PROJECT DULCE™ is a diabetes care and education program that addresses the specific needs of underserved, ethnically diverse populations.  The program is dedicated to “Diabetes Excellence Across Communities” , with a mission of improving the lives of people with diabetes through culturally appropriate, community-based diabetes management, education and support programs.

Initiated in 1997, PROJECT DULCE™ was designed by a broad collaboration of  San Diego health care and community-based organizations.  To date, the program has managed thousands of ethnically diverse and low-income patients at community clinic and university health system sites throughout San Diego County. 

 PROJECT DULCE™  has received a number of awards and recognitions for its achievements:

Project Dulce Recogition in D.C.
	Josh Valdez; who is the regional representative of Tommy Thompson, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services; recently honored Project Dulce by inviting its leaders to Washington D.C. to present its curriculum to representatives of HHS. Project Dulce was recognized as a model program for underprivileged diabetes patients.
Pictured with Project Dulce leadership is US Surgeon General Richard Carmona.

Project Dulce’s patients say it all:

Project Dulce has conducted extensive socio-cultural research to adapt its group education curriculum and approach to address the needs of African-American, Filipino, and Vietnamese communities.  Peer educators from each of these cultural groups provide diabetes education and support to respective communities. 

Patient handouts have been translated into numerous languages. To download handouts click here

In addition to helping patients, PROJECT DULCE™  staff is available to train other health care providers how to design and implement a culturally appropriate diabetes management program.  The patient education curriculum, patient handouts, peer educator training guide, and operations manual are also available. 

To learn more about Project Dulce contact 1-866-791-8154 or email:         
       garay.anna@scrippshealth.org or link to:

Council of Community Clinics of San Diego and Imperial Counties    
                  www.ccc-sd.org

Community Health Improvement Partners   
               http://www.sdchip.org 

Education courses for all aspects of Diabetes Education, Professional Education page

Project Dulce received accreditation by the American Diabetes Association in 2002, and is an affiliated provider for Sweet Success, California’s Diabetes and Pregnancy Program.  

•         American Diabetes Association Recognition, 2002.
•         Border Model of Excellence, U.S. Mexico Border Health Commission,  2003. 
•            Sweet Success Affiliate, California ’s program for women with gestational diabetes, 2002.
•            NOVA Award, American Hospital Association, for outstanding community benefit program, 2005. 
•             Presented to US Surgeon General and US Department of Health and Human Services agency chiefs, including the Centers for Disease Control, Office of Minority Health, and Bureau of Primary Health Care, 2002. 
•             Published findings in Diabetes Care (2004), Annals of Pharmacotherapy (2005), and other scientific peer-reviewed journals.