The partnerships have many benefits and are of great interest to the members of Cities Counties Schools Partnership’s three partner organizations: League of California Cities, California State Association of Counties, and California Schools Boards Association. Local agency officials and staff of cities, counties and schools have an important role in development, durability and success of community schools partnerships. In times of dwindling resources, agencies seek innovative methods to help solve  health, social and financial issues in their communities; community schools partnerships can maximize economic and human resources through collaboration.

Cities, counties and schools are taking action through community schools strategies to achieve greater traction in resolving complex issues and supporting the needs of youth and families. Collective Impact by John Kania and Mark Kramer, is an article in Stanford Social Innovation Review that examines the collective impact strategy and approach to resolving complex systemic issues. The theory conceptualized the complexity of intentionally organizing services and integrating resources of individual partners. There are five major elements of the collective impact theory: common agenda, shared measurement, mutually reinforcing activities, communication, and organization. As cities, counties and school districts, in cooperation with community partners, non-profits and businesses support youth and families, a more engaged and sustainable community emerges.  Elements of Collective Impact strategies are featured in the examples and technical resources available in this toolkit.