SDSU Social Policy Institute

07/09/2025

The 6th Annual Early Childhood Mental Health Conference is open for registration! This event brings together professionals across healthcare, education, mental health, and community services to strengthen the systems that support children and families.

Learn more about the sessions offered, keynote speaker, and registration information here: https://ecmh.ce-go.com/ecmh2025

2025 Early Childhood Mental Health ConferenceWe Can't WaitThe Power of Presence: Building a Supportive EnvironmentWe are excited to welcome you to the 16th Annual Early Childhood Mental Health Conference, hosted by the ECMH Conference Committee, taking place at the Crowne Plaza in Mission Valley.Thi...

07/02/2025

Our team is grateful for the time, energy, and heart shared at the June 2025 San Diego County HOPE Network Convening. In partnership with Trauma-Resilient Educational Communities (TREC), Child and Family Well-Being, the San Diego Center for Children, and the YMCA of San Diego County, the Social Policy Institute was honored to bring together 40 incredible partners committed to advancing Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences (HOPE) across the county.

From Dr. Bob Sege’s inspiring update on HOPE’s national and global momentum, to the powerful local stories of implementation, this convening was a reminder of what’s possible when we come together around a shared vision of well-being, equity, and connection. View a full overview of the event on PACEs connection here: https://buff.ly/EKg0O9w

Thank you to all who joined us - let's keep building a HOPE-Informed San Diego together!

06/30/2025

June has been a big month at SPI! This month's newsletter covers a variety of updates, including:
- Insights from the recent San Diego HOPE Network Convening
- Highlights from the 2nd Annual Spring Symposium
- The launch of our new monthly newsletter for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and their families
- The debut of SPARK-SD, a new CEAL Peer Support networking group

We’re excited to continue sharing tools that empower the communities we support. View our June newsletter here:

06/27/2025

Did you miss CalTrin's Protective Factors webinar series? The series is beginning again on July 15th. The webinars will cover each Protective Factor individually and provide concrete ways to utilize the evidence-based framework in practice.

View the 6 Protective Factors below and register here

Join CalTrin to learn ways your work can build Protective Factors, strengthen families, promote optimal child development, and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. This training is part of the Evidence-based/Evidence-informed service delivery pillar.

06/24/2025

Last opportunity to register to join us June 26th at 12pm for the first session in the Navigating Change: Lunch & Learn Webinar Series! This is the first of eight webinars designed to support professionals working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Register today! https://buff.ly/Fij9Md6

06/23/2025

Are you passionate about supporting youth with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and their families? The Social Policy Institute (SPI) and the Diego Regional Center are seeking dedicated mentors—called Navigators—to guide participants through the transition to adulthood process.

As a Navigator, you’ll provide one-on-one mentorship, share resources, and help families build confidence and clarity in their next steps. Experience supporting individuals with I/DD is preferred, but not required. We welcome applicants who demonstrate a strong interest in learning about the I/DD population and a passion for mentoring.

06/18/2025

Reminder to register to join us June 26th at 12pm for the first session in the Navigating Change: Lunch & Learn Webinar Series!

This is the first of eight webinars designed to support professionals working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There will be more insightful sessions to follow throughout 2024 and 2025!

Register today and don’t the kickoff! https://buff.ly/Fij9Md6

06/11/2025

Join us June 26th at 12pm for the first session in the Navigating Change: Lunch & Learn Webinar Series!

"Empowering Partnerships: Effective Strategies for Working with Persons with I/DD" Featuring SPI Director, Lori Clarke & Graduate Assistant, Heather Robert

This is the first of eight webinars designed to support professionals working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. More insightful sessions to follow throughout 2024 and 2025!

Register today and don’t miss this powerful kickoff! https://sdsu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IyLIg35hRwWSDxeEjCirDw #/registration

06/10/2025

Are you a youth (ages 16 - 22) with an Intellectual or Developmental Disability (I/DD) — or a family member — looking for guidance through the transition to adulthood? Do you know someone who needs this guidance?

""Navigating Change,"" a new program out of the California Department of Developmental Services, is focused on helping families and individuals with I/DD navigate the complex service landscape. Participants will receive access to a range of services, including a Life Planning Series, specialized training and materials, and ongoing one-on-one mentorship.

The Social Policy Institute (SPI) and Diego Regional Center (SDRC) are looking for participants to launch the inaugural cohort of Navigating Change. Please share the flyer below with your networks, and click the link to sign up: https://buff.ly/3VNvOor"

06/09/2025

How have you or your organization been implementing the Framework? Join SPI and community partners next week at the San Diego HOPE Network Convening in-person for meaningful conversations about how HOPE is spreading locally and ways these efforts connect with those of the HOPE National Resource Center (HNRC). . Robert Sege will join to share updates from the HNRC, new research findings, and resources.

Our partners at Child and Family Well-Being have generously agreed to host the convening at their East Region office, in collaboration with the partners listed below. Please view the flyer for the address and click here to register. We hope to see you there!

06/04/2025

Diversity Data Kids' Child Opportunity Index (COI), which helps compare the levels of opportunities for children across neighborhoods, now includes estimates for county-level data!

This data tool can now be used to inform programs and services across the state for indexes including: education, health, environment, social, and economic. See an example of racial/ethnic variability in Child Opportunity Levels for San Diego County below, and explore the full dashboard here: https://buff.ly/Vu8ZWOl

05/28/2025

The Social Determinants of Health are an insightful and informative framework to understand differences in health outcomes individually and collectively. Maintaining good health is a complex topic for many, and tends to be impacted by a large variety of variables, some of which are uncontrollable. Rounding out our Workforce Knowledge to Action Briefs series (K2A), "Equity and the Social Determinants of Health" examines the use of the SDOH in the child and family workforce, and how to utilize our knowledge of inequities to build on strengths to encourage growth and good health.

Thank you Claire Grimes, SPI MSW Intern, for leading the Workforce K2A series, and providing accessible resources for our partners serving children and families.

Why do some individuals experience more positive health outcomes than others? The answer lies not only in genetics, personal choices, or luck, but rather a complex mix of factors within the circumstances of a person’s life. Though an individual may do all the “right things” to stay healthy, su...