As schools close for winter break, it's important that our young people continue to maintain some structure and sense of routine so they return to the classroom focused and ready in January.
Our Chief Operating Officer and Clinical Director, Dr. Judith Allen, joined Lisa Dent on WGN-AM to discuss strategies for preventing the 'winter slide' and share how CIS is supporting teachers and parents with resources to navigate the holiday break and maintain that structure.
Judith Allen, Chief operating officer of CIS of Chicago, joins Lisa Dent to discuss strategies that help prevent the “winter slide.’ The winter slide, Allen explains, is when schools ki…
The programs that CIS connects not only help students explore their interests; they also help develop their skillset - and think critically about their future goals.
One program we connected to an elementary school on the West Side this year was through the Chicago Blues Revival! This was the organization's second year with the school, and students learned the history of Blues, how to play the harmonica, and explored song writing. 🎤🎼
Check out the video of their end-of-year student showcase: ... See MoreSee Less
This fall, our Partnership Team held meetups on the Southwest and West Sides for CIS school partners!
During the meetups, schools heard directly from CIS community partners, learned more about programs available to them, and discussed ways to leverage their partnership with CIS.
Special thanks to Plant Chicago and ComEd for hosting these meetups and providing tours of their facilities. The tours were a unique highlight. ... See MoreSee Less
Snapshots from the end of the semester! Here is one of our CIS students with her science fair project. 🌥️ Photo captured by Ms. Awalt, our Student Supports Manager embedded there. 📷 ... See MoreSee Less
Connecting students with items like hygiene supplies, backpacks, and winter clothes are one of the top priorities for CIS schools. And with support from our network of community partners, CIS is able to help schools meet their priorities and better serve students and families.
This winter, CIS connected 59 schools with 1,529 winter coats from our partner Cradles to Crayons Chicago! Schools were very appreciative to receive the coats -- and in a wide range of sizes. ... See MoreSee Less
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗶𝗿! Last week, the CIS team came together to celebrate the season, share treats, and enjoy each other's company. And at one of our schools on the West Side, Student Supports Manager Arnetra created a Sip & Study station for students to come after school, take some time to work on their assignments, and grab hot cocoa. ... See MoreSee Less
The holiday season is a stressful time for many, and it's important that individuals have a community of support they can lean on during this time.
Dr. Judith Allen joined WGN-TV on Friday to discuss strategies to manage holiday stress and how our team at CIS is equipping people with the tools to recognize and respond to someone experiencing a mental health crisis.
Are you interested in learning Mental Health First Aid? CIS is offering virtual and in-person sessions in December and January for community members. Learn more on our website here: www.cisofchicago.org/mhfa/
Schools in CIS' network have been requesting hygiene workshops, and with support from our partners Wellness4Every1 and Adams Street Partners, CIS helped pilot a program to respond to this need. Recently, CIS connected two schools with hygiene workshops -- and provided hygiene kits for participating students.
The workshops taught young people how to communicate their health needs and make healthful personal decisions. Feedback from the participating schools was powerful and showed the tremendous need around hygiene programming. One educator shared, "The 4th grade teachers requested a hygiene program last spring, and this was exactly what they hoped for!" ... See MoreSee Less
Last week, our Chief Partnership Engagement Officer Robin Koelsch had the opportunity to chat with WGN Radio's Lisa Dent about Adult Mental Health First Aid!
Adult Mental Health First Aid is a program facilitated by CIS of Chicago that helps adults recognize and respond to a person experiencing a mental health crisis.
"When we’re operating as Mental Health First Aiders, we need to really focus on that person [experiencing a challenge] and remember that it’s not about us at that moment," Robin said. "We have to take ourselves out of the scenario and focus on what that person needs. As a Mental Health First Aider, we must discern between if this is a crisis and this person needs help immediately, or if I can help support you just by being a caring adult."
Interested in learning more about Mental Health First Aid? Visit our website: ... See MoreSee Less
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a certification course that CIS of Chicago offers to teach adults how to help either kids or fellow adults who may be
Our school-based team supports students individually and in groups, and one group building strong connections this year is Karen's eighth grade girls!
"They have been so receptive to working in my group and fully engaged during our time together," Karen said.
"They are looking forward to our groups together, and they like coming to my office for lunch. I am looking forward to creating memories and moments with them this school year and watching them walk across the stage. " ... See MoreSee Less
𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗜𝗦 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗴𝗼. As our team members build relationships with young people, they also build relationships with parents and family members that support student success!
CIS' Lali partnered with a parent to better understand the challenges that one student was facing and discuss strategies to support them; and CIS' India built trust with a parent who had received CIS services while in school.
Check out some of the ways we collaborated with families this fall – and see other opportunities for parents to engage in our work – in the link below!
CIS Student Supports Manager Jessica has used some creative ways to encourage students to come to school this year. One strategy she implemented is an attendance bulletin board that tracks weekly attendance across grade levels!
The bulletin board has made attendance more visible for students, school staff, and families, and has motivated young people to improve their attendance and work together as a grade level. ... See MoreSee Less
Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
As schools close for winter break, it's important that our young people continue to maintain some structure and sense of routine so they return to the classroom focused and ready in January.
