ARTS Community of Care Network Program

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

The County of San Diego envisions a region that is building better health, living safely, and thriving. This vision is embodied through a commitment to building a community that lifts and supports youth. In 2019, the County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) Central & South Regions began collaborating with a program which benefits youth in crisis called ARTS (A Reason To Survive) www.areasontosurvive.org. ARTS is an extended learning program. Central & South Regions staff and San Diego State University (SDSU) interns participated in the development and implementation of an elevated extended learning program at ARTS - Community of Care Network program. As part of this program, SDSU interns joined teaching artists in an elevated extended learning program that promotes nurturing skill development, self-expression of youth and integrates social-emotional wellness practices within safe, supportive learning environments. Central & South Regions also executed a Memorandum of Agreement with the University of San Diego to provide a clinical level intern for full continuum of care within the ARTS program. This is a unique partnership between a non-profit entity, two universities and HHSA.