Welcome & Overview

The County of Santa Cruz’s Strategic Plan 2032 will set the foundation for our next six years of collective action. Building on the progress and lessons from the 2018–2024 plan, this update will integrate new voices, data, and partnerships to move us closer to a county where all people can thrive and belong.

Our vision remains clear: a healthy, safe, and more affordable community that is culturally diverse, economically inclusive, and environmentally vibrant. The refresh will be further rooted in our County Equity Statement and informed by frameworks including Health in All Policies and Results Count, which help us stay focused on what matters most—measurable results for people.

This site shares the roadmap for the Strategic Plan 2032, including key milestones, opportunities for engagement, and insights from what we've learned engaging with you, our partners, and our staff. 

We invite you to explore, contribute, and stay connected as we shape a more equitable and resilient future—together.

Timeline & Milestones

Focus Areas

On November 4, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved six Focus Areas for Strategic Plan 2032. These areas organize how the County and partners align policies, investments, and daily work to improve community outcomes. Click an icon to see how each Focus Area aligns with County plans and what we heard from the community.

Housing & Infrastructure

Alignment with County work & plans

  • Built Environment Departments: Community Development and Infrastructure, Environmental Health, General Services
  • Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) targets and implementation.
  • Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for roads, water, sewer, and permitting modernization.

What we are hearing from community

  • Housing affordability is foundational; roads, water, and permitting are critical enablers.
  • Desire for visible progress on basic systems that people experience every day.
  • Stronger alignment across jurisdictions to support stable, affordable homes.

Access to Services & Support

Alignment with County work & plans

  • Safety Net Departments: Human Services, Child Support Services
  • Housing for a Healthy Santa Cruz (H4H) and homeless response coordination.
  • Safety-net programs: Medi-Cal, CalFresh, IHSS, APS/CPS; Master Plan on Aging.

What we are hearing from community

  • Keep people housed, fed, and connected to care; reduce barriers across systems.
  • Improve service navigation and language access, especially in South County and rural areas.
  • Make support visible and reliable for families, older adults, and people experiencing homelessness.

Health, Wellbeing & Connection

Alignment with County work & plans

  • Health and Wellbeing Departments: Health Services Agency, Parks and Cultural Services.
  • Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Plan.
  • Master Plan on Aging; Parks’ inclusive spaces that support social connection.

What we are hearing from community

  • Access, wait times, and affordability are key concerns, particularly in South County and rural areas.
  • Wellbeing depends on connection: safe, welcoming places (parks, libraries, community centers).
  • Pro-social supports for youth; reduced isolation for older adults.

Safety & Justice

Alignment with County work & plans

  • Public Safety Departments: District Attorney, Probation, Public Defender, Sheriff-Coroner
  • Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) Annual Plan; diversion, reentry, and alternatives.

What we are hearing from community

  • Safety is about fairness, prevention, and connection—not enforcement alone.
  • Compassion with accountability; rebuild trust in communities.
  • Support for survivors, youth diversion, and neighborhood problem-solving.

Environment, Climate & Resilience

Alignment with County work & plans

  • County Departments: Agricultural Commissioner, Agricultural Extension, Community Development and Infrastrucutre, Office of Response, Recovery, and Resilience, Environmental Health, Parks
  • Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) and Hazard Mitigation Plan.
  • Measure Q Vision Plan; Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.

What we are hearing from community

  • Wildfire, flood, water quality, and heat impacts—especially in rural and mountain areas.
  • Value of parks, clean air and water, and preparedness for quality of life.
  • Desire for investments that protect people and places over the long term.

Economy & Job Growth

Alignment with County work & plans

  • County Departments: Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector, County Clerk-Elections, Human Services, Human Resources, Information Services
  • Workforce Development Board Strategic Plan and County economic development.
  • Career pathways with employers, Cabrillo, UCSC, COE; broadband and hubs.

What we are hearing from community

  • Close the gap between wages and cost of living; more local opportunities to live and work here.
  • Support small businesses and entrepreneurs; strengthen job readiness.
  • Grow pathways in high-demand sectors while connecting work to housing and transit.

Community Engagement Plan

The Board of Supervisors approved the Community Outreach Plan on September 9, 2025. Watch the meeting (Item 13): Community Engagement Plan

Ways to Get Involved

Complete the Survey

(Closed 10/17/25)

Host a Presentation

Invite us to your group’s next meeting.

Request a visit
Join a Workshop

Help refine priorities in Feb–Mar 2026.

See schedule (TBD)
Get Updates

Stay informed as the plan develops.

Subscribe

Survey Results

The embedded report below includes highlights from survey responses, and will be updated weekly through October 17, 2025.

 

Foundational Review

Before developing the Strategic Plan 2032, we took a close look at what we’ve learned over the past seven years. This foundational review brings together community partner input, staff insights, and data on population-level trends to help us understand where we’ve made progress and where deeper work is needed. The review ensures we move forward grounded in evidence, lived experience, and shared accountability for better results.

Thumbnail of the Foundational Review PDF

Click image to view the full report (opens in new tab)

The embedded report below includes highlights from over 1,000 survey responses and focus groups conducted across County partners and staff in Spring and Summer 2025.