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Resident Leadership Academies
Resident Leadership Academies (RLAs) are multi-week training programs for San Diego County residents who want to learn how to improve their local communities. Training sessions focus on topics such as community leadership, crime prevention and safety, land use and active transportation, and healthy food systems.
Residents learn skills and best practices to address the issues that most affect their communities, and they work alongside their neighbors to help improve quality of life where they live. Upon graduation, attendees have new knowledge and access to a support network to help them lead community improvement projects.
RLA Updates and Opportunities
Many individuals and organizations are involved in Resident Leadership Academies across the County. The latest updates can be found on social media.
RLA Curriculum
Those who would like to facilitate an RLA can find the Facilitator/Train the Trainer and Participant materials below. The RLA Curriculum consists of a Participant Manual, modifiable PowerPoints, and various templates and handouts. The curriculum covers subjects such as Community Building Principles, Social Determinants of Health, Land Use and Community Planning, and more.
The County of San Diego currently has two approved RLA curriculums available. For groups funded for a particular RLA session or project, the version of the curriculum to be used will be determined by your funder (see links below). For all other groups, either version, or elements from both, may be used for the trainings.
- 1st Edition Curriculum
1st edition curriculum covers resident-driven community improvement efforts, including community building principles, neighborhood assessment activities and strategies for stakeholder engagement. - 2nd Edition Curriculum
2nd edition curriculum expands on the 1st edition to include embedded activities, reflection questions and content on smoke-free environments and climate change.
Additional RLA Curriculum
- Heat Risk Education Curriculum
The Heat Risk Education Curriculum is a set of PowerPoints and facilitator guides meant to support community leaders and residents involved in community engagement work. The curriculum covers strategies for communicating about global warming and heat risk to the community to motivate behavior change, and covers topics such as global warming, heat illnesses, at-risk groups, prevention, and taking action.
RLA Resources & Opportunities
View the Community Health Improvement Partner's Resident Leadership Academy page for the latest on meetings and trainings.
Bi-Monthly RLA Council Meetings
Meetings to provide additional training, discuss RLA updates, and to engage with other RLA practitioners. Anyone in the RLA network (graduates/residents, facilitators, CBOs and agencies supporting RLA) is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Technical Assistance (TA) for RLA Practitioners
TA is provided by the County to any RLA Practitioner involved with RLAs. TA may consist of assistance with planning of future RLAs, and development, refining, and implementation of Community Improvement Projects (CIPs), for example. For groups funded for a particular RLA session or project, the TA provider will be determined by your funder.
RLA Network Supplemental Training Workshops for Current RLA Practitioners
Supplemental trainings are available to anyone in the RLA network (graduates/residents, facilitators). These trainings focus on expanding leadership skills and offering opportunities for current RLA practitioners to engage with one another. The supplemental trainings may cover, but are not limited to, such topics as: Presentation Skills, Meeting Facilitation, and/or Applying for Resources.
New Facilitator Training/Train the Trainer Seminars
Seminar participants attend 3-4 full days of training, which consist of a detailed review of the curriculum, facilitation practice and tips for RLA planning and coordination. One or more new facilitator trainings per year will be offered through 2019.
Contact us for additional information on any of the resources listed above, or to learn about RLAs happening in your community.
RLA Success Stories
LiveWell@Work Helps American Academy of Pediatrics Accelerate Employee Health
Spencer Stein, MPH, Health Equity Specialist, County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency
On average, individuals working full-time spend more than one-third of their day, five days per week at work. This presents a perfect opportunity to help improve an individual’s health by creating a culture of wellness in the workplace. Evidence-based worksite wellness programs have been shown to increase morale and productivity, while reducing health costs and risk factors for chronic diseases. The County of San Diego’s Live Well @ Work team recently launched the Healthy Workplace Accelerator Program to assist employers in San Diego County in helping their workforce be healthy, safe, and thriving.
The Healthy Workplace Accelerator Program is a FREE program that gives businesses access to the resources, strategies, and support to implement a well-designed and well-executed worksite wellness program. The program also includes access to an online dashboard that helps organizations assess and track their current program, find gaps, and develop a strategic plan. With over 50 free or low-cost wellness strategies available through Live Well @ Work’s partners, Worksite Wellness Specialists will help you design and implement a cost-effective and evidence-based program that fits the unique needs and goals of your organization.
PARNTER SPOTLIGHT - American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 3
The American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 3 (AAP-CA3) recently participated in the program. With the help of Live Well @ Work, the AAP-CA3 successfully implemented a new policy aimed at encouraging employees to invest in their own physical and mental wellbeing. The policy includes a $300 reimbursement per year to help employees reach their individual wellness goals, with additional incentives for vaccinations.
Some examples of reimbursable purchases include:
- Gym membership
- Running shoes & sporting equipment
- Wellness massages
- Fitness trainer or coach
Additionally, AAP-CA3 recently held an employee wellness event as part of their efforts to strengthen their culture of wellness, create more social interactions, and boost employee engagement. This event was led by a local yoga instructor who connected with AAP-CA3 during a Live Well @ Work networking meeting. These online meetings offer the opportunity for members of the Healthy Workplace Accelerator Program to collaborate by sharing challenges and successes, best practices, and resources. Resources include sample policies, educational materials, and presentations from wellness experts in the community, such as yoga instructors, ergonomic professionals, dieticians, mental health professionals, and other providers of wellness education, programs, and services.
If your organization is interested in joining the Healthy Workplace Accelerator Program, please schedule a call with a Live Well @ Work, Worksite Wellness Specialist.