Improving Health Outcomes in the Inland Empire profile

California’s Inland Empire region—comprised of Riverside County and San Bernardino County —is home to more than four million people, and is one of the fastest growing regions in the state. The Inland Empire is the nation’s 13th most populous metropolitan area and, stretching across an expanse of 27,000 square miles, the region is geographically larger than ten states.

In 2014, building on their participation in the multi-county Public Health Alliance of Southern California, the two County Departments of Public Health came together as part of an intentional effort to learn from one another and identify opportunities to work in partnership to advance health in all policies across the Inland Empire region. They focused particularly on what it takes to engage other government sectors with public health and on building on lessons learned in resident engagement. This profile summarizes the process and outcomes of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties’ first year of deep regional collaboration to promote health and equity across the Inland Empire.