Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors successfully led and established an initiative to provide services and support children and families.

School Linked Services (SLS) offers on-site school-based services to heal and strengthen individuals, families and systems by addressing needs and risks faced by children, youth, and families. School Linked Services was first initiated in 2011 with the leadership of former County Board of Supervisor’s President Dave Cortese. The SLS initiative is the result of a partnership between the County Department heads and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Dave Cortese, former Supervisor George Shirakawa and East Side Union High School District Superintendent Dan Moser met monthly from April – November, 2011, concluding with the development of a Strategic Plan that was approved by the Board of Supervisors in January 2012.

Additionally, a School Linked Services Implementation Oversight Task Force was formed to oversee and guide the implementation phase of this initiative. The task force’s broad membership includes representation from government agencies, school districts and additional partnering entities, as well as members from philanthropy, business, academia/research, nonprofit, ethnic and cultural populations, faith, juvenile court, foster care, parents and youth.

Ultimately, the goal of School Linked Services is to offer a well-designed model for the delivery of coordinated and effective health and social services on school campuses and in the community. This coordinated effort seeks to meet the needs of students and their families in order for children to achieve success in school and in life.