Transformative Impact: Christopher Perri's Leadership in Pasadena's Health Innovation

PCDA Executive Director Christopher Perri & Stella Clingmon Simon, City of Pasadena Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health Program Coordinator

The importance of PCDA Executive Director Christopher Perri's relationship and impact in the Pasadena community shines brightly through a recent collaboration. Pasadena's Public Health Department has achieved a remarkable feat, being one of only four cities in California to have its own public health department, and one of five counties to secure a grant out of 61 applicants.

Christopher Perri, PCDA's executive director, played a pivotal role in this accomplishment. He contributed innovative program design concepts that structured a groundbreaking approach to addressing accessibility and equity issues in our immediate area. This visionary input resulted in the successful acquisition of a $500,000 grant, which will extend its impact until June 2025.

This grant has paved the way for the creation of a collaborative subcommittee focused on children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). The program, known as California Innovations in Services and Partnerships for Inclusion, Resilience, and Empowerment (Cal-InSPIRE), is a testament to Christopher Perri's commitment to the Pasadena community.

Cal-InSPIRE, funded by the California Department of Public Health, is dedicated to finding innovative solutions to address the unique needs of CYSHCN and their families in Pasadena. It operates under the Pasadena Public Health Department's Maternal, Child, & Adolescent Health (MCAH) Program, concentrating on the health domain of CYSHCN.

Christopher Perri is now participating in the Cal-InSPIRE program as it forges ahead with advisory meetings. These gatherings, led by a subcommittee of the Pasadena MCAH Advisory Committee, assemble community partners, providers, and parent leaders who are dedicated to supporting CYSHCN. These meetings offer a platform for knowledge-sharing, program updates, discussions, community updates, and valuable networking opportunities that uplift PCDA.

The inaugural Cal-InSPIRE Advisory Subcommittee Meeting unveiled the preliminary findings from a recent needs assessment. The data collection process, which spanned key informant interviews, focus groups, and surveys, was conducted in May and June. Its purpose was to identify available services for CYSHCN in Pasadena, evaluate strengths and gaps in care, and pinpoint the barriers facing families.

This remarkable initiative, fueled by Christopher Perri's commitment and innovation, is poised to make a profound impact on the lives of children and youth with special health care needs in Pasadena and their families. It is a testament to his dedication to enhancing accessibility, equity, and support within our community