The Social Policy Institute (SPI) is a nonprofit affiliate of the School of Social Work at San Diego State University. The mission of SPI is to be a dynamic catalyst for improving the community’s well-being by bridging academia and community knowledge through training, technical assistance, program design, research, advocacy, and collaboration. At the Social Policy Institute, we believe that community members should have access to the services, supports and resources necessary to actively participate, experience a sense of belonging, and have opportunities to achieve their aspirations. However, we know that no one “system” has the mandate, resources or reach to address both individual/family issues and the larger social problems that exacerbate adverse consequences such as poverty, racism, inadequate housing/homelessness, poor schools, crime, and racial and ethnic disparities.

We know that services are most effective when everyone is involved – from the policymakers to front-line staff to the communities they serve. Unfortunately, health and human services agencies are not always informed by key stakeholders’ perspectives. In order to strengthen engagement and collaboration, we apply human-centered design methods, project planning and systems thinking at both the service delivery and policy-making levels. Our team of Social Service Researchers, Designers, and Strategists work closely with government and nonprofit agencies to identify needs, frame goals, conduct research, prototype new service programs, and plan and support implementation. We are committed to developing desirable, feasible and viable improvements that increase well-being, improve the bottom line, and foster better lives for individuals, families and communities across the State.

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Social Policy Institute SDSU School of Social Work

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