Los Angeles County Celebrates Departments, Community Partners for Innovative Programs and Over $425 Million In Savings and Benefits

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission honored dozens of departmental project teams for their work in demonstrating excellence, efficiency, effectiveness, and inclusion in County government at the 39th Annual Productivity and Quality Awards “Catalysts for Innovation” Ceremony. These projects generated more than $425 million in cumulative financial savings and benefits for the County.

Among the 95 projects from 35 participating departments, four projects were awarded top honors as Gold, Silver, and Bronze Eagle recipients. The Gold Eagle was awarded to Care Camp Trauma-Informed Fire Relief, a project that transformed Los Angeles County parks and gardens into safe, healing spaces for children and families affected by the Eaton Fire. The Silver Eagle was presented to Improving Community Health, One Knock at a Time, a project that brought coordinated health and social services directly to residents in Los Angeles County communities facing persistent barriers to care. The Bronze Eagle was awarded in a tie – for the first time in the Ceremony’s history – to two projects: LA-DROP (Prehospital Blood Transfusion Pilot), which established Los Angeles’ first prehospital blood transfusion pilot program and provided life-saving blood transfusions to patients before they reached the hospital, and to Building the Business Interruption Fund Model, which created the County’s first Business Interruption Fund model to rapidly support small businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs facing economic disruptions.

“At Los Angeles County, we take pride in delivering quality services to Angelenos, and that starts with the dedicated employees who continually look for ways to improve how we serve the public,” said Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “Every day, our workforce finds innovative and creative ways to improve programs and services, solve problems and work more efficiently. The Productivity and Quality Awards recognize the employees and teams who are leading those efforts and finding better ways to serve our residents. Their dedication and ingenuity strengthen County government and help us make the most of the resources entrusted to us.”

“Our County workforce continues to identify gaps where residents’ needs are not being met, roll up their sleeves, and develop innovative solutions to close those gaps and strengthen our communities. This year’s theme, ‘Catalysts for Innovation,’ is fitting for the teams proving that efficiency and equity can go hand in hand. To every County employee being recognized at the 39th Annual Productivity and Quality Awards, thank you for your creativity, dedication, and commitment to public service,” shared Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District. 

“Good government means finding better ways to serve people—and then measuring how those changes actually make a difference,” said Third District Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “These teams are doing exactly that: challenging the status quo, bringing partners to the table, and finding new ways to deliver better results for Angelenos. More than $425 million in savings and benefits is a remarkable impact, but the real measure of success is the people and communities who are better served because County employees refused to settle for ‘the way we’ve always done it.’”

“My dad Kenny served on the Board of Supervisors for 40 years, and was a firm believer in the power of Los Angeles County to make a difference in the lives of our residents. He passed that on to me, as well as the belief that our employees are LA County’s greatest asset,” said Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Every day they serve, protect, provide and defend our most vulnerable populations like children, small businesses, older adults, immigrants, justice-involved, hospital patients, and people experiencing homelessness.  We have the best public servants in the nation.”

“Dozens of County programs were nominated this year, but the Antelope Valley Community Family Resource Center stands out,” said Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “It supports the social and emotional well-being of children, youth, and families in the North County, and it does so through a true partnership. When we collaborate, we reach the residents who need us most.”

1. ENRICH: Building Futures, Breaking Barriers
   Children and Family Services with Chief Executive Office, Consumer and Business Affairs, Internal Services Department, Probation, Gita Murthy Consulting, and Strength-Based Community Change
    
2. Building the Business Interruption Fund Model
   Economic Opportunity with First Supervisorial District, Second Supervisorial District, Third Supervisorial District, Fifth Supervisorial District, Arts and Culture, Chief Executive Office, Consumer and Business Affairs, and Internal Services Department
3. LA-DROP (Prehospital Blood Transfusion Pilot)
   Fire with Health Services (EMS Agency and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center), Compton Fire Department, and San Diego Blood Bank
4. License to Skill, Quality Controlled
   Health Services (Laboratory Operations) with California State University, Los Angeles
5. Diabetic Foot Infection Admission Prevention
   Health Services (Olive View-UCLA Medical Center – Department of Surgery, Medicine and Emergency Room)
6. People, Purpose, and Place: Hollywood 2.0
   Mental Health
7. Care Camp Trauma-Informed Fire Relief
   Parks and Recreation with Arts and Culture, LA County Library, Mental Health, Public Health, Altadena Library District, Center Theater Group, Descanso Gardens, The Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation, Los Angeles County Park Foundation, and Los Angeles Philharmonic Association
8. Improving Community Health, One Knock at a Time
   Public Health with AltaMed Health Services Corporation, Antelope Valley Partners for Health, Bartz-Altadonna Community Health Center, Clínica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero, Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, Herald Christian Health Center, Inclusive Action for the City, Northeast Valley Health Corporation, Providence Health & Services Foundation, Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation, San Fernando Community Health Center, St. John’s Community Health, The University Corporation/Strength United, Visión y Compromiso, The Wellness Center, White Memorial Community Health Center, and Wilmington Community Clinic
9. One County, Unified Recovery: Eaton & Palisades
   Regional Planning with Fire, Public Health, and Public Works
10. Palmdale Station’s Virtual Deputy Program
    Sheriff