Children First Communities In Schools Of Buncombe County Inc

TO EMPOWER CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND SERVICES.

OVERALL ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: -WE SERVED OVER 2,700 CHILDREN WITH OUR DIRECT SERVICES, ACADEMIC SUPPORTS, AND THROUGH OUR AMERICORPS PROGRAM. -LAST YEAR 2 COMMUNITY MEMBERS VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME AT OUR LEARNING CENTERS, AND THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER. LIST OF MAJOR PROGRAMS: (1)PROJECT POWER/AMERICORPS PROJECT POWER/AMERICORPS IS A NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM THAT RECRUITS MEMBERS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES, GET THINGS DONE, BUILD LEADERS AND EXPAND HORIZONS. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE INCREASED ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT SERVICES TO VULNERABLE YOUTH IN THE CITY AND COUNTY THROUGH A)TUTORING

AND ACADEMIC ASSITANCE, B)PROVIDING A LIASON BETWEEN SCHOOL, AFTERSCHOOL AND HOME FOR STUDENTS, C)ENGAGING YOUTH IN SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS TO INSTILL THE ETHIC OF SERVICE, D)TEACHING STUDENTS NON-VIOLENT CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS AND E)EMPOWERING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PROVIDE TUTORING AND MENTORING ASSISTANCE TO YOUTH. (2)COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS (CIS) STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST CHILDREN FIRST/(CIS) STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST PROGRAMS AT CLAXTON, JOHNSTON, ESTES AND EMMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND EBLEN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND ACHIEVE IN LIFE. A SCHOOL-BASED STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST CONNECTS STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO CRITICAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT ARE TAILORED TO THEIR NEEDS. THEY ACCOMPLISH THIS BY WORKING WITH A SITE TEAM (PRINCIPAL, COUNSELOR, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND TEACHERS) TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE

SITE PLAN. THE PLAN INCLUDES SERVICES THAT ADDRESS IDENTIFIED SCHOOL-WIDE NEEDS, OR BUILD AND REINFORCE STUDENT ASSETS. IT ALSO IDENTIFIES SERVICES FOR SPECIFIC STUDENTS AT HIGH RISK OF EVENTUALLY DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL. 100% OF THE STUDENT ENROLLENT AT EMMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL QUALIFY FOR THE FREE & REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM. (3) CHILDREN FIRST/COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS (CIS) LEARNING CENTERS ARE SAFE CHILDREN FIRST/COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS (CIS) LEARNING CENTERS ARE SAFE HAVEN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE, HEALTHY SNACKS AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES FOR UP TO 40 AT-RISK ELEMENTARY AGED CHILDREN. 17 STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A 6 WEEK SUMMER CAMP THAT OFFERS A VARIETY OF ENRICHMENT AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES. THE LEARNING CENTERS STRENGTHEN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN STUDENT, SCHOOL, PARENT AND COMMUNITY, WHICH IS A KEY ELEMENT IN HELPING AN AT-RISK CHILD SUCCED IN SCHOOL AND PREPARE FOR LIFE. WE HAD A 100% PROMOTION RATE FOR THE 40+ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL- STUDENTS. (4)FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS PROVIDE SUPPORT AND IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF FAMILIES BY PROVIDING EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR RENT, UTILITIES, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES AND ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT, PARENTING CLASSES AND HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES SERVED THROUGH AGENCY PROGRAMS AND WHO RESIDE IN THE GREATER EMMA COMMUNITY. ON AVERAGE, THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS SERVE 400 INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR. (5) PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY IN ADDITION TO DIRECT SERVICE, CHILDREN FIRST/COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS ENGAGES IN PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS TO BUILD OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, CHILDREN FIRST/CIS BUILDS A COMMUNITY ADVOCACY VOICE FOR OUR VULNERABLE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. WHEN OUR LEADERS CREATE POLICIES THAT ARE GOOD FOR CHILDREN, IT LEADS TO BETTER HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SAFETY FOR OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY. IN ORDER TO ADDRESS EMERGING NEEDS, OUR PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY WORK IS DESIGNED TO BE DYNAMIC AND FLEXIBLE. THE AGENDA, CREATED BY OUR SUCCESS EQUATION TEAM, INCLUDES CAMPAIGNS THAT WE BELIEVE CAN IMPACT PRIORITY ISSUES. CHILDREN FIRST/CIS ADVOCACY ALSO PARTNERS WITH STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS/COALITIONS TO MOVE SHARED INTERESTS FORWARD AND INCREASE OUR EFFECTIVENESS AND REACH. WE ADVOCATE FOR 100% OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY'S CHILDREN.