Santa Clara County

From 2017-2022 Prevention Institute provided consultation services to the Santa Clara County Health Department. 

2017-2019

• Prevention Institute provided planning and capacity building support to the Health Department as it served as a backbone organization and engaged community residents, organizations, government agencies, and multiple sectors in the creation of the East San Jose PEACE Partnership—a comprehensive place-based effort to build a healthy, peaceful, and empowered East San Jose community.

• The East San Jose PEACE Partnership’s origin story is described in a 4-page brief, The East San Jose PEACE Partnership: Cultivating resilience to address Adverse Community Experiences in an Accountable Community for Health. Examples of the PEACE Partnerships’ successes from 2018-2020, including establishing a Wellness Fund, influencing resident protection and anti-displacement policies, and other efforts to build a safe and peaceful neighborhood are described in this 2-page brief, East San Jose PEACE Partnership Case Examples. 

• More background on the work and a 2-minute video co-developed with the Health Department can be found here.

2019-2020

• Prevention Institute supported the Health Department in the development of strategic directions for the Health Department’s role in preventing violence and promoting community safety in the county. Through a community and data-informed process, the strategic directions document articulated the strengths, needs, and strategic opportunities in the county. Prevention Institute reviewed existing data and conducted an environmental scan, conducted a study session with community and government leaders, and drafted the strategic directions document. Prevention Institute also developed an open data portal story script and outline and one-page infographic.

2021-2022

• Prevention Institute supported the Health Department in leveraging a County Cost of Gun Violence Study as an opportunity to elevate gun violence as a preventable public health issue and advance effective and equitable local gun violence prevention policies and investments. The County Board of Supervisors (BOS) initially charged the Health Department with preparing a report on the costs incurred by Santa Clara County as a result of gun violence since 2000. 

• Prevention Institute provided framing guidance to the Health Department in the development of the Cost of Gun Violence study to ensure the project elevated community wisdom and public health principles guided by health equity and racial justice. Prevention Institute also conducted subject matter expert interviews and stakeholder listening sessions, reviewed the evidence-base, conducted a power analysis and rapid racial equity impact assessment, and applied selection criteria to develop a robust set of draft recommendations for consideration by the Health Department. 

• The Cost of Gun Violence Study, including the equity-centered recommendations were unanimously approved by the BOS on August 30, 2022. The Santa Clara County Cost of Gun Violence Study has been featured in local media outlets including KGO (ABC), Telemundo, and KRON.

• Prevention Institute recorded a brief (15 min) presentation, “Leveraging A Cost Of Gun Violence Study To Advance Public Health Prevention Practice, Community Safety, And Racial Justice.” Watch the recording here and see the slides here. 

• Learn more through the February 7, 2023 webinar, The Promise of Cost of Gun Violence Studies in California: Findings and Lessons from Santa Clara County’s 2022 Report.