Our Chief Operating Officer and Clinical Director, Dr. Judith Allen, joined Lisa Dent on WGN-AM to discuss strategies for preventing the 'winter slide' and share how CIS is supporting teachers and parents with resources to navigate the holiday break and maintain that structure.
Listen to the full interview here: ... See MoreSee Less
How to keep kids engaged during winter break
wgnradio.com
Judith Allen, Chief operating officer of CIS of Chicago, joins Lisa Dent to discuss strategies that help prevent the “winter slide.’ The winter slide, Allen explains, is when schools ki…The programs that CIS connects not only help students explore their interests; they also help develop their skillset - and think critically about their future goals.
One program we connected to an elementary school on the West Side this year was through the Chicago Blues Revival! This was the organization's second year with the school, and students learned the history of Blues, how to play the harmonica, and explored song writing. 🎤🎼
Check out the video of their end-of-year student showcase: ... See MoreSee Less
This fall, our Partnership Team held meetups on the Southwest and West Sides for CIS school partners!
During the meetups, schools heard directly from CIS community partners, learned more about programs available to them, and discussed ways to leverage their partnership with CIS.
Special thanks to Plant Chicago and ComEd for hosting these meetups and providing tours of their facilities. The tours were a unique highlight. ... See MoreSee Less
Snapshots from the end of the semester!
Here is one of our CIS students with her science fair project. 🌥️ Photo captured by Ms. Awalt, our Student Supports Manager embedded there. 📷 ... See MoreSee Less
Connecting students with items like hygiene supplies, backpacks, and winter clothes are one of the top priorities for CIS schools. And with support from our network of community partners, CIS is able to help schools meet their priorities and better serve students and families.
This winter, CIS connected 59 schools with 1,529 winter coats from our partner Cradles to Crayons Chicago! Schools were very appreciative to receive the coats -- and in a wide range of sizes. ... See MoreSee Less
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗶𝗿!
Last week, the CIS team came together to celebrate the season, share treats, and enjoy each other's company. And at one of our schools on the West Side, Student Supports Manager Arnetra created a Sip & Study station for students to come after school, take some time to work on their assignments, and grab hot cocoa. ... See MoreSee Less
The holiday season is a stressful time for many, and it's important that individuals have a community of support they can lean on during this time.
Dr. Judith Allen joined WGN-TV on Friday to discuss strategies to manage holiday stress and how our team at CIS is equipping people with the tools to recognize and respond to someone experiencing a mental health crisis.
Are you interested in learning Mental Health First Aid? CIS is offering virtual and in-person sessions in December and January for community members. Learn more on our website here: www.cisofchicago.org/mhfa/
Watch the full WGN interview here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBP_O-ic8Sc ... See MoreSee Less
Schools in CIS' network have been requesting hygiene workshops, and with support from our partners Wellness4Every1 and Adams Street Partners, CIS helped pilot a program to respond to this need. Recently, CIS connected two schools with hygiene workshops -- and provided hygiene kits for participating students.
The workshops taught young people how to communicate their health needs and make healthful personal decisions. Feedback from the participating schools was powerful and showed the tremendous need around hygiene programming. One educator shared, "The 4th grade teachers requested a hygiene program last spring, and this was exactly what they hoped for!" ... See MoreSee Less
Last week, our Chief Partnership Engagement Officer Robin Koelsch had the opportunity to chat with WGN Radio's Lisa Dent about Adult Mental Health First Aid!
Adult Mental Health First Aid is a program facilitated by CIS of Chicago that helps adults recognize and respond to a person experiencing a mental health crisis.
"When we’re operating as Mental Health First Aiders, we need to really focus on that person [experiencing a challenge] and remember that it’s not about us at that moment," Robin said. "We have to take ourselves out of the scenario and focus on what that person needs. As a Mental Health First Aider, we must discern between if this is a crisis and this person needs help immediately, or if I can help support you just by being a caring adult."
Interested in learning more about Mental Health First Aid? Visit our website: ... See MoreSee Less
Mental Health First Aid - Communities In Schools of Chicago
www.cisofchicago.org
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a certification course that CIS of Chicago offers to teach adults how to help either kids or fellow adults who may beOur school-based team supports students individually and in groups, and one group building strong connections this year is Karen's eighth grade girls!
"They have been so receptive to working in my group and fully engaged during our time together," Karen said.
"They are looking forward to our groups together, and they like coming to my office for lunch. I am looking forward to creating memories and moments with them this school year and watching them walk across the stage. " ... See MoreSee Less
𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗜𝗦 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗴𝗼.
As our team members build relationships with young people, they also build relationships with parents and family members that support student success!
CIS' Lali partnered with a parent to better understand the challenges that one student was facing and discuss strategies to support them; and CIS' India built trust with a parent who had received CIS services while in school.
Check out some of the ways we collaborated with families this fall – and see other opportunities for parents to engage in our work – in the link below!
www.cisofchicago.org/partnering-with-families/ ... See MoreSee Less
CIS Student Supports Manager Jessica has used some creative ways to encourage students to come to school this year. One strategy she implemented is an attendance bulletin board that tracks weekly attendance across grade levels!
The bulletin board has made attendance more visible for students, school staff, and families, and has motivated young people to improve their attendance and work together as a grade level. ... See MoreSee Less