• As part of our 2024-2026 strategic plan, SOSC is transitioning into a 5-region model. This model creates regions within the chapter with local staff teams. The shift to creating 5 regions within the SOSC footprint strengthens our position as a community-driven organization through which community members are empowered to lead accredited Special Olympics programming.
• As part of the transition into a regional model, we’ve added staff positions to the organization to support our goal of offering Special Olympics programming in every school and community across Southern California. Each region will have at minimum a Programs Director, Development Director, and Sports, Schools and Volunteer Management staff.
• Each region team will report into the Long Beach Headquarters, which will remain the administrative center of the organization. The headquarters will house the executive leadership team and various departments and functions that support Southern California-wide operations.
• Throughout the transition process, we are still operating all scheduled events- no event will be cancelled or postponed due to the transition.
• Athletes and teams will have the same opportunities to compete for spots at chapter-wide championships, USA Games and World Games.
• The 5 regions within the SOSC geography and links to the regions website are shown below. On each region website, you will find a calendar of local events and volunteer opportunities as well as direct contact information for regional staff.
  • • Region 1: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties (sosc.org/region1)
    • Region 2: Los Angeles, Kern and Inyo counties (sosc.org/region2)
    • Region 3: Riverside and San Bernardino counties (sosc.org/region3)
    • Region 4: Orange County (sosc.org/region4)
    • Region 5: San Diego and Imperial counties (sosc.org/region5)
• Each region will have a primary office, and there will continue to be satellite offices where the needs indicate such. A satellite office is a smaller, secondary office location in the region that is separate from the region’s primary office. Satellite offices expand the region’s geographic reach.
• In alignment with our vision, our new model is Athlete-Centered, Community-Driven, and Team-Supported (ACT):
  • • Athlete-centered: Prioritizes athletes by involving them in decision-making, considering their needs and empowering them to reach their full potential, both on and off the field in each region and across the chapter.
    • Community-driven: Empowers community members to lead Special Olympics programming as accredited Local Programs and Unified Champion Schools, emphasizing collaboration, community resources, and sustainable outcomes.
    • Team-supported: Staff teams engage and support the community to deliver programs to athletes and unified partners, fostering collaboration and providing resources to enhance the overall experience.
• We developed this new structure after first assessing our chapter’s resource allocation and ability to serve more athletes and communities.
  • • During this process, we learned that the counties in SOSC’s territory were not staffed proportionately to their needs. Some counties were overstaffed/over resourced and others understaffed/under resourced.
    • To build towards all Southern California communities having access to Special Olympics programs, the regional model seeks to ensure resources are directed in the most strategic and meaningful way to support as many athletes as possible. This structure best supports the Special Olympics Southern California Vision: to promote acceptance, inclusion, and well‐being for people with intellectual disabilities through the power of sports.

Again, thank you for all you do, every day, for our athletes and communities.