Today, whether in rural Alpine County or urban Los Angeles, people have instant access to the world and its events through the Internet and television. This interconnectedness has broadened horizons and expanded opportunities. It also means that problems and solutions are no longer the purview of any single jurisdiction, agency or individual; instead, partnerships provide more effective ways to identify issues and implement solutions.

Improving the lives of children and families in California by maximizing resources and creating dynamic, healthy, safe, well-educated communities is the goal of the Cities, Counties & Schools (CCS) Partnership. Formed in 1997, the CCS Partnership is a non- profit, nonpartisan collaboration of three statewide associations: the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and the California School Boards Association (CSBA). The CCS Partnership board of directors comprises the officers of each of the three associations representing local elected officials throughout the state.

Since its inception, the CCS Partnership has brought local elected leaders together to discuss common issues and concerns, develop solutions and create joint efforts to implement them. Using seminars, conference presentations and workshops, the CCS Partnership has been a catalyst in successful local cross-jurisdictional collaboration in many communities in California. A synergy arises when local elected officials begin to think and plan together; what begins as a limited one-time project often becomes an ongoing strategy. This culture of collaboration in all California communities is the vision of the CCS Partnership.

While this may seem like basic common sense today, 20 years ago people within departments of the same agency often did not talk with each other or plan together, and agency-to-agency discussions were rare. Ten years ago, though there was collaboration between agencies providing similar or overlapping services, it was virtually unheard of to have collaboration among city councils, county supervisors and school boards. Today, such formal and informal partnerships are at work in more than 100 California communities.

Supporting Collaboration and Addressing Specific Issues

The CCS Partnership is helping communities start or further their collaborative efforts by offering "Stretching Community Dollars" workshops each spring. These events provide cross-jurisdictional teams a one- or two-day hands-on workshop where they can learn the basics of launching collaborative projects and maximizing the effectiveness of available funds.

The partnership is also focusing on a number of specific issues affecting residents and communities throughout California, including the following.

Childhood Obesity

Healthy and active living is the key to solving the obesity epidemic spreading among California’s children. Currently, more than 25 percent of all children are overweight, including 8 percent of 4- and 5-year-olds. The average 11-year-old is 11 pounds heavier than in 1973, and life expectancy for today’s children is 13 years less than for their parents. On the physical activity side, less than 36 percent of children get physical education on a daily basis.

Tackling this national and local health crisis requires multifaceted approaches and policy changes. The CCS Partnership is working with the Local Government Commission and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy to create a program that promotes sound public policy and integrated approaches within communities to address childhood obesity.

Civic Engagement

Knowing that it takes elected officials and community members to create lasting solutions and dynamic innovations, the CCS Partnership is seeking funding to establish a new approach to civic engagement. This approach will establish the Civic Engagement Academy, which will build leadership and engagement capacity in three groups: youth, parents and other residents and members of the business community.

Most leadership development and/or community engagement efforts focus on individuals or on a single segment of the population. The downside of that strategy occurs when the individuals move out of the community or are unable to continue their civic engagement; the investment and knowledge are lost and the community has to start over. Believing that there is a better way to achieve widespread and ongoing civic engagement, CCS Partner-ship’s Civic Engagement Academy will create a network of individuals with similar goals and commitments across a broad spectrum who are willing to take an active role in the community.

Improving Conditions for Children and Families

Beyond efforts focused on local communities, the CCS Partnership is working to create mutual understanding and joint support for public policies that enhance and integrate local efforts and create local solutions that cut across jurisdictions.

Almost half of all California families (47 percent) are low income and 11 percent of the children in our state have no health insurance. On a yearly basis 222,000 school-age children face homelessness, and more than 600,000 cases of child abuse and neglect are reported in California. In response to these disturbing facts, the CCS Partnership is establishing a Conditions of Children Council with six appointed members from each of its three partner associations. The council will meet regularly to:

• Provide direction on legislative, regulatory and initiative proposals that could impact the lives of California’s children and families;
• Offer direction on projects conducted by the three associations and the partnership, as appropriate; and
• Identify areas for future work.

Joint Use of Land and Facilities

Another important area of work for the CCS Partnership is in joint land use and school siting. With the passage of multibillion-dollar bonds for school construction in the past two elections, California is embarking on major public works projects that will impact cities, counties and schools throughout the state. Current legislation and practices include joint siting of schools, parks and libraries, and a growing number of localities are planning cooperatively and collaboratively for school expansion.

However, much remains to be done. The process of gaining approval for a school site is long and complex and often fraught with conflict and/or lack of knowledge about a parcel of land or the provision of infrastructure between the three jurisdictions. To bring some cohesiveness to the process and to recommend needed legislation, CCS has established a task force composed of city, county and school professionals and elected officials. This task force is exploring:

• How to maximize the use of resources;
• Ways to streamline the process and integrate the cost of siting and building new schools; and
• Strategies and techniques to create mutual respect, understanding and joint planning.

Preventing Wildfires and Promoting Public Safety

Another area of interest is public safety. The CCS Partnership is planning a third task force to explore public safety issues of mutual concern and potential collaboration. To begin the process, the partnership has applied for a 2005 Western States Wildland Urban Interface Grant. If se-cured, these funds will provide the means to implement the "Wildland Urban Inter- face Fires Collaborative Plan to Decrease Impacts on Public Health and Safety" joint policy adopted by the League and CSAC in February 2004.

Looking Ahead: A Better California For All

The CCS Partnership was established to focus its efforts exclusively on how cities, counties and schools can come together to create collaboration among local elected officials. Believing that such collaboration creates a synergy that better serves constituents, the partnership is exploring many opportunities for local communities to lead the way. Creating healthy, vibrant communities requires that local elected officials work together. It’s possible to achieve the visions and dreams that moved each person to take responsibility for the community by running for public office or serving as a public employee. By combining our skills, knowledge, hard work and perseverance, we are moving forward together.

For more information, contact the CCS Partnership at (916) 323-6011 or e-mail: ccspartnership@counties.org.

Connie Busse is executive director of the Cities, Counties & Schools Partnership and can be reached at cbusse@counties.org.