Ms. Dean Thompson, VP of Advancement, and Men Tchaas Ari, President, and CEO of Communities in Schools were delighted to share updates and gratitude for the support of Women’s Impact Fund’s 2016 education grant. 

From 1985 to 2022, they have grown from serving 80 students in 1 school to providing support to over 4,000 students in 54 schools. CIC is currently focusing heavily on students who have become disengaged from school. This includes those students who stopped attending school during the pandemic and who are now missing from school rosters, as well as students who have physically returned to the classroom but who are behind academically, have suffered social-emotional trauma, and/or generally disconnected from their education and the school environment. Their goal is to support both groups and to help all students get re-engaged and back on track with a plan that works best for their unique situation. Mr. Ari was recently quoted in an interview … “During the pandemic, we saw an increase in absenteeism but it’s not because kids don’t want to go to school. We discovered kids are taking up employment to support families, caring for a child, or dealing with mental health issues so we figure out what support we can give or resources to lend from the community.”

Communities in Schools’ case managers working with children take these relationships to deeper levels often supporting the entire family. They are firm believers that relationships versus programs are most effective to improve situations.

Two of the greatest needs in the schools they are working with include quality substitute teachers and support in schools where there are no PTA organizations. When parents are working two or three jobs and possibly in single-parent households, a volunteer-based organization like a PTA is not sustainable.  To learn more about how CIS surrounds students with the support needed to stay in school and thrive visit www.cischarlotte.org.