SUCCESS THROUGH COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS

School Resource Coordinators

Communities In Schools is finding solutions for the students who need help by developing strategies focused on addressing identified community issues:

  1. Low graduation and high dropout rates
  2. School violence and behavior
  3. The increasing immigrant population
  4. Student mobility between schools
  5. Access to health care for children

School Resource Coordinator staff has the unique opportunity to broker a variety of community resources directly into the schools to encourage students to improve attendance, decrease school violence and discipline incidents, and increase graduation rates. Our staff works with school administrators and teachers to develop academic and attendance goals in the school building. Staff also identifies specific students who are in need of targeted interventions. These students and their families are connected to counseling, tutoring, mentoring, after-school programs, emergency food, health insurance and clinics based on their identified need.

Additionally, Communities In Schools recognized the community need to focus specific resources on the following populations in schools:

  1. Somali and Hispanic students and families
  2. Female students who have high discipline infractions
  3. Students who do not have adequate health insurance

Language and cultural barriers were preventing the growing Somali and Hispanic youth from obtaining the education they need to succeed. Our bi-lingual staff supports the students and their families in adjusting to school structures, academic expectations and social behaviors. Family members are connected to resources that will specifically help them remain stable, healthy and informed.

Over 25% of children in Franklin County do not have health insurance. Students who do not receive adequate medical care and become ill do not come to school, limiting their instruction time. Our Health Resource Coordinator assists students and their families across the districts to gain access to publicly-funded medical insurance and other health-related community resources.

Stable Families Program: A study by the Columbus Foundation shows that many low-income Columbus families move households frequently; subsequently, children are switching schools multiple times during a school year. Students who move from schools more than once a year achieve less academically, have a poorer attendance record and have a higher number of serious discipline incidents. CIS has staff who works with low-income housing developments, homeless shelters, local community agencies, and the school district to keep the students stable.

Communities In Schools, Gladden Community House, Central Community House and the Community Shelter Board are partnering on a project that will assist eligible families who are at risk of losing their housing. Families will be provided with case management, supportive services and cash assistance, if necessary, to maintain housing -- all so that their children will remain stable in their school for the year. The families’ capacity to appropriately utilize community resources will also be increased.

Mentoring programs: CIS has had great success in matching elementary and middle school students with volunteers and our data shows that they make a difference for the children. Our programs connect students with a mentor who works one-on-one with them over the course of the school year. Together, they focus on academic progress as directed by the mentee's teacher and, along the way, build a relationship.

Our data reports that students involved in mentoring have improved grades by an average of .5 on a 4 point scale, improved attendance by 52% and reduced discipline infractions by 35%. CIS partners with businesses, individuals, faith-based groups, high school students and other groups to provide mentoring opportunities for students.

After-school time: Research has found that, on school days, the hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are the peak hours for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex. Communities In Schools facilitates programs that provide a safe environment with daily tutoring, a nutritious meal, physical activity, and a place where students can explore their hopes and dreams. CIS offers enrichment opportunities for the students that they would never experience otherwise. Our data shows that 69% of students in the after-school programs increased their overall school grades and scores on standardized tests.