Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO REACH GRADUATION DAY?
It takes a community of support from kindergarten through senior year. Communities In Schools of Chicago plays this vital role.
We connect schools with essential programs that support students on their path to success, and we provide tailored, one-on-one guidance to young people who need it most.
For more than 35 years, Communities In Schools of Chicago has served as a steady presence in the city, doing whatever it takes for schools to succeed and for young people to thrive.
Impact In Our Community
Chicago Public Schools students benefited from programs and services provided by or connected through CIS of Chicago.*
students in grades K-12 were served by Student Supports Managers. Together, they created a plan to develop the skills and access the resources these students need to reach their full potential.*
schools were served by CIS team members, who linked community partner programming that addressed student and school needs.*
*Data from the 2023-24 school year
PROVIDING HOLISTIC SUPPORT
Chicago’s public-school students and their families have endured unprecedented challenges since the start of the decade. A global pandemic, increased violence, and rising economic insecurity have taken a significant toll on our schools. The U.S. Surgeon General recently named mental health as an area of serious concern for today’s youth and issued a call to action for all caring adults.
CIS of Chicago responds to these challenges by ensuring that students have access to the supports they need to strengthen their mental health and overall wellbeing. Our team does this by providing direct services to individual students, as well as coordinating the supports provided by community partners, to bolster entire school communities.
Happy Earth Day! 🌎
Some of our fifth graders on the Northwest Side had the opportunity to participate in an environmental project through CIS community partner Illinois Green Alliance, and we couldn’t be prouder!
The students received new recycling bins for their school, decorated the bins, made a poster for Earth Day, and even presented to younger students about the importance of recycling and taking care of the planet.
#partnership ... See MoreSee Less
Our Intensive Team is participating in a retreat today in Little Village!
We’re grateful for these team members, who provide intensive, tailored support directly to students in 39 Chicago Public Schools across the city. ... See MoreSee Less
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Need some motivation to push through til summertime? Check out this fun bulletin board our Student Supports Manager Sophia put together for students, focused on personal growth.
She asked students to write positive affirmations in the flower cut-outs as a way to remind themselves they can finish the school year strong! ... See MoreSee Less
In addition to touring a company's space and learning about career opportunities there, young people who participate in a CIS Inspiring Futures field trip map out their goals in a hands-on activity.
Here was one of the 'life maps' a student created during our Inspiring Futures field trip at Exelon on Monday. We're so thankful to our friends at Exelon for hosting our students and inspiring them to dream big! ... See MoreSee Less
Our team believes in the power of Do The Write Thing. The writing challenge amplifies student voice on an important topic -- violence -- and involves the entire community in listening to students' insights.
Over the past two years, we have evaluated the overarching themes of students’ writings, as well as the solutions shared, and one trend has resonated. To reduce youth violence, there needs to be both an individual commitment and community involvement.
Learn more about the challenge and what today's students are saying in our latest Medium piece here: ... See MoreSee Less
Students write. We listen.
cisofchicago.medium.com
It’s more than a tagline. Students who participate in the National Campaign to Stop Violence’s Do the Write Thing challenge have the…Our students are back in the classroom after break last week, and our CIS team is there to support them so they can finish the year strong!
Here is one of our Freshmen Rising groups on the West Side, working hard this spring to gain skills for navigating — and thriving — in the high school setting.
Ms. Diamond, our Student Supports Manager there, helps students reach their academic goals, build relationships with their peers, and grow as leaders. ... See MoreSee Less
Planning on looking for new career opportunities this weekend?
CIS of Chicago is #hiring! We're looking for talented, passionate, creative individuals who are aligned with our mission of empowering students to achieve in school and in life.
Open positions include:
-- Field supervisor
-- College and career partnership specialist
-- Director of annual giving
-- Student supports manager
Visit www.cisofchicago.org/join-our-team/ to learn more and apply!
And shout-out to Katrina, our Associate Director of Operations and Human Capital, who has been sharing these job opportunities far and wide! Here she is at Erickson Institute's recent career fair. ... See MoreSee Less
Our team at CIS of Chicago is proud to serve as co-sponsor for Do The Write Thing, a writing challenge that asks young people to reflect on the impact of violence in their lives and share solutions.
Our Chief Partnership Engagement Officer Robin Koelsch chatted recently with WBBM Newsradio's Craig Dellimore about how meaningful this challenge is -- not only for the students who participate, but also for the adults who have the opportunity to read their written works -- and about how this challenge aligns with CIS of Chicago's values.
Thanks for having us, Craig! And special thanks to past Do the Write Thing ambassadors, Summer and Rylei, who shared excerpts of their written submissions and what inspired them to Do the Write Thing.
Listen to the full interview with Robin, Summer, and Rylei here: www.audacy.com/podcast/at-issue-on-wbbm-newsradio-9f73b/episodes/communities-in-schools-of-chicag... ... See MoreSee Less
Student Supports Manager Marissa recently connected her students with a field trip to The Art Institute of Chicago, where they participated in the Art Across Cultures guided tour!
“At my school, I prioritize creating an environment that empowers young people to grow, learn, and discover,” Marissa said. “It’s not just about telling youth that anything is possible; it’s about providing them with experiences that show all the possibilities.”
“Exposing young people to new experiences stimulates their curiosity, builds self-esteem, develops critical thinking skills, helps them discover their interests, and prepares them to navigate a diverse world.” ... See MoreSee Less
Our Chief Partnership Engagement Officer Robin Koelsch met last month with the violence prevention team, which explores strategies that provide students with a strong sense of school belonging and safety.
We appreciate our community and school partners dedicated to this work, including Together Chicago, Chicago Public Schools Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, and more! ... See MoreSee Less
Dr. Judith Allen first learned about Mental Health First Aid a decade ago. For her, the program responded to a clear need. Most people knew how to respond when someone was having a heart attack or at least knew how to call for help. But most could not recognize when someone was struggling mentally, let alone feel confident enough to sound the alarm.
Her experience with Mental Health First Aid spans geographical areas, as well as a range of youth needs, but what has remained consistent is the importance of relationships. Mental Health First Aid is designed for any adult that interacts with children; all it takes is having the relationship to sense when something is off kilter.
Learn more about the course -- and why it's critical for any Chicagoan to become certified -- in our latest Medium piece here: ... See MoreSee Less
Mental Health First Aid: A Necessary Skill for Any Adult Who Interacts with Young People
cisofchicago.medium.com
Dr. Judith Allen first learned about Mental Health First Aid a decade ago. She was attending a behavioral health event in D.C., collecting…