CCS Partnership

Cities, Counties and Schools Working Together

The CCS Partnership is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to improving the conditions of children, families and communities at the local level by promoting and encouraging coordination, integration and increased efficiency of local services and joint facilities use among cities, counties and schools in all California communities.

The CCS Partnership was formed to serve as a catalyst for developing comprehensive public policies which build and preserve communities by encouraging successful local collaborative efforts between cities, counties, schools, community-based nonprofits, and business and civic leaders. This not only means identifying model programs and understanding obstacles to cooperation, but encouraging the development of ongoing relationships and trust at both the state and local levels.

Our long-term efforts will focus on youth violence prevention, joint use of facilities and resources, meaningful involvement in welfare reform implementation, land use, joint personnel training, local delivery service reform, educational programs to increase awareness of local self-governance and encourage citizen participation, and community-based planning and problem solving — the list is as extensive as our needs.

The Partners

The League of California Cities (LCC), the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), and the California School Boards Association (CSBA) make up the Partnership. Together, these three statewide organizations represent the majority of locally-elected officials in California.

The League of California Cities: Founded in 1898, the League of California Cities represents all of California's 472 cities. The League strives to protect the local authority and autonomy of city government and help California's cities effectively serve their residents. In addition to advocating on the behalf of cities at the State Capitol, the League provides its members professional development programs and information resources, sponsors educational conferences and conducts research.

The California State Association of Counties: Since 1895, CSAC has represented county government before the Legislature, Congress, and state and federal agencies, while educating the public about the value and need for county programs and services. CSAC is committed to assisting all 58 counties, represented by 296 county supervisors, in providing a vital and efficient system of public services, for the general health, welfare and public safety of every California resident.

The California School Boards Association: Founded in 1931, CSBA represents almost all of the state's 1,050 K-12 school districts and county boards of education. CSBA supports the local governance team — school board members, superintendents and senior administrative staff — in their complex leadership roles. CSBA's members serve over 5 million children and youth enrolled in California's public schools.

Joint Efforts Leading to the Partnership

In 1992, the LCC, CSAC, and CSBA sponsored 12 regional Children's Summits to gather input from local, state, and federal officials, service providers, nongovernmental community groups and individuals on the effectiveness of children's services at the local level. The outcome of these summits was the joint publication Cutting Through the Red Tape: Meeting the Needs of California's Children, which called for a new vision of non-categorical, flexible, and integrated system of children's services.

The cooperation among the three associations in developing and presenting the Children's Summits was significant. Not only was it the first time that the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties, and the California School Boards Association had undertaken a joint effort of this magnitude, but in so doing, they were modeling a spirit of cooperation needed at both the state and local level to meet the changing needs of California's children and families.

In 1995, the three organizations developed an awards program to jointly recognize innovative community programs targetting 'at-risk' youth. The programs chosen all represented collaborative community efforts aimed at preventing youth violence, crime and truancy.

A compendium of programs submitted for the Youth: Heart of our Community awards program was compiled by the three associations and published by The Board of Corrections in 1996. The manual described steps necessary for establishing effective community-based programs, and was developed as a resource guide to energize local efforts and build successful programs tailored to each community's needs.

Formation of the CCS Partnership

Understanding that we can address the needs of our communities more inclusively if we work together, without periodic stops and starts, the three associations made a commitment to form the CCS Partnership. The legal incorporation of the Partnership formalizes the relationship forged by our previous efforts and ensures even greater collaboration in the future.

The CCS Board of Directors is currently comprised of the officers and executive directors of the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties and the California School Boards Association. The board plans to fill four public member positions on the board with individuals who will actively participate and who represent the diversity of the state as a whole.

The CCS Partnership will develop strategies to: break down barriers between jurisdictions; increase understanding, trust and respect among cities, counties, schools, the private sector, community organizations and individuals; reform the delivery of local services; develop and share successful models of community-based planning and problem solving; promote and maximize joint use of facilities and resources; and — most importantly — to improve the conditions of children, families and our communities.

For more information about the CCS Partnership, please call (916) 323-6011, or e-mail ldelapp@counties.org .