Youth and Community Services

Overview

Youth and Community Services

Article Features by Dan Carrigg

2019 Legislative Year in Review

When the 2019 legislative session began, Democrats had gained historic supermajorities in the Legislature. Yet progress for the progressive Democratic agenda was muted. And in the face of multiple attacks on local zoning authority and other challenges, the League and cities emerged surprisingly well.

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

San Rafael’s Employee-Driven Effort Focuses on Meeting the Community’s Changing Needs

San Rafael asked city employees, “How would you design your department if you could create it today, rather than as it was created decades ago?”

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Rancho Cucamonga’s Community Champions Engage Latino Residents

This program plays a critical role in developing health-related policies and programs that improve residents’ quality of life.

Article Features by Ken Striplin

Tackling Homelessness

Cities do not have to wrestle with this issue alone.

Article Features by Margery Haupt, LaWayne Hearn and Kevin Townsend

ABCs of Safety, Communications and Large Events

Tips developed by the team that coordinates an annual event drawing 750,000 visitors.

Article City Forum by Doug Linkhart

Gauging Your Community’s Capacity to Solve Problems and Thrive

Explore the National Civic League’s Civic Index, a self-assessment tool.

Article Features by Charlotte Dickson

Villages and Resilient, Age-Friendly Cities

Villages build connections, support and social capital among older adults.

Article Features by Andrew Powers

Resiliency Wins: Our Community’s Response to Two Tragedies

How Thousand Oaks coped with a mass shooting and two major wildfires in a single day.

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Fresno Youth Commission Addresses Key Issues

This program shows the value of youth as a community and policy resource.

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Fontana Leadership Intervention Program Targets At-Risk Youth

Rising rates of juvenile arrests spurred this effort.

Article Features by Nina Alcaraz

Supporting Our Future: Early Childhood Policies in General Plans

Investing in early childhood helps create safe and healthy communities. Learn how one city customized its Health and Wellness Element to meet its residents’ unique needs.

Article News from the Institute for the Local Government by Randi Kay Stephens

Sparking a Student’s Lifelong Interest in Local Government

The recently revised Picture Yourself in Local Government curriculum is now available at no charge for local agencies to use with students of all ages.

Article President’s Message by Jan Arbuckle

Focusing on Youth and a Vibrant Future

Our young residents play a critically important part in the future of our cities — they are tomorrow’s leaders, workers and innovators. Cities statewide are engaging youth in numerous ways.

Article Features by Barrie Hathaway and Larry Moody

Peninsula Division Explores Ways to Build Workforce Readiness

Businesses are struggling to find the talent they need.

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Rancho Cucamonga Focuses on Community’s Mental Health Needs

An untreated mental health condition can have fatal consequences and a devastating impact on the community.

Article Features by Hafsa Kaka

Santa Ana Establishes 200-Bed Interim Homeless Shelter in 28 Days

A public-private partnership and the community mobilized in response to rapidly increasing homelessness.

Article Legal Notes by Jennifer Gore

Dockless Bicycles and Scooters: Responding to New Technology

Few technologies have overtaken cities as quickly as that of dockless bicycles and scooters, and these devices have proved difficult for cities to regulate.

Article News from the Institute for the Local Government by Hanna Stelmakhovych

Preparing for the 2020 Census: What Cities Need to Know

The census drives important funding for city programs. California cities can play an active role in helping to make the 2020 census fair and accurate.

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Garden Grove Empowers Residents and Improves a Neighborhood

Communicating with residents was key to developing solutions.

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Patterson’s HOST House Tackles Homelessness

The city financed a transitional residence for its homeless population.