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.
CIS’ Mr. Thomas and Ms. Woods led students through an identity activity recently, where they created collages from magazine clippings and explored aspects of themselves that are unique to them! ... 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.Schools not only support students’ learning and academic progress; they also serve as places where young people build their social skills. When Haugan Elementary School sought a program that developed students’ self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship-building, CIS of Chicago connected the school with Once Upon Our Time Capsule.
Once Upon Our Time Capsule’s program reimagines the time capsule tradition and invites young people to share their stories, in their own words. For eight weeks this fall, the program engaged fourth graders at Haugan, asked them to explore their own cultures and traditions, and encouraged open dialogue.
Haugan’s school leaders shared with the CIS team just how impactful the program was, especially for the school’s newcomer students whose voices and experiences were amplified. ... See MoreSee Less
Once Upon Our Time Capsule
www.ourtimecapsule.org
We connect youth across classrooms, communities, and time.CIS Student Supports Manager Dominic Thomas builds trusting relationships with young people. When students need someone they can talk to or someone to support them with their goals, they can turn to Dominic.
At the beginning of the school year, Dominic noticed that many students needed a positive outlet to express their emotions.
He decided to add a boxing bag and mitts to his office and encouraged his students to try boxing as a way to release feelings of anger and frustration. With his freshmen boys’ group, Dominic also implemented physical fitness activities, including a pushup challenge, to build community among the group.
“Understanding that your physical health plays a key role in your mental health, it placed a smile on my face to see students identifying new outlets and self-care practices,” Dominic said. ... See MoreSee Less
Student Supports Manager Karen organized a field trip to the Black Fire Brigade for her South Side students this month, where they had the opportunity to tour a firetruck and ambulance, learn more about professions as an EMS and firefighter, and even practice their CPR skills. The field trip was engaging, career-focused, interactive, and relevant! 🚒 ... See MoreSee Less
Our colleagues Stephanie, Jackie, and Lo are participating in Communities In Schools’ Student Supports Institute this week, where they’re gaining tools to boost student attendance and engagement, strengthen community partnerships, and continue empowering young people to succeed. ⭐️ ... See MoreSee Less
Planning ahead, problem-solving, making decisions, finishing tasks. These are not just skills that help students achieve in school. They are critical, everyday abilities that help young people prepare for life post-graduation.
At a high school on the Southwest Side, CIS Student Supports Manager Katie created a group focused on developing these skills. Every Tuesday during lunch, she meets group members to discuss everything from responsible decision-making to academic organization.
The group provides a safe space for the students to share challenges and where they need support. And together, Katie and the students create actionable plans to make sure they stay on track. But according to Katie, one of the biggest outcomes from the group is the accountability created among group members.
During each session, the students check in with each other on their goals. Did you finish that English assignment? Did you talk to your teacher about retaking that test? They ask each other questions that motivate them to follow through.
“We make hundreds of decisions every day, from snoozing our alarm in the morning to chatting with our friends between passing periods,” Katie said. “One of my goals in this group is to empower my students to take ownership of what they can control so they can have the tools they need to succeed.” ... See MoreSee Less
Think back to a core memory from middle school or high school. Were your friends there?
Research has shown that friendships positively affect a young person’s experience at school. They provide emotional support, reduce stress, increase collaborative learning, and promote academic achievement.
Building healthy relationships are a key skill that young people practice in the school building – and it’s a skill that our school-based team at works to foster.
Learn more about how our team members Bethany and Jeanette help students build their self-awareness and conflict resolution skills, all to support positive relationships. ... See MoreSee Less
Self-Awareness and Conflict Resolution Skills Help Young People Build Healthy Relationships - Communities In Schools of Chicago
www.cisofchicago.org
CIS Student Supports Managers help students build self-awareness and conflict resolution skills as tools for building healthy relationships at school.For seven years, the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives at Chicago Public Schools has hosted Legacy of Love, an event that honors the bereaved families of students lost the previous year.
As an education-based organization deeply embedded in the communities we serve, our team partners with the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives to support Legacy of Love. CIS’ Chief Partnership Engagement Officer Robin Koelsch represented the organization at this year's event.
“It comes down to how are we being good stewards of our neighbors,” Robin said. “These families have lost a child. That’s a tragedy, and there is never enough support. Small actions have a big impact; ripples make waves. CIS’ role at Legacy of Love is to stand alongside these families as they grieve and celebrate a young person’s life.”
Learn more in our latest Medium piece: ... See MoreSee Less
CIS helps support grieving families at CPS’ annual Legacy of Love event
cisofchicago.medium.com
73 children. 73 Chicagoans. 73 too many.Thanks to our partners at Respiratory Health Association for your informative presentation this week on vaping and e-cigarettes at one of our schools on the Southwest Side!
The program addressed the needs of the school community and was available in English and Spanish. ... See MoreSee Less