In a decade of innovation and partnerships, the Live Well San Diego vision has provided a platform for coordinated investments in the well-being of all county residents. Together, individuals and organizations have helped to improve quality of life by engaging residents in their own health and the health of their communities.

Looking ahead, our common agenda remains the same – to create a region that is Building Better Health, Living Safely, and Thriving. But to do that, we must change.

In response to emerging technologies, shifting community needs and key issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we must listen, learn and adapt. An emphasis will be placed on further understanding, engaging, and activating residents from all ages, backgrounds, and interests. As the backbone support for the vision, the County of San Diego will continue to adopt innovative approaches to facilitate collaboration and promote activities that involve local leaders and the community in the process.

Equity and Disproportionality

In recent years, we have been challenged to open our eyes to the established structure of our social and justice systems and look at it through the lens of equity and disproportionality. Everyone deserves the chance to reach their full potential and when something is unfair, we must speak up and we must be leaders for change. Programs, policies and initiatives should be reviewed to remove as many obstacles as possible so that minority groups can be afforded the same access to success.

Economy

At this time, our economic recovery relies on our ability to control the COVID-19 pandemic, with a goal of returning to pre-pandemic levels of employment and business investment. But our regional prosperity cannot be fully achieved without examining our financial culture and ensuring economic justice for marginalized groups. A prosperous economic future for San Diego County requires finding new ways to connect the unconnected to the entry points that allow them to thrive. Addressing policies and areas for improvement requires the continued collaboration of all organizations and stakeholders, as well as increased engagement of underrepresented business owners, their communities, and industry decision-makers in the region.

Youth

In the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic shed light on a group that appeared to be missing from the table – youth. At the 2020 Live Well Advance, a special youth session will invite young people ages 14-24 from all around San Diego County to share their most creative ideas for youth engagement, to lay the foundation for a new Live Well San Diego Youth Sector. This new sector will improve two-way communication and help to inform activities and programming geared toward youth.

Aging

During the next ten years, as our aging population grows, our region needs to work collaboratively to create communities where people of all ages and abilities can thrive. The demand for care and support for older adults will continue to grow. Our region’s affordability and livability are especially challenging for those on a fixed income. As we continue to become more culturally and ethnically diverse, our systems of care need to be flexible to meet a wider range of needs. The Age Well San Diego initiative has created the Aging Roadmap – a regional plan organized by 10 focus areas that needs continued support from a wide-range of community partners to implement its goals.

Environment

A diverse network of partners, including community-based organizations and resident leaders are needed to focus on specific initiatives that address environmental sustainability, climate adaptation, regional transportation, and our food system. To improve the sustainability of our region’s physical environment, we must continue to improve energy efficiency and use and manage the risk of climate change through the establishment and implementation of Climate Action Plans. Innovations are needed to improve the efficiency, connectivity and safety of our regional transportation network to encourage healthy, active lifestyles. And a new Food Vision 2030 will guide the collective action toward a healthy, sustainable, and just food system in our region, with a focus on racial equity to bring about widespread change in the upcoming decade.

The stories of partner collaborations and results outlined in this 2020 Live Well San Diego 10-Year Impact Report remind us that when we work together, we can accomplish more than each of us can do alone. Together, we will leverage our expanded cross-sector partnerships, align our resources and listen to community needs. Together, we will bring the Live Well San Diego vision to life.

The Road to Recovery Coalition was formed out of concern for the impact COVID-19 was having on the communities each involved agency serves. To better understand, advocate, and ultimately address the needs of these communities, Road to Recovery Coalition partners created and distributed a survey to the people they serve across the San Diego region. The survey was disseminated by 23 community-based organizations, resulting in more than 3,500 survey respondents who represent each of the seven Major Statistical Areas in San Diego County, including some from communities that have been historically underinvested in and hardest hit by the pandemic.