Pacific

Expanding Out-of-School Education Opportunities for Underserved Families
The San Jose Public Library has been working to increase after-school and summer learning opportunities for children of low-income families. As a FUSE executive fellow, Lauren Hancock launched a technology-based platform that helps San Jose families discover thousands of out-of-school activities. She also strengthened partnerships with key community-based organizations that... Read more
Designing an Innovative Transportation System for Groundbreaking Projects
San Jose’s 1 million-plus population is expected to grow by nearly 50 percent over the next two decades. To prepare for this dramatic growth, the Civic Innovation team in the City Manager’s Office developed its first ever city-wide Internet of Things (IoT) Strategy to build a modern digital infrastructure that... Read more
Enhancing Patient Care Through Improved Staffing Practices
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) relies heavily on contract workers, who make up 27 percent of the agency’s workforce. FUSE executive fellow Nichelle Toomire helped the agency understand the associated cost, use, and impact of this workforce, identifying opportunities for efficiencies. She also secured resources for... Read more
Developing a Training and Recruiting Plan to Help the Homeless
L.A. County voters approved a measure that significantly increased funding for homeless services. To support the expansion of these services, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and the Office of Diversion and Reentry hired FUSE executive fellow Thelá Thatch to develop a plan to recruit, hire, and retain... Read more
Enhancing Operations to Advance Healthcare Services for Inmates
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services has been working to better address the health needs of its inmate population, including improving the patient flow for its Inmate Reception Center (IRC), the entry point for inmates. As a FUSE executive fellow, Tom Pyun piloted several programs to enhance patient... Read more
Designing Data-Driven Strategy to Improve Public Health
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health – Environmental Health (EH) is responsible for ensuring that food is prepared and served safely for the millions of people who frequent the region’s restaurants and dining halls each year. EH partnered with FUSE executive fellow Mohammad Mehryar to build on the... Read more
Improving Patient Access to Healthcare Services
To improve the patient experience, maximize provider time with patients, and reduce revenue loss from unauthorized services, the Los Angeles Department of Health Services (DHS) recently brought together under one department key functions that facilitate patient access to medical care into unified units within each hospital and clinic. DHS enlisted... Read more
Creating an Integrated Approach to Supporting Re-entry Populations
Los Angeles County adopted a series of policies aimed at reducing the prison population, supporting re-entry, and disrupting the cycle of recidivism. As a result of these efforts, more than 10,000 inmates are released from incarceration countywide each month. These individuals face myriad barriers to successful reintegration, including lack of... Read more
Improving Re-entry Programs to Expand Employment Opportunities
In Los Angeles County, a statewide ballot measure that downgraded certain property and drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors enabled thousands of people to be released from jail. To help successfully integrate this population back into the workforce, the Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services enlisted FUSE Executive... Read more
Creating a Model for Inclusive Civic Engagement
Los Angeles is seeking to increase participation in the city’s vibrant grassroots electoral system, one of the largest in the nation. The City of Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, or Empower L.A., engaged FUSE executive fellow Aparna Mukherjee to help increase civic engagement among young people, and to support... Read more