About Us
Our Founder
Founder Bill Milliken began Cities In Schools in New York City in the 1970’s, which was later renamed Communities In Schools. He came up with the idea of bringing community resources inside public schools—where they are accessible, coordinated, and accountable.
“It’s relationships, not programs, that change children,” Bill once said. “A great program simply creates the environment for healthy relationships to form between adults and children.”
“Young people thrive when adults care about them on a one-to-one level, and when they also have a sense of belonging to a caring community.”
– Bill Milliken, Founder
Communities In Schools Founder, Bill Milliken
Over 40 Years Later and Our Impact Continues
More than forty years into our mission of surrounding students with communities of support, Bill’s principles continue to guide our work and serve as a beacon for the next chapter in our history.
Communities In Schools has demonstrated measurable success in creating equitable outcomes for schools and students that live in impoverished communities.
During the 2021-2022 School Year:
Our network of more than 120 affiliates in 26 states and 3 licensed partners connected students to caring adults and community resources.
25 STATES + DC
network span in the 2021-22 school year
3,270
schools and community sites in the school year
1.8 MILLION
students reach in the school year
99 percent of students enrolled
in CIS programs remained in school through the end of the school year.
97 percent of K-11 students
being promoted to the next grade
95 percent of seniors
graduating or receiving a GED
We helped these students see, confront, and overcome the barriers that stand between them and a brighter future.
The History of CIS of Ohio
Communities In Schools of Ohio is part of a national organization that ensures every student, regardless of race, gender, ability, zip code, or socioeconomic background has what they need to realize their full potential in school and beyond.
Our affiliate was formed in 1993, as Communities In Schools of Central Ohio. During the 2020 Pandemic CIS of Ohio expanded to serve students and schools throughout the state, resulting in our new name, Communities In Schools of Ohio.
CIS of Ohio’s Ripple Effect
Communities In Schools of Ohio works by bringing community resources directly into schools through embedding a trained School Site Coordinator whose sole focus is helping connect students with additional supports to help them learn, advance in grade level and graduate.
CIS of Ohio’s work has a ripple effect on the students, schools, families, and communities we serve. We are creative problem solvers, and we work with our students, teachers, families, and community partners to bridge gaps and meet students’ needs.
Together we are building a powerful change movement made up of peers, students, and alumni committed to building an equitable path to education for future generations.
OUR STORIES
CIS of Ohio’s 30th Anniversary Community of Support BreakfastMarch 6, 2024 - 4:40 pm- The Push Documentary and Moderated Panel DiscussionOctober 23, 2023 - 10:21 am
- Thank you for joining CIS of Ohio for The Big TableOctober 5, 2023 - 3:04 pm
