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Strength in numbers. Count me in. YorkCounts maintains different kinds of collaborative relationships with different groups. Compacts are formal, voluntary agreements between YorkCounts and one or more organizations that work to implement one of the 30 Ready Solutions identified in the YorkCounts Action Plan. Criteria used to evaluate the merit of each compact include:
An Engagement is an official letter of endorsement from YorkCounts given to one or more organizations that work to advance the YorkCounts agenda. Criteria used to evaluate the merit of the engagement include:
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Partner: Work started: 2004 Why do it: A shared economic development plan that dovetails with other initiatives makes the difference because it gets city, county, and local officials working with each other and with their residents and communities in new ways to achieve new broad-reaching outcomes. County Health Department Partner: Healthy Work started: 2004 Why do it: The latest: After talks with the York County Commissioners in the spring of 2009, the Health Department Task Force is supporting the creation of a Health Department Commission, approved by the commissioners and operating under the direction of the county's Director of Human Services. The task force proposed that a new Public Health Task Force be appointed to initiate talks wtih the York City Health Bureau, among other duties. In late 2009, budget conditions at the state and county level have put this effort on hold. Partner: Work started: 2004 Why do it: The YorkCounts action team recommended establishing a York County Human Relations Commission as a way to address race-based friction progressively and ensure that every The latest: Meetings between YCCAR and YorkCounts representatives over the past 18 months have produced new momentum for establishing a county human relations commission. The two groups have met with the York County Commissioners and representatives of the York City Human Relations Commission to identify what form the HRC would take, how it would be paid for and who would lead it. Countywide Land Preservation Funding Partner: Farm and Work started: 2007 Why do it: YorkCounts supported the concept of additional funding for land preservation as a Ready Solution to address the issue of lost open space, farmland and sprawl. The York County Commissioners adopted in their 2007 budget a $7 million line of credit to be spent over three years to help the York County Agricultural Land Preservation Board and the Farm and Natural Land Trust achieve their conservation goals. The latest: In late 2008, the Farm & Natural Lands Trust began work on its Bargain Sale Conservation Easement Program. As of June 2009, the Trust had preserved three properties totaling approximately 225 acres. Countywide Education Partner: Penn State Work started: 2006 Why do it: The YorkCounts action team viewed the event as an opportunity to engage school officials from around the county in collaborating for continuous performance improvement and more equitable access to quality education. The latest: The first York County Education Summit was held in 2006 and was attended by hundreds of school board members, administrators, teachers and parents representing every district in the county.
Affordable Housing Partner: Healthy Work started: 2005 Why do it: There’s plenty of evidence establishing the need for new and rehabilitated affordable housing throughout Leadership for Diverse Schools Partner: Leadership Work started: 2004 Why do it: YorkCounts action teams stressed the need for schools to play a role in teaching students to value and respect one another's differences and in fostering diverse experiences. Leadership York and the York Jewish Community Center joined forces to develop a training program that will prepare The latest: Ninety-two educators representing 12 school districts have graduated from the course. It is our hope that over the next several years a tipping point will be reached, when large groups of educators from all districts complete LDS and are equipped with the skills to transform their districts into communities where there is a culture of appreciation and acceptance of diversity. Based on enrollment data for the 12 school districts represented, course graduates potentially reached over 46,000 Stay in School Initiative Partner: United Way of Work started: 2008 Why do it: YorkCounts recognized that many students in The latest: The group released its recommendations in a report in August 2009. The national United Way organization has made improving student performance a priority, and the officials involed with the local effort expect to receive financial support from the national organization. YorkCounts planned a series of town halls to highlight the report, starting in November 2009.
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