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Livermore won the 2024 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in Intergovernmental Collaboration at a recent statewide conference for the partnership between its school district and the city-operated Horizons Family Counseling.
Presented by the League of California Cities, the honor recognizes Horizons’ work in Livermore schools as innovative, effective and replicable programming for children and families, according to a statement by the city. The Livermore City Council accepted the honor at its regular meeting on Monday night.
“This award underscores the power of collaboration in addressing mental health challenges and demonstrates how partnerships with schools and local government can lead to meaningful, lasting change,” Livermore Mayor John Marchand said in a statement.
As a division of the Livermore Police Department, Horizons has provided mental health services to local youth and families since 1973. It aims to serve them through counseling and other supportive services to promote their safety and success, according to the city’s statement.
“Livermore’s Horizons Family Counseling is a beacon of hope for our community, providing critical mental health support to our youth and families at a time when it is most needed,” Marchand said.
Amid the rising demand for mental health resources, Horizons’ services — counseling, workshops, crisis intervention and support groups — were integrated into Livermore schools to serve hundreds of students every year.
“Through funding from various sources and strong collaboration, the City of Livermore and the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District are pioneering efforts to promote holistic well-being and resilience among the city’s youth,” city public communications officer Stephanie Egidio wrote in the statement.
Given the program’s innovative approach to mental health services, it has become a model for other cities to address the needs of their young residents, according to the statement.
“Livermore’s proactive and collaborative approach continues to pave the way for other municipalities facing similar challenges, positioning the city as a leader in youth mental health support,” Egidio wrote.
For more information about Horizons Family Counseling, visit police.livermoreca.gov.
