Communities In Schools Of The Charleston Area Inc

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.

STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAM:THE STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE A CHILD'S ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND THE DECISION TO REMAIN IN SCHOOL. WHEN A SCHOOL PARTNERS WITH CIS, IT GAINS A LIAISON THAT FOCUSES ON BRINGING RESOURCES INTO THE SCHOOL TO SUPPORT THE BASIC AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS THAT HELP ALLOW CHILDREN TO LEARN AND TEACHERS TO TEACH. WORKING WITH EACH SCHOOL'S ADMINISTRATION, CIS DEVELOPS ANNUAL SITE PLANS THAT PRIORITIZE THE SUPPORT NEEDS OF THE POPULATION. THIS SUPPORT COMES THROUGH THE COORDINATED INTEGRATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AS WELL AS DIRECT SERVICES PROVIDED BY FULL-TIME CIS STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS AT EACH SCHOOL. CIS SPECIALISTS HAVE, AT MINIMUM, A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN AN EDUCATION, SOCIAL WORK, OR COUNSELING FIELD AND ARE PROVIDED ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON HOW TO EDUCATE AND COUNSEL STUDENTS IN LIFE SKILLS, ANGER MANAGEMENT, HEALTHY CHOICES AND GOAL SETTING. THOSE IDENTIFIED TO BE AT THE HIGHEST RISK FOR NOT COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL ARE CASE-MANAGED BY CIS SPECIALISTS AND OFFERED A WEALTH OF SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO COUNTER THE NEGATIVE CHALLENGES THEY MAY FACE.

VOLUNTEERS & MENTORING:COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS' MENTORING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED COUNSELING AND LIFE SKILLS TO STUDENTS IN PARTICIPATING CIS SCHOOLS. THE WEEKLY OR BI-WEEKLY MENTOR-STUDENT SESSIONS ARE GENERALLY ONE-TO-ONE, BUT AT THE UPPER MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS OFTEN TAKE PLACE IN SMALL GROUP SETTINGS. IN ADDITION TO ASSISTING STUDENTS WITH ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS, MENTORS HELP STUDENTS LEARN RESILIENCY SKILLS AND DEVELOP GREATER SELF-ESTEEM TO ENSURE THAT THEY REMAIN IN SCHOOL AND ON TRACK TO GRADUATE. TO ENCOURAGE AND REWARD PARTICIPATION, STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH OCCASIONAL OFF-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDE SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS, COMPANY TOURS, AND FIELD TRIPS TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE REGION, OFTEN WITH MENTOR INVOLVEMENT IN THESE ACTIVITIES.