Case for Support
Challenge
The last few years have vividly shown that not all students have equal access to the educational resources they need. Young people who either live in poverty, don’t speak English, have disengaged parents, or face a myriad of other obstacles in their daily lives simply don’t have the support they need to be successful in school.
Factors like these are to blame for the widened achievement gap we see today. Isolation, inequitable services, homelessness, and the loss of hope are a just few of the many challenges kids face in our community.
Opportunity/Solution
Communities In Schools of Peninsula (CISP) believes that every child can achieve their greatest potential if given the right tools. An affiliate of the leading national organization committed to dropout prevention, CISP was founded in 2000, built on the values of equity, accountability, trust, and self-belief. Our professional team of full-time staff serves schools on the Key Peninsula, Gig Harbor and South Kitsap identifying strategies to help students with academics and social emotional needs. We create specific plans for struggling students, focusing on supporting the “whole child.” This support fosters academic growth and achievement, and meets needs in other areas such as behavior, social risk factors, mental health, attendance and absenteeism, basic needs, homelessness, skill-building, mitigating isolation, and more.
A key to the success of CISP are the partnerships we forge. We work closely with 25 local agencies that empower young people to overcome historical and systemic barriers to success. Our board of directors is highly engaged, rising to the occasion to help guide our work in K-12 schools. We are proud of our community volunteers as well who show up every week to work with children in our after-school academic mentoring programs.
The CIS Model
In the words of CIS Founder Bill Milliken, “What changes people is relationships—somebody willing to walk through the shadow of the valley of adolescence with them.” CIS case-managed students report more positive relationships with adults, as well as better quality relationships with peers. They also show improvement in school engagement, in their attitudes about school, and in their belief that education has value for their futures. All of these are important outcomes that research links to future success.
At CISP, we see students on a continuum, with those on one end needing more moderate support, and those on the other requiring more intensive support. Tiers of Support apply to the services CISP provides, brokers, and coordinates. The following chart shows how we work within these different tiers:
| Support | Tier I | Tier II | Tier III |
| Academic Assistance | “Coffee hour” to train parents to support kids on math homework | Weekly after-school math program for case managed students below grade level | One-on-0ne math tutoring for a case managed student |
| Behavior Intervention/Modification | Develop a school-wide anti-bullying program | Bi-Weekly anti-bullying peer groups for case managed girls | Connect a case managed student who bullies with a behavior modification specialist |
| Family Engagement | Back-to school family dinner for all new students | Monthly family reading night for case managed students reading below grade level | Incentive program to encourage a case managed student’s family to attend school events |
| Professional Mental Health | Schoolwide suicide prevention program | Counselor-facilitated groups on mental health topics for targeted case managed students | Connect a case managed student to a licensed counselor for ongoing, individual sessions |
Planned Giving
In partnership with Communities In Schools of Peninsula, you can leave a legacy that will affect sustainable change in the lives of underserved students across our community for years to come. Click Here for more information on Planned Giving
How You Can Help
An investment in the future leaders of our community doesn’t simply benefit students—it benefits everyone. Please consider helping us level the playing field for all young people. Your gift will make a lasting impact in helping us achieve our mission of ensuring local students achieve success in school and beyond. Together we can make a difference one child’s life at a time.
For more information, please visit www.peninsula.ciswa.org.
Make a gift online
Mail Your Donation
Communities In Schools of Peninsula
P.O. Box 684 Vaughn, WA 98394
253-884-5733
Thank you for your support!
CIS of Peninsula is a 501(c)3 and your gifts are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by the law.
