Moody Grant Recipient: Communities in Schools Austin Chapter

Communities In Schools of Central Texas (CIS) surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. CIS sees potential in every student—regardless of race, zip code, or history of marginalization—and works to ensure all children have the support and opportunities to succeed in school and beyond. Can you tell us more about the services you provide and why they’re essential? Since 1985, Communities In Schools of Central Texas (CIS) has worked inside public schools, connecting kids to caring adults, and community resources. CIS supports students and families so they can achieve the future they want for themselves, their communities, and each other to succeed in school and beyond. While there may be ample resources in a community, many students and their families face challenges accessing and navigating the maze of available public and private services. CIS bridges this gap by connecting these

Communities In Schools of Central Texas (CIS) surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. CIS sees potential in every student—regardless of race, zip code, or history of marginalization—and works to ensure all children have the support and opportunities to succeed in school and beyond.

Can you tell us more about the services you provide and why they’re essential?

Since 1985, Communities In Schools of Central Texas (CIS) has worked inside public schools, connecting kids to caring adults, and community resources. CIS supports students and families so they can achieve the future they want for themselves, their communities, and each other to succeed in school and beyond.

While there may be ample resources in a community, many students and their families face challenges accessing and navigating the maze of available public and private services. CIS bridges this gap by connecting these resources with the schools and students that would benefit from them most. CIS offers direct services and connects students and families to community resources such as food, housing, healthcare, and counseling.

CIS’ evidence-based programming is grounded in the philosophy that caring, supportive relationships can significantly impact a child’s ability to come to school every day ready to learn. To build these relationships with students, CIS places full-time social service professionals on public school campuses to support students’ social-emotional well-being, mental health, and basic needs. In doing so, CIS empowers students to overcome barriers to their success.

Currently, CIS partners with 100 campuses in six Central Texas school districts: Austin ISD, Elgin ISD, Hays CISD, Lockhart ISD, Manor ISD, and San Marcos CISD.

While high school graduation rates are improving in our communities, we know that disparities persist among students of color and those facing marginalization. Further, Central Texas Black and Latino young men matriculate to postsecondary programs at half the rate of their white peers; and earn college degrees and workforce credentials at a quarter of the rate of their white peers. To better address these disparities in high school graduation and post-secondary achievement, CIS recently created the Male Student Achievement Program (MSAP) focused on supporting the achievement of young men of color and low-income students at 12 Central Texas high schools.

MSAP  is a transformative leadership and peer support program for young men. MSAP cultivates a “positive brotherhood” to empower students with the support and skills to make positive informed choices about their relationships, health, and future. The program works in two phases: the first phase focuses on building social-emotional skills, learning leadership skills, and developing a positive personal identity for students in 9th and 10th grade. The second phase focuses on intensive post-secondary and career planning for students in 11th and 12th grade.

Layered within each phase, MSAP Coaches provide students with ongoing case management services that include individual counseling, crisis intervention, support groups, basic needs assistance, academic support, home visits, parent engagement activities, and assistance accessing community resources. Through this combination of services, MSAP aims to increase graduation rates and significantly raise the rate of young men of color who enroll in and complete a degree or certificate in a post-secondary institution, to eliminate the racial achievement and matriculation gaps.

How many people does your organization help every year and volunteer network?

In the 2022-23 school year, CIS provided school-wide services to 55,644 students, as well as case management for 8,649 students who were identified as in need of more intensive support. CIS amplifies the impact of its programs through a diverse network of 750 volunteers, AmeriCorps members, and university interns. CIS also actively partners and coordinates with more than 60 community organizations to address the specific needs of our students, including basic needs support, behavioral and mental health services, grief and loss support, mentoring, and post-secondary education and career support.

How has the Moody Foundation gift helped your organization?

The Moody Foundation has been a crucial partner as CIS developed and launched MSAP this past year. The Moody Foundation walked alongside CIS as we worked to combine our XY-Zone and MBK Scholars programs into MSAP, creating a strong program that supports high school student’s social skills, resilience, and access to post-secondary credentials. Thanks in great part to the support from the Moody Foundation, CIS had the flexibility to innovate to address a pressing challenge facing our community.

 

Upcoming Events through Communities in Schools Austin Chapter

It’s graduation season! This year CIS will support more than 450 seniors to graduate high school and transition to post-secondary and workforce opportunities. The community can join us in celebrating our graduates and supporting them as they work to achieve in life through our graduation campaign.