Communities In Schools is the nation's largest stay in school organization.
The mission of Communities In Schools of Greater Wichita Falls Area is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Communities In Schools helps students stay in school and make right choices by connecting schools with needed community resources. By bringing resources, services, parents, and volunteers into schools, we create a community of caring adults who work hand in hand with educators. Communities In Schools helps communities assess the needs of their youth. We then design plans for meeting those needs, using existing resources. We connect young people with services in a variety of ways.
CIS connects services with particular students in need,either on a one-time basis or as part of a carefully monitored case management system. CIS also brings community resources to students and families through after-school programs. We collaborate to successfully accomplish these tasks by bringing "The Five Basics" into the school by using "The Six Components".
The Five Basics
By bringing caring adults into the schools to address children’s unmet needs, CIS provides the link between educators and the community. The result: teachers are free to teach, and students – many in jeopardy of dropping out – have the opportunity to focus on learning. For 30 years,Communities In Schools has worked to ensure that every child has access to the "Five Basics":
- A one-on-one relationship with a caring adult
- A safe place to learn and grow
- A healthy start and a healthy future
- A marketable skill to use upon graduation
- A chance to give back to peers and community
Each year, more than two million young people in 27 states and the District of Columbia have access to integrated student support services through Communities In Schools.
The Six Components
In order to achieve the Five Basics, there are Six Components to Communities in Schools:
- Supportive Guidance and Counseling
- Health and Human Services
- Parental and Family Involvement
- Career Awareness and Employment
- Enrichment
- Educational Enhancement
