevention Action Plan for San Diego County. The action plan will be the sole activity of SPAPC for the next 2.5-2.5 years.

Affiliated Programs: (BACK TO TOP)

San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative (COI) : The COI is a public-private partnership whose mission is to reduce and prevent childhood obesity in San Diego County by creating healthy environments for all children and families through advocacy, education, policy development, and environmental change.

Chula Vista Healthy Eating Active Communities (HEAC) : Healthy Eating, Active Communities is a multi-year program sponsored by The California Endowment. It aims to fight the growing childhood obesity epidemic in Chula Vista by developing policy changes, partnerships and programs that reduce the risk factors for diabetes and obesity.

News and Current Events

Announcing the ILA Directory and Website! Click here to search for high quality Independent Livings in San Diego County.
Help Connection is now available! Many times when we are dealing with the stress of life situations and issues, it is difficult to identify exactly what type of help is needed. While the main purpose of Help Connection is to assist you in finding behavioral health services, we have included information about other health and social services that you may find helpful. Click here to download a copy.
Congratulations to the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative on their 5^th year of bringing public and private partners together to reduce and prevent childhood obesity.