Our Initiatives -Developing CIS Communities
Communities In Schools is a national organization, but we work at the state and local level. We need the community to join us in our mission to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. There is no one reason as to why students drop out of school, nor is there only one answer to keeping them there. That’s why Communities In Schools works with local communities to set up affiliates that can address the unique needs of its children.
In short: we are a community builder. We are invited by local representatives to analyze their student needs and to design plans to meet those needs, using resources that already exist. This means gaining support from businesses, organizations and government, social service providers and volunteer groups. These needs can run the gamut – mentors and tutors, access to health care, gang prevention programs, college preparation, career exploration; it depends on the community and the needs of its youth.
We also work in partnership with public schools – principals, superintendents, teachers and administrators – to implement our plan. In some schools, services are available to all students and families. At others, Communities In Schools connects services with particular students in need, either on a one-time basis or as part of a carefully monitored case management system. We also can bring community resources to students and families through afterschool programs.
To find out if your community has a Communities In Schools affiliate, you can check our map of locations. If you are a community leader interested in starting Communities In Schools in your community, please contact Arlene Wouters, Director of Developing Communities.
