The Cities, Counties and Schools Partnership, is celebrating its 10th year. Incorporated in 1997, it is a nonprofit, nonpartisan collaboration of The League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties and the California School Boards Association. The officers of the three associations make up the Board of Directors of the Partnership. The goal of the partnership is to create a culture of collaboration among local elected officials in California’s 478 cities, 58 counties, and more than 1000 school districts. The purpose of this collaboration is to improve the conditions for California’s children, families and communities.

Each year the Cities Counties and Schools Partnership presents the CCS Partnership Awards to recognize and honor communities that are:

• Working together on collaborative projects between, cities, counties, schools and community-based organizations.
• Utilizing cooperative services to enhance the quality of life for citizens in a community.
• Working collaboratively to establish healthy and vibrant communities and create a culture of cooperation.

In 2007 there are two County recipients of the "CCS Partnership Award"

Alameda County is a recipient for the Family Justice Center.

The Alameda County Family Justice Center is a one-stop, multi-agency, government/non-profit center serving victims of domestic violence, their children, adult and child sexual assault victims and sexually exploited minors. Prior to the center, victims had to navigate a system of public and private services that were fragmented. The Center brings comprehensive services together in one location with staff from the District Attorney’s office, Probation, Oakland Police Special Victims Unit, Public Health, Social Services, and many non-profit providers.. The Center is funded from grants, a surcharge on vital records, a local ballot measure and each participating organization paying their own staff. After two years the county has experienced no costs for the center! Deaths from domestic violence have been reduced from 26 in 2005 to 3 in 2006 and many population previously underserved like immigrant women, and deaf women and children are now receiving comprehensive services. Through a video relay system the center is linked to the entire county so that victims can access its services throughout the county.

In selecting Alameda County as a 2007 CCS Partnership Award winner, the judges cited the creativity the county showed in addressing a difficult and complex issue. The panel was impressed with the extent of the collaboration, the passing of a ballot measure to fund the Center, and the success in dealing with domestic violence which is a growing and often ignored epidemic.

Amador County is a recipient for The Education Collaboration – The Amador Learning Center.

The Amador Learning Center is a collaboration of Amador County, the Amador County Unified School District and the Cosumnes River College. The Center provides a community threshold to education and knowledge for the County population. It makes available the opportunity to gain and maintain higher levels of education and vocational training and a sustainable employment base of knowledgeable workers that will improve Amador County’s economic development. Prior to the collaborative, Amador was one of only two counties not aligned with a community college district.

The Learning Center, which consists of two classrooms located near a high school, provides both on-site and distance learning access. The collaborative has established the Amador Community College Foundation, which is committed to promoting and maintaining a formal community college presence in the county. The long-term goal is to have a complete local community college facility in Amador County but meanwhile the Center’s classes are full and its presence meets the demands of a growing population and boosts economic development.

In selecting the Amador County as a 2007 CCS Partnership Award winner, the judges cited the innovative approach to a problem that exists in many rural counties. The panel was impressed with the determination of continuing when initial funding did not come through, the level of engagement with the schools, and how the program addresses a basic need.

The panel congratulates the winners on “thinking outside the box” to find solutions to important problems in California. The CCS Partnership is pleased to recognize these two counties as outstanding examples of what can be accomplished through collaboration.