CIS of Mid-America Newsletter: KC Metro Edition

Welcome to the Kansas City (KC) Metro newsletter for the 2020-2021 school year. Within this newsletter, you will find updates on the Communities In Schools (CIS) of Mid-America programs currently supporting students and families at local schools in the KC Metro. This year, we have added two school spotlights to the newsletter, Shawnee Mission Northwest and Shawnee Mission West High Schools. Read on to learn how CIS empowers students to stay in school and achieve in life.

FEATURED FUNDER

Health Forward Foundation fights for enduring change that will elevate the overall health of the populations they serve, including students in the Kansas City Metro area. They address the most widespread needs of communities, driving change in creative ways to help as many people as possible.

Their mission is to provide leadership, advocacy, and resources in order to eliminate barriers and promote quality health for the uninsured and underserved in our service area.

Through a $25,000 COVID relief grant, CIS Site Coordinators throughout the KC Metro area have funding available to provide financial relief to students and families. Over the past quarter, they have used this funding to help families who had fallen behind on rent and were at risk of eviction; who could not afford to pay their utility bills due to lack of work; and those who did not have food or other basic needs.

We are truly grateful to have the resources to remove these barriers for families and students. When students have what they need at home, they are better prepared to learn at school.

Learn more about the Health Forward Foundation here: https://healthforward.org/.

SCHOOL SUCCESSES

Banneker Elementary School
- Stanley Taylor, Site Coordinator, hosted the Family Fall Feast for over 100 families, delivered food and hygiene supplies to other families, and caseload students with their internet problems.
Crossroads Preparatory Academy
- Site Coordinator, Crystalle Green, received a donation of 2,500 pairs of socks which will be distributed to students throughout the KC Metro area.
DeLaSalle Charter High School
- Jamie Lewis, Site Coordinator, helped a homeless student who was on the verge of dropping out. She took him shopping to get all of the basic needs and resources he needed to continue to be successful in school.
Frontier School of Innovation
- Site Coordinator Vanessa Apodaca helps keep her students motivated to complete their coursework by giving them a chance to win prizes such a pizza or gift cards.
George Melcher Elementary School
- Meeting students and families where they are, Site Coordinator Shianna Burgett helped coordinate a drive-thru pick-up line for families to receive free holiday meals. For those who needed it, Shianna delivered the food to them.
Guadalupe Center High School
- Katie McClave, Site Coordinator, held multiple food distribution events, providing needed resources for hundreds of people. She also worked with families to create success plans for students who needed help to stay on track.
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
- Each week, Site Coordinator TL delivers food to some of his caseload students. This provides him with a time to touch base with them regarding school, home, friends, etc., while also providing them with the basic needs they and their family need.
Shawnee Mission West High School
- Site Coordinator Shawnta Jeffries has been working closely with the school's JAG-K program and the District Success Coach to ensure that all students at the school are receiving the resources and supports they need.
Southeast High School
- During the last quarter, Site Coordinator LaChelle Nichols hosted "Save Your Grades: Hour of Power", which helps students struggling in class. She also hosts a study hall specifically for caseload students who need extra help with their school work.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

To Our Generous Donors,

Thank you to the Cloud L. Cray Foundation, Crossroads Preparatory Academy, DeLaSalle Education Center, Frontier Charter School System, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, Guadalupe Centers School System, Hall Family Foundation, Health Forward Foundation, Kansas City Public Schools, SchoolSmartKC, and each individual donor for funding our efforts at Communities In Schools of Mid-America.

Your support has afforded us the opportunity to support families who are still suffering unemployment and underemployment, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Your help has supplied us the resources to purchase groceries for students and families who are food insecure, provide utility assistance to families who have lost jobs or had their hours reduced. You have literally helped us keep the lights on for more than twenty families this quarter. Your support allowed us to purchase computer adapters to help students stay connected. Your support helped CIS of Mid-America stand in the gap for our families and students. We appreciate you, we thank you and value your continued support in our collective effort to restore our families.

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Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through school-based coordination, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs.