Riverside University Health System (RUHS) was named as a recipient of the prestigious Quality Leaders Award (QLA) by the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (CAPH), in partnership with the California Health Care Safety Net Institute (SNI). The award, which celebrates public health care systems that demonstrate outstanding efforts in advancing quality, equity and access to health care for California’s underserved populations, was presented on Thursday, Dec. 5, at the CAPH annual conference in Napa, CA. RUHS Behavioral Health’s Transforming Our Partnerships for Student Success (TOPSS) program was selected for the Top Honor category from a highly competitive pool of 30 entries. “We are thrilled to be recognized for the vital work of improving student health in our schools. All of this is possible with the hard work and dedication

of a staff that is committed to making a powerful difference in the lives of young people,” said Dr. Geoffrey Leung, Riverside County Health Officer. RUHS launched theTransforming Our Partnerships for Student Success (TOPSS) program to identify and address behavioral health and non-academic needs of students and families. The partnership resulted in a program with tiered behavioral health services, universal holistic health screening, and onsite support. Since it launched in 2022 the program provided behavioral health services to 4,510 students and delivered 93,544 units of social services—such as food, clothing and rental/hotel assistance, resulting in a decrease of behavioral health needs among students from 15% in 2020 to just 7% in 2023. Established more than 20 years ago, the Quality Leaders Awards recognize public health care systems that go above and beyond in

delivering high- quality, patient-centered care. Each submission is reviewed by a panel of health care experts who evaluate entries based on key judging parameters, including innovation, equity, impact on population health, care redesign and measurable improvements in patient outcomes. To view a video about the TOPSS program visit: https://bit. ly/TOPSS-Video24 Riverside University Health System (RUHS) includes a 439- bed Medical Center in Moreno Valley, Calif., 14 Federally Qualified Community Health Centers, and the departments of Public and Behavioral Health. RUHS is Riverside County’s safety net provider, offering high-quality, patient-centered care. With more than 8,000 staff members and over 125 years of experience, RUHS continues its commitment to and legacy of delivering exceptional, compassionate care with a focus on public health, behavioral health, community wellness, and medical education. Visit ruhealth. org to learn more.