In 2002 California voters passed Proposition 49 which established funding for the largest expansion of after school services known to the state. Administered by the California Department of Education, the After School Education and Safety Program allowed districts or cities to be the lead agency. One CCS Award winner, the San Diego Regional After-School Consortium formed a county-wide collaborative to ensure maximum access throughout the county schools.
Environmental Protection - Yolo County Lazarus Project linked with youth to help restore Cache Creek.. The preserve now serves as an avenue for public education and encourages children and adults to appreciate nature and the environment. The project has recaptured open space, offers a sanctuary to endangered wildlife, develops personal values reflecting an appreciation of human interdependence with natural systems, increases awareness of the activities involved in the management, restoration and conservation of the environment, including land reclamation, and increases awareness of the cultural and rural agricultural heritage of the regions. Participating agencies included: Yolo County Board of Supervisors, County Planning & PublicWorks Department; Cache Creek High School and Yolo County Office of Education.
Family Support - Family support programs help parents link to the resources they need. The City of Montclair, Ontario-Montclair School District and the Children’s Network of San Bernardino County joined forces to identify service gaps and to improve access to services. In Sacramento a coalition created “Birth & Beyond” a free program that provides assistance to pregnant mothers and their families. This prevention program leverages community funds, increases service coordination and access to services, provides parenting classes, and has created a joint triage and referral system. Participating agencies include: Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services; five school districts; non-profit organizations; Family Resource Centers; Home Visitation Programs; child and family serving agencies; Hospitals and HMO’s.
Gang & Violence Prevention - Gangs Out of Downey, CA (G.O.O.D.) received a CCS Merit Award in 2001 for their effort which has reduced crime, vandalism and graffiti in the Downey community. Participating agencies included: City of Downey; Downey Unified School District; local businesses; community.
Health & Nutrition –
Population health is a concern for all local government. While its common knowledge that counties are the lead jurisdiction for pubic health, cities govern land use and transportation options so critical for active living, and school districts (which receive federal meal reimbursement) are required to develop a local school wellness policies.
Examples
Solano and Contra Costa Health Officers are working with local cities to develop health impact reviews for new development.
Pasadena Unified School Districts and the city have a long history of working together around health concerns - immunization campaigns, health insurance outreach and enrollment, disease control and investigations, partnerships on grants, and even pandemic influenza (bird flu) preparedness planning. Most recently, the district school nurses have been providing pre-employment medical screening for city summer recreational staff.
Housing - Students from Lincoln High School helped construct the single family residences in the Zebra Housing Project with Community Development Block Grant funds. The completed 3 and 4 bedroom units, approximately 1,400 square feet each, were sold to those meeting the eligibility requirements of the CDBG program for target income. Units were offered to school district employees first and then to City of Lincoln employees.
Mentoring & Tutoring - The San Carlos Healthy Cities Project developed a tutor-mentor program that recruits and trains volunteers to provide one-on-one support to at-risk kindergarten through eighth grade youngsters. Participating agencies included: San Carlos Police Department; San Carlos Parks and Recreation; San Carlos School District; San Mateo County Health and Human Services.
Resource Management – The City of Pasadena and Pasadena School District maximize their purchasing power and expertise in multiple ways. The city sells fuel to district; the city leases parking from school; the city has emergency access to school busses; students get city bus passes; joint playgrounds at two elementary schools, real estate and advanced planning services are provided at cost to district (including lease sale negotiations, real estate management, service contracts management, advise to help with disposition of excess school property
