Community Collaborations “Links” for Success Carol Fey Executive Director cfey@cismcc

1. Community Collaborations “Links” for Success Carol Fey Executive Director cfey@cismcc.org Jolene Virgo Programs Manager jvirgo@cismcc.org Communities In Schools of Marietta/Cobb County (678) 503-0901

2. Faced with an epidemic… • Type text here. …the task is great

3. Dropout Statistics – “Every 9 Seconds” • Marietta/Cobb County – 2504 students dropped out (06-07) 80% graduation rate – 26th largest school system in US • Georgia – over 40,000 dropouts (1 in 4 don’t graduate on time) • U.S. – Average graduation rate is 73% 1.2 million students drop out per year • In GA – 72.3% graduation rate Goal – 80% For every 100 9th graders, only 60 will graduate 4 years later. - Low graduation rates costs Metro Atlanta approximately $4 billion per year - GA Partnership for Excellence in Education

4. We know you are challenged with … Stay in School! …finding the needed community resources for student success

5. CISMCC – We are Part of the Solution! Our mission is to helps young people stay in school, successfully learn, and prepare for life by connecting needed community resources with schools. Use CIS as a resource to make those connections!

6. The Key is Collaboration! • Pre-planning and exploring possibilities • Establishing Trust • Communicating well and often • Take interest in the partners at the table • Being responsible • Discuss challenges and problems respectfully • Monitor progress & address challenges • Evaluation • Assessment – Revision - Future plans

7. Tips for Successful Collaborations Utilize VOLUNTEERS - families, community-based organizations, businesses, youth & faith based organizations

8. School’s Role • Know the organizations in your community • Invite community groups to participate • Utilize community organizations to provide professional development opportunities for the school staff • Offer school space for community events • Put organizations on electronic mailing lists to inform them of school events

9. Community Groups’ Role • Know school mandates that must be followed • Attend school meetings • Establish relationships with key people at the school • Put the key personnel on the mailing list to keep them informed of the activities

10. CIS does Dropout Prevention through: • Academic Support – Tutors/Mentors, Performance Learning Centers, Parent Education Classes • Basic Needs Support- Connect families to housing, clothing, food pantry, and other critical needs • Health Services – Dental/Vision Screenings & Treatment, Behavioral Health/Counseling, Early Identification • School Readiness and Teen Parenting Skills- Parents As Teachers – Parents & Children 0-5 years through regular home visits

11. School Site CIS Site Coordinators Work with School Staff to Identify At Risk Students & Coordinate Appropriate Resources & Services to Students CIS Enlists and Facilitates Community Partnerships School & Student Outcomes Faith-Based Organizations • CIS • Conducts Needs & Resource Assessments at each School • Coordinates • Needed Prevention & • Intervention • Services • Allocates • Resources to • Schools Business Improved Attendance Health Services + Improved Academic Performance Enrichment Opportunities Human Services ImprovedBehavior Employment & Career Services JuvenileJustice Higher GraduationRates Mentors/Tutors Resources & Services The mission of Communities In Schools is to champion the connection of needed community resources with schools to help young people successfully learn, stay in school and prepare for life.

12. Stay in School! How do we begin… • Establish a trusting relationship with our coaches • Communicate well and often • Be responsible for brokering services to address the need of their students and parents • Discuss challenges and problems respectfully • Take interest in each other’s efforts toward student success

13. Education Council of the Cobb Collaborative • Website – Listing of organizations and services/programs they offer • 2 Organization representatives to sit on a school governance committee to hear the needs of the students at the school • Referral of organizations that can help meet those needs • Dialogue • Evaluation GOAL - Achievement for all children

14. “There is no greater insight into the future than recognizing when we save our children, we save ourselves.” -Margaret Mead

15. Questions? Carol Fey Executive Director cfey@cismcc.org Jolene Virgo Programs Manager jvirgo@cismcc.org Communities In Schools of Marietta/Cobb County (678) 503-0901