Creating a Scalable, Equitable Model for Statewide Community Engagement
- Written by Resource Innovations
- September 18, 2026
Overview
The California Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) served as the single state entity coordinating California's most important public awareness and community engagement initiatives. Housed within the Governor's Office of Service and Community Engagement (GO-Serve), OCPSC helped ensure statewide outreach was more inclusive, equitable, and effective.
In April 2021, RI was selected to build and lead a team under an initial nine-month contract focused on increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates across California. Over the course of the partnership, RI supported OCPSC by addressing evolving priorities and delivering strategic communications, community engagement, and operational support aligned with the office's mission.
What began as a short-term response to a public health emergency grew into a valuable partnership. Five years later, RI's team remained an integral part of OCPSC, helping advance statewide initiatives that strengthened community engagement and improved outcomes for Californians.
Program Snapshot
Opportunity
RI strengthened OCPSC's ability to connect statewide priorities with the needs of community-based organizations through Regional Program Managers (RPMs), strategic communications, convening support, collective action, in-field technical assistance, and data analysis.
The initiative expanded grantee capacity, improved regional coordination, increased culturally and linguistically responsive outreach, and expanded access to initiatives such as CalKIDS and the California Community Resource Guide. By tailoring support to local communities, RPMs served as trusted advisors who translated statewide goals into practical, community-driven action while providing valuable feedback that informed OCPSC's strategy, communications, and future program design.
By combining relationship-based support with data-informed planning and continuous improvement, RI created a scalable model that strengthened partnerships, increased program reach, and helped OCPSC deliver more effective, equitable, and responsive public initiatives.
Solution
RI combined relationship-centered technical assistance, regional collaboration with collective action, data-informed planning, and continuous improvement to support OCPSC's statewide initiatives. RPMs worked directly with grantees and community partners to deliver tailored coaching, technical assistance, peer learning, and collaborative planning based on local needs and priorities.
Technology and data tools strengthened coordination, performance tracking, reporting, and decision-making, while user-centered, culturally responsive communications ensured resources and campaign materials were accessible, relevant, and community-informed. Together, this integrated approach enabled RI to scale support across California, improve equity, expand program reach, and help OCPSC make timely, data-driven decisions.
“Throughout their work with OCPSC, Resource Innovations brought a solutions-oriented approach that combined strong project management, thoughtful responsiveness, and a deep understanding of the communities they served. Their ability to anticipate challenges, adapt to emerging needs, and work collaboratively with community-based organizations strengthened equity-centered outreach and helped make information more clear, accessible, and culturally responsive. By providing dependable, high-quality support services, their team helped advance OCPSC’s mission and contributed to the successful implementation of key statewide initiatives. Their strategic perspective, flexibility, and commitment to getting the details right made Resource Innovations a trusted and valued partner.”
Aubrie FongActing Executive Director, OCPSC
Results
Key results demonstrated the scale, depth, and adaptability of RI’s support for OCPSC. The initiative established a statewide infrastructure for regional engagement, technical assistance, strategic communications, convenings, data analysis, and operational support that strengthened partnerships with community-based organizations and expanded the reach of public initiatives.
Beyond meeting contract requirements, the partnership strengthened OCPSC’s capacity to engage communities effectively. RI helped grantees meet program deliverables, fostered stronger regional collaboration, expanded enrollment efforts for priority initiatives, improved access to culturally and linguistically responsive resources, elevated community perspectives, and supported climate and emergency preparedness outreach. By translating field insights into actionable strategies and providing responsive administrative, operational, and strategic support, RI helped build a more connected, trusted, and sustainable statewide engagement network—one that enhanced OCPSC’s ability to deliver equitable, community-centered programs.
"RI brought valuable community engagement expertise to OCPSC, supported by a regional model grounded in trusted local relationships. Their staff have deep roots in the communities they serve and a strong understanding of regional needs, stakeholders, and local dynamics. They act as skilled facilitators, conveners, and connectors, bringing partners together, elevating community perspectives, and translating statewide priorities into locally relevant approaches. Their team also provides responsive technical assistance and a solutions-driven approach to challenges, helping partners strengthen their work and move initiatives forward. This combination of community expertise, practical support, and authentic local knowledge makes RI an invaluable partner.”
Marcy KaplanDeputy Director, Community Engagement, OCPSC
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