Border Health Program

Background

The County of San Diego created the Office of Border Health in February 1993. The Office of Border Health’s goal to improve communication, communication, collaboration, coordination, with local, state, and federal groups along the United States (U.S.)-Mexico border region.

Authority

Although Border Health activities are not mandated, our activities support the California Codes of Regulation, Title 17. Our efforts help strengthen communication across borders to control and lessen the impact of common communicable diseases.

Mission

The Office of Border Health’s goal is to improve health in the California-Baja California border area. We can achieve our mission by teaming up with partners to meet the needs of our community.

We work to prevent disease, empower our communities, and assist in responding to health threats and disasters, through:

· Communication, Collaboration, and Coordination

· Monitoring and sharing data, best practices, and resources

· Education and prevention materials and presentations

· Partnering with one another for events, task force meetings, and symposiums

Community Engagement Programs

The Border Health Consortium of the Californias

In 2013, the Border Health Consortium of the Californias was created. The BHCC is a binational organization to encourage healthy living along the US-Mexico border. All members in the BHCC meets twice a year, once in San Diego County and the other in Tijuana, Mexico.

The BHCC helps health groups from California and Mexico work together effectively to address:

Cancer
HIV
Mental Health
Obesity
Tuberculosis

San Diego & Imperial Counties Border Health Collaborative

In August 2023, the San Diego & Imperial Counties Border Health Collaborative started. It brings together public health experts to talk about border health issues within San Diego County and Imperial County.

The Collaborative meets bimonthly, and the health priorities that are discussed include:

Chronic Disease
Behavioral Health
Vector Borne
Environmental Health
Infectious Disease
Prevention strategies

Partner Relay

In 2014, the Office of Border Health partnered with the Office of Emergency Services to develop the Partner Relay program. This is a collaborative program that brings together trusted community organizations to support and share emergency information to communities with Limited English Proficiency.

The program shares emergency preparedness information and alerts before, during or after disasters. Our network allows for all communities to be prepared, responsive, and alert for any upcoming emergency or safety announcements.

To get emergency alerts in San Diego County, you can find them
on Alert San Diego and our Engage Page.

If your organization wants to join our network to make emergency safety better, please sign up on Survey Monkey.

For more information regarding Partner Relay Program contact us via email SDPartnerRelay@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Internal Activities

Coordinate yearly meetings with the Public Health Services, Centers for Disease Control, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Schedule meetings with local universities and colleges.
Support the development of binational strategic plans.
Coordinate binational meetings, events, and conferences related to Tuberculosis, Obesity, HIV, Cancer, Mental Health, Epidemiology, Emergency Preparedness, Pediatric Health, Prevention Strategies, and more.
Lead the Queso Fresco Task Force, which shares information and strategies about the health impact of consuming soft cheese, queso fresco, that is imported from Mexico.

Upcoming Events

The 1st Annual Binational Symposium for Emergency Care for Pediatric and Adult Patients will take place on January 21st and 22nd, 2026, at CECUT, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. This is a Binational Collaboration between Hospital Florence, Rady Children's Health, UC San Diego Health, The Office of Border Health, and other partners.

Please save the date, the registration and website will be coming soon.

Border Health Resources and Partners