When children and families move from one service to the next, they can easily be set back by the complex and differing intake procedures between organizations, requiring them to repeat their history multiple times. In combination with more broader systemic changes that make family referrals easier, a warm handoff can make all the difference for ensuring families are smoothly transferred…
SPI’s Navigating Change program, in partnership with the San Diego Regional Center, held it’s 1 Year Celebration in February 2026, during which our team shared highlights from the first year of operation. This program focuses on improving equitable service access and transition planning for youth ages 16 – 22 with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are completing high school and…
Black and Latino youth are significantly overrepresented in the juvenile justice system. In San Diego County, Black youth are incarcerated at 13 times the rate of white youth. These disparities demand systemic change. A new issue brief, “Pathways to Equity: An Innovative Approach to Juvenile Justice Reform,” developed by SPI Juvenile Justice intern Jessica Laing and Program Manager Yvonne Epps, urges…
People with disabilities require specific healthcare needs and supports in order to thrive. These needs are dependent on many factors, including their identity and access to the Social Drivers of Health. In a new series of infographics, the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) discusses how our systems need to care for those with disabilities more accommodatingly. One example…
Child welfare is a critical area in which challenges with confronting inequity and deep-seated issues of racism is a necessity. To assist individuals and organizations explore the impact of race and equity within the child welfare system, the Children’s Bureau has launched the “2024 Race Equity Challenge,” which consists of five interactive learning modules. These modules cover a variety of…
Don’t Just Think…Feel,” was the theme of this year’s Birth of Brilliance Conference, which aimed to celebrate and cultivate the innate brilliance in every child while addressing racial inequities and dismantling barriers hindering their potential. Project Manager Yvonne Epps attended this year’s conference representing SPI, and will be participating in the Birth of Brilliance Affinity Group to continue discussions started…
SPI MSW Intern Mara Christian Scher recently interviewed Steve Carroll, Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services for the San Diego LGBT Community Center, to discuss the shortcomings of the healthcare field in supporting the specific needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Click HERE to view the full write-up of this conversation, the findings from a focus group discussion, and additional resources…
Native Americans face a lower life expectancy than other ethnic or racial groups, at about 5.5 years less, and are also 2.3 times more likely to die from diabetes, facing a higher risk of suicide. This month, as part of Native American Heritage Month, SPI wants to bring attention to the stark health disparities that Indigenous Californians face, but also…