About the District

Pajaro Valley Health Care District History

To form a healthcare district that could acquire Watsonville Community Hospital, Senate Bill 418 was introduced by State Senator John Laird and coauthored by Assembly members Robert Rivas, Mark Stone, and Senator Anna Caballero. The bill passed unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on February 4, 2022. The District was created by the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project, a partnership between Santa Cruz County, the City of Watsonville, Salud Para La Gente, and the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley. This collaboration saved the hospital from bankruptcy and established public oversight. The District extends from Aptos to Pajaro, spanning two counties. While the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors made initial appointments to the District board, since then board members have been elected by the public. The board recognizes that social determinants of health such as race and ethnicity, living conditions, occupation, documentation status, zip code and income affect health outcomes. A balanced healthcare system, including the sustainability of Watsonville Community Hospital, is crucial to addressing these disparities.

The Pajaro Valley Health Care District was named the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce 2022 Organization of the Year.

This video showcases our history from the creation of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District Project to becoming a new Health Care District within the state of California, and the effort to help us return to our roots as a non-profit hospital, owned by our community.