Thank you all for another incredible year of celebrating our annual Community Assessment Project! We have made good progress, and yet, there is still more work to do to improve the quality of life in Santa Cruz County. Here are the new 2016-2020 CAP Community Goals to help guide us towards a better Santa Cruz County.
In Economy
Goal 1: By the year 2020, reduce the winter unemployment rate by one-half percent, creating 725 new winter jobs in Santa Cruz County.
Goal 2: By the year 2020, increase the housing stock by 1,000 units in Santa Cruz County.
In Education
Goal 1: By the year 2020, all students will be fully connected and engaged with their school community, and will see their school as a welcoming, essential and a safe place.
Goal 2: By the year 2020, all students will have broader access to courses and enrichment activities, including visual and performing arts, career technical education and digital technology.
Goal 3: By the year 2020, all students will be provided sufficient behavior, health, and counseling services to succeed in their chosen educational and career pathways.
In Health
Goal 1: By the year 2020, all Santa Cruz County residents will have a regular source of primary care and integrated behavioral health services with a focus on:
- Decreasing disparities;
- Decreasing reliance on emergency rooms as a regular source of health care; and
- Increasing access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
Goal 2: By the year 2020, obesity in Santa Cruz County will be reduced by 10%
In Public Safety
Goal 1: By the year 2020, the juvenile crime rate will be reduced by 10% through the use of culturally responsive, evidence based strategies that promote positive interaction and reduce conflict with public safety officials.
Goal 2: By the year 2020, there will be a 20% reduction in youth reporting gang involvement, resulting in a 10% reduction of gang related criminal activity.
Goal 3: By the year 2020, there will be a 10% decrease in arrests or citations of individuals with chronic SUD/COD through the increase of on-demand treatment for adults with such disorders.
Goal 4: By the year 2020, the violent crime rate of 18 to 25 year olds will be reduced by 10% through the use of targeted gang involvement intervention strategies, including restorative practices, street outreach, and alternatives to adult gang involvement.
In Social Environment
Goal 1: By the year 2020, more Santa Cruz County residents will build meaningful social bridges across differences in age, race, ethnicity, class and culture.
Goal 2: By the year 2020, schools and communities will be safe, supportive, and engaging places for children, youth and families.
Goal 3: By the year 2020, more Santa Cruz County residents will feel empowered to experience and pursue long-term quality of life.
In Natural Environment
Goal 1: By the year 2020, residential per capita water use will be sustained at or under 2013 baseline levels through 2020.
Goal 2: By the year 2020, 5% of homes in Santa Cruz County will have a solar, electric or hot water system.
Goal 3: By the year 2020, stewardship actions for our waters will be increased by 10%.
Goal 4: By the year 2020, 50 miles of urban trails will be constructed within Santa Cruz County to decrease traffic, increase active transportation and
connect urban areas to open spaces.
If you were inspired by this year's findings and would like to help create a better Santa Cruz County, get involved by contacting the conveners listed below.
For the ECONOMY Goals
Bill Tysseling, Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce , bill.tysseling@santacruzchamber.org
For the EDUCATION Goals
We are currently seeking champions for this goal area, if you are interested in
becoming a champion, please contact Mary Lou Goeke, United Way of Santa Cruz County, mlgoeke@unitedwaysc.org
For the HEALTH Goals
Goal 1: Elisa Orona, Health Improvement Partnership, elisa@hipscc.org
Goal 2: Megan Joseph, United Way of Santa Cruz County, mjoseph@unitedwaysc.org
For the NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Goals
Goal 1: Water Conservation Coalition of Santa Cruz County a collaboration which includes all municipal water districts and Ecology Action, http://watersavingtips.org/
Goal 2: Ross Clark, Climate Action Coordinator, City of Santa Cruz, 831-427-4863, rclark@cityofsantacruz.com
Goal 3: Greg Pepping, Coastal Watershed Council along with Save Our Shores and Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Greg Pepping, Executive Director, Coastal Watershed Council, (831) 426-7439, gpepping@coastal-watershed.org
For the PUBLIC SAFETY Goals
Goal 1 & 2: Sarah Emmert, United Way of Santa Cruz County,
semmert@unitedwaysc.org & Lt Jorge Zamora, Watsonville Police Department , Jorge.zamora@cityofwatsonville.org
Goal 3: Bill Manov, County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency, bill.manov@health.co.santa-cruz.ca.us
Goal 4: Maria Elena de la Garza, Community Action Board, MariaElena@cabinc.org
For the SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT Goals
Goals 1 & 3: Nina Simon, Museum of Art & History, nina@santacruzmah.org
Goal 2: Robyn McKeen, United Way of Santa Cruz County, rmckeen@unitedwaysc.org