Communities In Schools

Together, we can surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

Volunteers of America North Louisiana has partnered with the Communities In Schools, the nations largest and most effective organization dedicated to keeping kids in school and helping them succeed in life.

Why It’s Important

In Shreveport- Bossier City, there are over 25,000 children living in poverty. Without community support, they are at risk for missing school, dropping out and failing to earn a high school diploma. By helping our most vulnerable students stay in school and succeed in life, we are building a storing, healthier and more economically-stable communities where every person is capable of reaching his or her greatest potential. After all, each child is our child, and our collective future.

How We Do What We Do

The Communities In Schools model trains and places highly qualified site coordinators directly into schools. Once there, our job is to connect students and their families to basic and critical community resources that are tailored to each student’s specific needs. By providing students with a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult, we create a safe place to learn and grow, a strong start to a healthy future, a path toward marketable skills upon graduation and a chance to give back to peers and the community.

Who We Serve

For the 2016-17 school year, Communities In Schools site coordinators were in four local schools:

Booker T. Washington High School	Armanda Whitaker, CIS Site Coordinator
J.S. Clark Elementary School	Valtavia Collins, CIS Site Coordinator
Lakeshore Middle School	Elizabeth Howell, CIS Site Coordinator
Linwood Charter School	Arlene Huling, CIS Site Coordinator

Making A Difference

For the 2016-17 school year, Volunteers of America North Louisiana operated the Communities In Schools model in 3 Caddo Parish schools, as well as Linwood Charter School.

2,536 were served with school-wide service, including a clothing closet, food pantry and tutors.
213 children received the more intensive services.
95% of students served live at or below the poverty level.

Get Involved

If you would like to learn more about working with Communities In Schools, please contact Haylee Crawford, Community Engagement Coordaintor at Haylee.Crawford@0426f73.netsolhost.com or CLICK HERE to fill out an online volunteer application. For questions about our Communities In Schools partnership or model, contact Chris.Gabriel@0426f73.netsolhost.com.

Click here to see the CIS Advisory Council.