Title
Community Spotlight - Communities In Schools - Bay Area (Mayor Hallisey)
The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
Background
Organizational Summary
Founded in 1989, CIS - Bay Area is a nonprofit dropout prevention program that provides case management services for at-risk and economically disadvantaged children. CIS - Bay Area has school-based programs on 18 Clear Creek and Dickinson ISD campuses in Harris and Galveston counties. This school year, over 1,200 students will receive CIS - Bay Area case management services and 14,000 will participate in CIS - Bay Area campus-wide activities.
CIS - Bay Area is an affiliate of Communities In Schools National, a federation of independent 501(c)(3) organizations that focus on local impact for schools, students, families and communities. Each affiliate has their own geographical area with service provision tailored to the communities served, and distinct funding sources that financially support program operations.
The mission of CIS - Bay Area is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. CIS - Bay Area cultivates partnerships with nonprofit agencies, community volunteers, and local businesses to integrate services and supports into schools and match them with student needs. The purpose of CIS - Bay Area programming is to remove barriers to success so that at-risk and economically disadvantaged students can reach their potential, be successful in school, and graduate.
Target Population and Schools Served
The target population for case management services is kindergarten through 12th grade at-risk and economically disadvantaged students who can benefit from services and interventions both in and outside of school. At-risk describes a student who has specific factors that can impact academic performance, including students who have failed two or more classes, failed to advance to the next grade level, received unsatisfactory scores on assessment tests, have previously dropped out of school, or have limited English proficiency. Economically disadvantaged students are eligible for free and reduced meals under the national nutrition program guidelines. In addition, CIS - Bay Area continues to work with students and families who were impacted by Hurricane Harvey, including providing a safe school environment to help students cope with emotional issues related to experiencing a disaster, individual supportive guidance and support groups, and connection to community resources for basic needs assistance.
CIS - Bay Area provides school-based case management services in the communities of Houston, Dickinson, Webster, League City, and Friendswood. Schools selected for programming are campuses that have been identified by the district as having the most need.
Clear Creek ISD
Clear Brook High School
Clear Creek High School
Clear Falls High School
Clear Lake High School
Clear Springs High School
Brookside Intermediate School
Clear Creek Intermediate School
Space Center Intermediate
Bay Colony Elementary
League City Elementary School
McWhirter Elementary School
Dickinson ISD
Dickinson High School
McAdams Jr. High School
Kranz Jr. High School
Barber Middle School
Dunbar Middle School
Lobit Middle School
K.E. Little Elementary School
Achievements
For 32 years CIS - Bay Area has provided school-based dropout prevention programming for the Clear Creek and Dickinson school districts. CIS - Bay Area has a proven track record of success within the two districts served and has an excellent reputation for helping children in need in the Bay Area community.
Program Expansion: CIS - Bay Area has adapted to the changing demographics of the two districts served by expanding programming to campuses that have the greatest need. CIS - Bay Area has adapted to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent closure of schools in miraculous ways. Where individual mentors used to go into the schools to meet with students, student support specialists have called upon CIS - Bay Area’s adopt-a-school partners to give their time and energy in other ways more suited for our “new normal”.