The Ventura County Community Health Improvement Collaborative – VCCHIC
Partnering to strategically uplift health and wellbeing across Ventura County
Welcome from the Chair
Welcome to the Ventura County Community Health Improvement Collaborative. This unique collaboration is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the residents of Ventura County. Together, we’re working to create a county where everyone can access the services we need – and when we need them – so we all can thrive. Your experience and your input are valued, so please let us know how we can make your community better!
What is the Ventura County Community Health Improvement Collaborative?
- VCCHIC is a formal, charter-bound collective impact partnership led by a Steering Committee made up of ten key health system stakeholders in Ventura County. They first came together in June 2018 to develop a collective Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and strategic planning process for health improvement across Ventura County.
- The full Collaborative now includes dozens of local stakeholders such as hospitals, health and behavioral health departments, community clinics, Medi-Cal Managed Care plans, community based organizations, and community residents.
- VCCHIC operations, planning, and evaluation are supported by its backbone organization – Community Lifting Communities.
CLC – Backbone of VCCHIC
- Communities Lifting Communities serves as VCCHIC’s backbone organization, supporting the Collaborative in all aspects of its work. In this role, CLC fosters the growing collaboration between VCCHIC members and community partners to implement long-term population health strategies. CLC convenes the Collaborative, coordinates strategic alignment and quality implementation approaches, centers community voice and equity in all stages, and uplifts VCCHIC accomplishments.
- As a non-profit affiliate of the Hospital Association of Southern California, CLC draws on its experience and relationships in working alongside hospital members and related stakeholders to improve community health and reduce health inequities.
Growing Partnerships
2016
- Ventura County Public Health
2019
- Adventist Health Simi Valley
- Camarillo Health Care District
- Clinicas Del Camino Real
- Community Memorial Health System
- Dignity Health
- Ventura County Community Healthcare
2022
- Gold Coast Health Plan
- Ventura County Behavioral Health Department
2024
- Kaiser Permanente Health Plan
Collaboration
Uniting dozens of local health and service-minded stakeholders – including hospitals, governmental health agencies, community clinics, health plans, schools & universities, community-based organizations, advocates, philanthropies, and community residents – VCCHIC works to improve community health for all.
Powering this effort are VCCHIC’s trusting partnerships, collective strategies, and unified action. Our lasting success relies on including all voices and maintaining accountability.
We always welcome new members and encourage all members to regularly participate in VCCHIC activities and regional convenings. To learn more about how to engage in VCCHIC activities, reach out to Daniel Wherley, Program Manager, at dwherley@hasc.org.
Community-Driven Governance Structure
VCCHIC and its Steering Committee hold themselves accountable for creating a decision-making structure that centers representative community residents in the decision-making and implementation processes to make a meaningful impact on health across Ventura County.
This Community-Driven Governance Structure sets high expectations for VCCHIC leadership with a firm commitment to engaging the community and incorporating resident voices in its decision-making. The Steering Committee’s actions and decisions flow from the community’s expectations and input, ensuring that decisions are aligned with communities’ everyday conditions, needs, and strengths. For more information about the VCCHIC Governance Charter, click here.
Expanding Achievements
2014
- Ventura County Public Health Department (VCPHD) receives national accreditation – the first department in California to do so.
- VCPHD launches Ventura County Health Matters website and data dashboard
2016
- The Ventura County Community Health Improvement Collaborative (VCCHIC) is created to coordinate efforts of local health system organizations who conduct community health assessments.
- VCPHD convenes regional partners to initiate VCCHIC.
2019
- VCCHIC establishes an official charter, signed by seven founding members.
- Ventura County’s first collaborative Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Community Health Implementation Strategy (CHIS) are published.
2020
- Ventura County Public Health Department receives five-year reaccreditation.
2021
- Planning starts to launch a regional care & referral coordination initiative – the Community Information Exchange (CIE).
2022
- Second regional CHNA and CHIS is published with a special emphasis on local impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- CIE development begins.
- First VCCHIC Newsletter is published.
2023
- Communities Lifting Communities (CLC) becomes the backbone organization for VCCHIC.
- VCCHIC and CLC are awarded a California Accountable Community for Health Initiative (CACHI) Grant.
- VCCHIC Steering Committee established
2024
- Steering Committee grows to ten local partners
- Membership now includes more than 40 health-related organizations across Ventura County.
- Regional Equity Roadmap process begins.
- 2025 CHNA + CHIS process is launched.
- CIE platform development and partner training continues.
Key Projects & Initiatives
- 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)
- 2022 Community Health Improvement Strategy (CHIS)
- California Accountable Communities for Health Initiative (CACHI)
Regional Convenings
- NOVEMBER 21st: In-Person (Agenda and meeting details will be forthcoming)
Steering Committee Members who wish to access committee meeting materials may do so by logging into the portal.
Please contact Iliana Covarrubias at icovarrubias@hasc.org if you encounter any issues.
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