NLC has published a new report highlighting promising city efforts to improve the lives of children, youth and families in communities with populations below 75,000. "Municipal Leadership for Children and Families in Small and Mid-Sized Cities" provides a rich array of strategies shared by local officials representing more than 40 cities and towns across the country.
The report combines in-depth case studies of comprehensive family strengthening efforts in Rapid City, S.D., and Manchester, Conn. with a set of shorter city practices categorized by topic area that highlight local action in a broad range of areas.
| Rapid City, S.D. (pop. 67,956) |
Task Force for Strengthening Families |
| Manchester, Conn. (pop. 58,241) |
Children, Youth and Families Master Plan |
Early Childhood
| Enfield, Conn. (pop. 44,654) |
Key Initiatives to Early Education |
| Lemoore, Calif. (pop. (24,531) |
Generations Project |
| Petal, Miss. (pop. 10,454) |
Excel by 5 Coalition |
Education
| Trotwood, Ohio (pop. 24,431) |
Joint City Council-School Board Meetings |
| Tukwila, Wash. (pop. 19,107) |
Tukwila Community Schools Collaboration |
| Delray Beach, Fla. (pop. 60,522) |
Education Advisory Board |
| Holyoke, Mass. (pop. 39,880) |
Family Literacy Centers |
| Mountain View, Calif. (pop. 74,066) |
Virtual Library Resource Card |
| Monticello, Iowa (pop. 3,796) |
Jones Regional Education Center |
| Burleson, Texas (pop. 36,690) |
Burleson Opportunity Fund |
Out-of-School Time Programming
| Northfield, Minn. (pop. 20,007) |
PRIMETime Collaborative |
| Redlands, Calif. (pop. 68,747) |
Music Changing Lives |
| Spartanburg, S.C. (pop. 37,013) |
Duncan Park Stadium |
| Cortland, N.Y. (pop. 19,204) |
Cortland Youth Center |
| Danvers, Mass. (pop. 26,493) |
Project Sunshine |
| Wentzville, Mo. (pop. 29,070) |
Park Bucks |
Youth and Community Engagement
| Durango, Colo. (pop. 16,887) |
Youth Engagement Program |
| Caldwell, Idaho (pop. 46,237) |
Mayor's Youth Advisory Council and Caldwell Youth Master Plan |
| St. Louis Park, Minn. (pop. 45,250) |
Children First |
| Rock Hill, S.C. (pop. 66,154) |
The #1 Question: Is It Good for the Children? |
Youth Employment
| Romeoville, Ill. (pop. 39,680) |
High School Job Initiative |
| Petersburg, Va. (pop. 32,420) |
Summer Work and Health Guidance Expo |
| Ocala, Fla. (pop. 56,315) |
Phoenix Rising |
| Oregon City, Ore. (pop. 31,859) |
Oregon City High School Construction Program |
Child and Youth Safety
| Germantown, Tenn. (pop. 38,844) |
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Initiative |
| Tualatin, Ore. (pop. 26,054) |
Project F.R.I.E.N.D.S. |
| Highland Village, Texas (pop. 15,056) |
Police Involving Parents |
| Winchester, Va. (pop. 26,203) |
Timbrook House Youth Reporting Center |
Family Economic Success
| Bryan, Texas (pop. 76,201) |
Money Week Brazos Valley and Financial Fitness Center |
| Gaithersburg, Md. (pop. 59,933) |
Bank On Gaithersburg and VITA Sites |
| West Bend, Wis. (pop. 31,078) |
Summer Picnic and Playground Program |
Health and Wellness
| Tupelo, Miss. (pop. 34,546) |
Health on a Shelf |
| Decatur, Ga. (pop. 19,335) |
Safe Routes to School Program |
| La Mesa, Calif. (pop. 57,065) |
Ready...Set...Live Well Initiative |
| Greenbelt, Md. (pop. 23,068) |
CARES Youth and Family Services Bureau |
| Petersburg, Va. (pop. 32,420) |
Family Stabilization Initiative |
| Westwood, Mass. (pop. 14,618) |
Youth and Family Services Department |
Strong Neighborhoods
| Charlottesville, Va. (pop. 43,475) |
City of Promise |
| Dedham, Mass. (pop. 24,729) |
Neighbors Helping Neighbors |
| Aiken, S.C. (pop. 29,524) |
Crosland Park |
| Walla Walla, Wash. (pop. 31,731) |
Commitment to Community |
