About

Social Determinants of Health

The Social Determinants of Health website provides resources, news, and features community agencies or “Drivers of Change” who are working to building healthier communities through individual, organizational and community wide effort and engagement.


Ventura County Behavioral Health and Public Health sponsored three Social Determinants of Health events in 2018-2020, and wanted to continue the dialogue in the community about the issue of Health Equity.

Ventura County Public Health

Our Mission: To support environments that protect and promote the health and well-being of everyone in Ventura County.

Our Vision: To be the healthiest county in the nation.

One of the strategic priority areas in the Ventura County Public Health (VCPH), Strategic Plan is Health Equity – to strengthen organizational and staff capacity to implement health equity initiatives. This includes:

  • Advocate for new, flexible and sustainable funding to address social determinants of health;
  • Partner with public and private sector organizations to achieve policy, systems; and
  • Environmental changes to promote health where people live, learn, work and play.

VCPH believes that a healthy community provides for a quality and sustainable environment, adequate levels of economic and social development, health and social equity, social relation-ships that are supportive and respectful and meets the basic needs of all across the lifespan.

In order to improve population health outcomes, we need to shift the focus from addressing health factors to addressing the social and environmental determinants of health. The VCPH model for a Healthy Community helps to define those social determinants as well as public health actions that can be taken to begin to address them.

Learn more: www.vchca.org/our-mission-vision

Ventura County Behavioral Health

The Ventura County Behavioral Health Department provides mental health and substance use treatment services. VCBH plays an important role as an integrated component of the Ventura County Health Care Agency. We provide support for individuals and families who are in crisis; people considering suicide; or those struggling with mental illness, substance use, or both.

Learn more: www.vcbh.org

Supporting Health • Preventing Harm

Prevention Services works upstream to reduce alcohol and drug-related problems in our community. Initiatives are aimed at limiting harms related to impaired driving; underage and binge drinking; marijuana and vaping, especially as it relates to harms to youth; prescription drug abuse; and addressing health disparities among vulnerable populations. A primary goal is to delay the onset of first use of alcohol and or other drugs by youth. We collaborate with schools, parent groups, government agencies, medical partners, law enforcement, community-based organizations and more.

Learn more: www.VenturaCountyLimits.org

Access to Substance Use Treatment Services

VCBH provides a continuum of care for substance use and addiction problems, with six locations and access to a range of treatment services for achieving and maintaining recovery.

If you believe you or a family member may be struggling with addiction, talk to your healthcare provider or call the confidential 24/7 Access Line: 1-844-385-9200.

Learn more: www.vcbh.org/en/programs-services/substance-use-services