The Inland Healthy Cities Institute partners with cities and communities in the Inland Empire to study, design, implement, and manage community-focused health initiatives that address social determinants of health, drive community connection, decrease healthcare costs for chronic conditions, and provide lasting improvements in resident well-being and longevity.
IHCI works with the distinct communities in the Inland Empire, amplifying the power of grassroots leadership in advancing public health and violence prevention to drive toward a more hopeful, connected, and equitable future.
The process enlists and uplifts leaders from historically excluded backgrounds – such as youth, women of color, immigrants, and formerly incarcerated residents – in order to sustain an equitable and inclusive vision of health for the city.
A Unique Region Requires Innovative Strategies for Change
Previously unincorporated, the 44-square mile area encompassed ten separate communities, and was experiencing a host of challenges:
Before IHCI
Safety issues due to lack of dedicated police department for the city
Lack of community cohesion due to the vastness of the region
Lack of community health education (physical activity, nutrition)
Blight/urban decay, as a result of absence of planning & zoning laws
After IHCI
Since the implementation of Healthy Jurupa Valley:
A strategic plan and roadmap created - through multiple town hall meetings and widespread community surveys, a plan was created to solve issues most pressing to residents
Progress report card and implementation of a cross-sectoral steering committee - and delivered to community members
112 Community Programs Created - ranging from substance use and mental health training workshops to farmers’ markets and other events
6 Ordinances Passed - such as smoke-free zoning, safe driving, and other legislation to promote public safety
1126 W Foothill Blvd., Suite 220
Upland, CA 91786
TEL: 909.245.1156
© Inland Healthy Cities Institute • All Rights Reserved | Inland Healthy Cities Institute is a proud subsidiary of Reach Out West End, Inc.
Advancing health and quality of life in California’s #1 fastest growing region
INLAND HEALTHY CITIES INSTITUTE
What makes our region so unique, and this work so opportune?
The fastest-growing region in Southern California
A diverse, multilingual population
Boasted a GDP of $256.9B+ in 2023
Outpaces the state average in housing and job creation
Fuels growth with a young, upwardly mobile workforce
THE INLAND OPPORTUNITY
SERVICES
How the Inland Healthy Cities Institute works with our communities:
Strategic Planning
We lead an in-depth exploration to surface community concerns and priorities, developing a strategic plan that speaks for the citizens and utilizes Reach Out’s resources and experience to build a roadmap to address key issues.
Program Design & Management
We manage implementation of the strategic plan, giving city personnel and citizen leaders the training and support needed to deliver on the priorities identified. We also help city personnel identify external funding sources to amplify implementation efforts.
Training & Support
Once the program has been stabilized over a 2-3 year period, we train city staff to take over, while supporting them in the form of ongoing coaching and participation in our Inland Healthy Cities Coalition. Community leaders continue to gain support through our Leadership Academy alumni network.
“Reach Out has community connections, access, and credibility with a lot of folks in the community that either don’t have a high trust level with the local government or don’t know how to access to our services. The value in the programs and services provided by Reach Out under our Healthy Jurupa Valley initiative have definitely been worth the city’s investment.”
Rod Butler • City Manager of Jurupa Valley
OUR MISSION
Why the Inland Healthy Cities Institute Was Created
Building a culture of health in the City of Jurupa Valley
CASE STUDY
Jurupa Valley was the first city in the IE with a healthy cities initiative, one that was put in place when the city was incorporated in 2011, after city leaders attended a discussion of these initiatives at Reach Out’s National Innovative Communities Conference that year.
THE RESULTS
The data, impact, and track record of Healthy Jurupa Valley – along with the credibility afforded by having a designated entity and program for community health transformation work – has enabled the city to apply for and secure tens of millions of dollars in grant funding by leveraging the Healthy Jurupa Valley initiative, and garner support from partners including Molina Healthcare and Kaiser.
$15 Million in Additional Funding
The City Of Jurupa Valley And Reach Out were selected from a pool of more than 300 communities to receive the $250k Culture Of Health Prize from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Jurupa Valley was acknowledged for its resident-led representative power, where residents participate daily to ensure they have a say in public policy and that residents have what they need to provide for their families and stay healthy.
National Winner for Culture of Health Prize
Community wellbeing should be a proactive, highly strategic imperative.
Along with the community of Jurupa Valley and with the support of the State of California’s Violence Intervention & Prevention Program, the IHCI led an intensive, five-year-long, equity-first planning process to place health and wellbeing at the forefront of the community’s planning efforts. Designed with the inputs of hundreds of residents and local leaders, this plan serves as one of the region’s first ever strategic plans dedicated to resident wellbeing.
OUR PERSPECTIVE
GET INVOLVED
Work with us today.
Get in touch to us today to learn more how we can help build a strategic plan or launch a healthy cities initiative in your community.
Help us build a culture of health in your inland empire community.
Already have a healthy city initiative in your community?
Join the growing collective.
Join other motivated leaders and communities in the Inland Healthy Cities Collective to share resources, best practices, and lessons learned for the benefit of our inland region.
39 Beautification Projects Completed - including the installation of school gardens, community murals, and clean up of walking paths
