Why
CIS? - Recognizing the Need
More than half
a million Texas public school students are at risk of dropping out.
Many students drop out for school concerns. Others quit school over
job and family concerns, drug and alcohol abuse, pregnancy, or homelessness.
When young people drop out, they forfeit job opportunities and financial
stability. Texas loses potentially skilled workers and billions
of tax dollars. Dropouts also cost taxpayers additional dollars
for adult education, training, welfare, unemployment insurance,
and incarceration.
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CIS
Mission
With the help
of Communities In Schools (CIS) of Texas, many will beat the odds
this year and stay in school. Communities In Schools helps young
Texans stay in school, successfully learn, and prepare for life
by coordinating community resources in local schools. CIS is part
of an innovative national approach established to combat the dropout
problem.
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Partnering
for Youth
CIS recognizes
that dropping out is not just a school problem, but also a community
problem. CIS believes that keeping youth in school is not simply
the role of teachers or the school. It is up to the schools, parents,
employers, and community groups to help young people prepare for
life. Texas has developed a very unique model that is proven in
reducing the dropout rate. CIS of Texas has more than 20 years of
experience helping communities help students complete school. CIS
of Texas coordinates local service teams who work closely with students
and alongside caring educators, volunteers, and mentors to provide
a vast array of needed services.
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Helping
Communities Help Children
CIS uses a
holistic approach to effectively meet the needs of students at risk
of dropping out. CIS coordinates with social-service providers,
public and private agencies, career and college counselors, health
professionals, drug education specialists, and other service providers
to meet each student's needs.
Committed volunteers
serve as tutors, mentors, and role models, and help students explore
vocational possibilities. Local businesses encourage employee involvement,
provide funding, and make in-kind donations to the program. CIS
relies on principals, teachers, counselors, school nurses, judges,
parents, and students themselves to identify and refer young people
to the program.
With strong
and broad-based community support and an invitation from local school
districts to serve their campuses, community action groups form
independent, non-profit corporations and establish local CIS programs
with the assistance and support of CIS of Texas. Local CIS boards
of directors, composed of public and private sector representatives,
provide leadership, experience, and public visibility.
Local CIS programs
provide tutoring, drug prevention activities, services to teen parents,
gang and youth violence prevention activities, after-school activities,
career assistance, and work experience opportunities. Many offer
programs on peer pressure, self-esteem, anger management, health,
hygiene, and decision-making. To encourage and increase parental
involvement, CIS sponsors parenting classes, makes home visits,
and conducts parent/student activities.
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CIS
Program Model
The mission
of Communities In Schools of Texas is to help young help of Texas
stay in school, successfully learn, and prepare for life by coordinating
the connection of needed community resources in the school setting.
In order to
accomplish the CIS mission, the CIS Model embodies the following
beliefs, concepts, and strategies:
- CIS strives
to improve attendance, academic performance, behavior, and the
Texas dropout rate.
- CIS works
with students addressing all issues that might prohibit them from
staying in school.
- CIS is a
year-round, in-school program that uses a multidisciplinary case
management approach to help students.
- CIS involves
the community by coordinating resources to offer support and guidance
to students and their families through a locally directed 501(c)(3)
non-profit corporation.
- CIS builds
and maintains partnerships with private businesses, government
agencies, community-based organizations, and public schools to
deliver needed services.
- CIS strives
for a sound and comprehensive program at the state and local levels.
- CIS encourages
providing the equivalent of two full-time staff on each campus
to ensure full and effective CIS services.
- CIS coordinates
with the community to provide activities such as community service,
academic assistance, parent and family events, life skills training,
mentoring programs, job shadowing, and employment opportunities.
- CIS assesses
each campus in order to determine what services are necessary
to meet the needs of the students.
- CIS develops
and implements a six-component service delivery plan for each
campus.
- CIS ensures
that all students receive the Five CIS Basics.
- CIS strives
to expand services across the state.
- CIS believes
in establishing and maintaining strong funding bases needed to
support stable and continuing local programs.
- CIS supports
teachers, schools, and communities at large.
- CIS helps
prevent duplication of services by creating partnerships and collaborations
with the schools, social-service agencies, and the community.
- CIS cuts
across institutional lines to provide services and needed support
to students and families.
- CIS addresses
student issues and needs so that teachers are free to teach.
- CIS helps
kids prepare for life.
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The
Five CIS Basics
CIS believes
that every student needs and deserves the following to be successful:
- A personal,
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
© 1996, William
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The
Six CIS Components
CIS of Texas
has identified six core components as the framework of services
provided at each campuses served.
These components
are:
- Supportive
Guidance and Counseling
- Health and
Human Services
- Parental
and Family Involvement
- Pre-employment
and Employment
- Enrichment
Activities
- Educational
Enhancement
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This
page was last updated on
October 6, 2006
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