Ventura County Public Health Strategic Plan

STRATEGIC PLAN JULY 2026-JUNE 2028

MISSION

To protect the health and promote the well-being of everyone in Ventura County

PILLARS

VISION

Optimal health for all Ventura County residents

COLLABORATION

We use teamwork to achieve common goals and partner on solutions to better address social determinants of health.

HEALTH EQUITY

We support the development of an inclusive and culturally competent workforce that reflects the diversity of the community we serve.

INTEGRITY

We deliver quality services with transparency and accountability as responsible stewards of public funds.

SERVICE EXCELLENCE

We provide high-quality, exceptional care and services to all. QUALITY

We utilize evidencebased practices and foster a culture of continuous quality improvement to achieve efficiency.

FOUNDATIONAL AREAS

STRATEGIC PLAN JULY 2026-JUNE 2028

COLLABORATIVE PRIORITY AREAS AND STRATEGIES

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

• Strengthen staff capacity to connect clients to behavioral health services.

• Promote community wellness.

OLDER ADULTS’ HEALTH

• Provide education and information sharing about health-promoting practices and services for older adults and their caregivers.

• Facilitate access to programs that promote safety and independence for aging residents.

WOMEN’S HEALTH

• Educate and empower women on healthpromoting behaviors and resources.

• Enhance services that support the health and well-being of prenatal and postpartum women.

INTERNAL PRIORITY AREAS AND STRATEGIES

INCREASE COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT

• Increase internal departmental communication.

• Maximize opportunities to collaborate and engage with the community to increase awareness of public health services.

• Effectively communicate emerging public health issues to the public.

CHAMPION A STRONG PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE

• Cultivate and retain a high-quality workforce.

• Advance a workplace culture of empowerment and engagement.

• Expand continuous quality improvement practices throughout the department.

ONGOING PRIORITY AREAS AND STRATEGIES

CONTINUE SUCCESSFUL PRACTICES

Protect residents from chronic and infectious disease, environmental risks, and disasters.

Expand department access to and application of evidence-based public health research.

Provide culturally competent public health services that address social determinants of health.

VENTURA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH

STRATEGIC PLAN JULY 2026-JUNE 2028

GUIDING FRAMEWORKS

NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION

The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) measures health department performance against a set of nationally recognized, practice-focused and evidence-based standards. The comprehensive set of standards sets uniform expectations for health departments to provide the services necessary to keep communities healthy. Ventura County Public Health was the first local public health department in California to receive accreditation in June of 2014 and subsequently achieved reaccreditation in 2020, and again in 2026. We continue to maintain high standards and set new goals for improvement to better serve our community.

THE 10 ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES

The framework for public health to protect and promote the health of all people is illustrated in the 10 Essential Public Health Services. To achieve equity, the Essential Public Health Services actively promote policies, systems, and overall community conditions that enable optimal health for all and seek to remove systemic and structural barriers that have resulted in health inequities. The dedicated, professional team at VCPH provides these services daily to assure that all people in Ventura County have a fair and equitable opportunity to achieve optimal health and well-being.

JULY 2026-JUNE 2028