What We Do

We connect students to caring adults and community resources that help them overcome the barriers that stand between them and a brighter future.

Our unique model

We believe every student needs and deserves 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, and a chance to give back to peers and their community.

We are embedded in schools to connect students with resources related to basic needs, academic assistance, physical health, social emotional health, after-school and summer programs, and college and career exploration.

Family Engagement Basic Needs Behavioral Interventions Life Skills Mental Health Physical Health College & Career Prep Community & Service Learning Enrichment Academic Assistance Integrated Student Supports Needs Assessment Monitoring & Adjusting Evaluation CIS Affiliates Site Coordinators Collaborative Partners Proven Success Planning Site coordinators lead their school support teams to develop a plan to prioritize supports that address academic and non-academic needs. Site coordinator and partners deliver tiers of support to the school, students and their families. Site coordinator continuously monitors student and school progress and adjusts supports to optimize results. Continuous assessment of partners and student supports by the CIS affiliate to demonstrate results and improve practice. We increase graduation rates, reduce the number of dropouts, and improve attendance at schools in need. Analyze multiple sources of data to identify the key needs of the school and individual students. Schools, businesses and community agencies all work together with site coordinators to deliver supports to students and families. Trained professionals who work with school administrators to assess needs, develop a plan and build a team to provide supports to schools and students. Hire and train site coordinators, bring the CIS model to schools in need, and mobilize partners to provide resources. © 2019 Communities In Schools, Inc.

The model

A. CIS Affiliates

Hires and trains site coordinators brings the CIS model to schools in need and mobilizes partners to provide resources.

B. Site Coordinators

A trained professional who works with school administrators to assess needs, develop a plan, and build a team to provide supports to schools and students.

C. Collaborative Partners

Schools, businesses and community agencies all work together with site coordinators to deliver supports to students and families.

Step 1

Needs assessment

Analyze multiple sources of data to identify the key needs of the school and individual students.

Step 2

Planning

Site coordinators lead their school support team to develop a plan to prioritize supports that address academic and non-academic needs.

Step 3

Integrated student supports

Site coordinator and partners deliver tiers of support to the school, students and their families.

Step 4

Monitoring & adjusting

Site cooordinator continuously monitors student and school progress and adjusts supports to optimize results.

Step 5

Evaluation

Continuous assessment of partners and student supports by the CIS affiliate to demonstrate results and improve practice.

Step 6

Proven success

We increase graduation, reduce dropout, and improve attendance for schools in need.

Our unique model of support

Watch as Site Coordinator Erica walks us through the CIS unique model of support.

Our impact

By working with Site Coordinators, with Kalamazoo Public Schools, and with community partners and volunteers, we can deliver the right resources to the right students at the right time—addressing the needs of the whole child.

In the last year...

107,432

hours supporting students by CIS coordinators, volunteers, and partners.

1,042

case-managed students

482

students participated in CIS after school program

13,237

food packs were distributed while students were at school.

4,322

professional counseling sessions were completed for 350 students.

527

students visited the Mobile Health Clinic supported by CIS.

11,345

hours of support were provided by 400 volunteers empowering students.

22,589

items of clothing, personal hygiene products, and school supplies were distributed to address students’ basic needs.

94%

of CIS students remained in school through the end of the 2022-23 school year.

96%

of K-11 students were promoted to the next grade level.

96%

of 12th grade students graduated with their class.

68%

of CIS students met or made progress toward at least one of their attendance goals.

63%

of CIS students met or made progress toward at least one of their academic goals

61%

of CIS students met or made progress toward at least one of their behavior goals.

Big impact. Life-changing results.

Independent research, funded through MDRC, reviewed the Communities In Schools (CIS) Model of Integrated Student Supports. The study found that attendance and graduation rates increased in schools with the CIS model present.

The evaluations suggest that the whole-school model of integrated student support offers the promise of positive effects on student’s relationships with adults and peers, their engagement with school, their educational attitudes, and their belief that education has value for their lives.

The CIS after-school and summer program is evaluated by a local evaluator to meet 21st Century Grant guidelines. To access the most recent report, please submit a request to Dr. Tamiko Garrett, Communities In School of Kalamazoo Senior Director of Site Services at: tgarrett@ciskalamazoo.org.

Schools we serve

  1. Arcadia Elementary
  2. Edison Environmental Science Academy
  3. El Sol Elementary
  4. Hillside Middle School
  5. Kalamazoo Central High School
  6. King-Westwood Elementary
  7. Lincoln International Studies School
  8. Linden Grove Middle School
  9. Loy Norrix High School
  10. Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts
  11. Milwood Elementary
  12. Milwood Magnet: A Center for Math, Science, and Technology
  13. Northeastern Elementary
  14. Northglade Montessori Magnet School
  15. Paramount Charter Academy
  16. Parkwood-Upjohn Elementary
  17. Phoenix High School
  18. Prairie Ridge Elementary
  19. Spring Valley Center for Exploration
  20. Washington Writers’ Academy
  21. Woods Lake Elementary: A Magnet Center for the Arts
  22. Woodward School for Technology & Research

Want to partner with us?

We’re always looking for ways to work together with organizations in our community. As no single organization can meet all the needs of a child, we need each other to address those needs and remove barriers that stand in the way of a child’s success in school and life.

Our contributors

We are grateful for the generous support of our community. Every gift from our donors supports kids in their journey toward a bright future. Thank you.