Youth and Community Services

Overview

Youth and Community Services

Article President’s Message José Cisneros

San Francisco’s “Kindergarten to College” Program Improves the Odds For Students

The first publicly funded, universal children’s college savings account program in the United States has a simple yet ambitious goal: Make sure every child in San Francisco can save for…

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

San Clemente’s “Fun on the Run Fitness” Focuses on Youth

The Fun on the Run Mobile Recreation program visits four low-income neighborhood areas weekly to keep children engaged and active after school with physical activities, games, crafts and nutrition…

Article City Forum Caitlin Fitzwater

Get Creative: California Arts Council Offers Grant Funding Opportunity

The California Arts Council’s new Creative California Communities (CCC) Program supports innovative projects that harness arts and culture as a key economic development or arts service strategy…

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Ontario Provides Homeless With Continuum of Services

The City of Ontario partnered with Mercy House Living Centers to create a full-service continuum of care that would provide the social and capital infrastructure necessary to transition all…

Article News from the Institute for the Local Government

How Local Officials Can Support Citizenship and Civic Participation

Approximately 2.5 million “lawful permanent residents” living in California are eligible to become U.S. citizens. Local officials can leverage their leadership to encourage naturalization…

Article City Forum Carolyn Ballou

Connecting Veterans With Services Benefits the Entire Community

California is currently home to 1.8 million veterans, and an additional 40,000 veterans are expected to return to the state every year for the next several years.

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Montclair and Ontario Invest in Future Workforce

Like many cities throughout California, Montclair and Ontario are faced with breaking the cycle of low adult educational attainment, family poverty and workforce development hurdles. An innovative…

Article Features

On the Record
Which League service helps you most?

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Santa Maria’s Listos: Disaster Preparedness Program Builds Trust

The City of Santa Maria’s Listos program emphasizes sharing emergency and disaster preparedness skills, using a culturally appropriate curriculum that overcomes language and trust barriers.

Article City Forum

Institute Offers Programs and Resources at the League Annual Conference

The Institute for Local Government is offering several sessions at the League of California Cities 2013 Annual Conference & Expo to provide educational opportunities for city officials.

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

A Tale of Two Cities: Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek’s Community Service Days

These projects increase civic pride and produce remarkable results.

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

SmartRiverside Transforms Community and Fosters Innovation

SmartRiverside has helped transform the city by promoting high-tech businesses, encouraging collaboration and creating a forum for communication between students and high-tech organizations.

Article Features

City Officials Speak to Budget Cuts
Budget cuts have resulted in reduced services for many communities. What services has your city been able to preserve that you are most proud of?

Local elected officials weigh in on current challenges and priorities.

Article President’s Message Bill Bogaard

Supporting Health in Our Communities

By supporting wellness efforts, cities can offer an environment where residents and employees are encouraged to be more physically active, eat nutritious food and enjoy the advantages of good health.

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Lancaster’s Holistic Approach to Healthy Neighborhoods

The Neighborhood Impact Program uses neighborhood revitalization and partnerships to address health, safety and social issues.

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

Fontana Revitalizes Downtown With a Focus on Seniors

The city provided its senior population with high-quality, affordable housing close to the services they need.

Article Features Helene Leckman Leichter

Make Volunteer Programs a Financial Asset, Not a Liability

As cities implement deeper budget cuts, volunteers are performing more physically and intellectually demanding functions.

Article President’s Message Mike Kasperzak

Reflecting on Our Progress and Moving Forward

The League has met the challenges of the past year, and much work remains to be done.

Article News from the Institute for the Local Government

New Resources: The Latest in Best Practices and More

Local officials looking for tools to help them serve their communities now have access to a variety of new resources.

Article City Forum Charlotte Dickson

HEAL Cities Campaign Supports Healthy Communities

Obesity and related diseases threaten the health of cities’ most vulnerable populations, particularly children and youth. As part of an effort to address obesity, California cities are participating in the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Cities Campaign and adopting land-use, economic development and employee wellness policies that support health.