Communities In Schools of Washington

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? Communities In Schools of Washington is looking for dedicated volunteers like YOU to support our mission all year round! 🤝✨    Over the 2023-2024 school year, our incredible volunteers logged 774 hours across the state in Tier I services, making a direct impact on the lives of countless students. Tier I supports are designed for schoolwide impact, aiming to positively affect the entire school population.    From mentoring students to helping with meal delivery plans to supporting resource drives, there are numerous ways to get involved and make an impact. Your time and skills can change lives and help build brighter futures for our students.    Ready to take the next step? Visit your local CIS affiliate's website to connect and learn more about how you can support our students and schools.    www.ciswa.org/our-network/    Together, we can make a lasting difference!  #AllinforKids 

In the past school years, your incredible support has helped us collect a total of:   📚 2021-2022: 397,015 basic needs items   📚 2022-2023: 387,187 basic needs items   📚 2023-2024: more than 300,000 basic needs items     As we gear up for the 2024-2025 school year, we are calling on our amazing community once again. Every contribution, big or small, makes a profound impact on the lives of students across Washington.      Together, we can ensure that every student has the resources they need to thrive.      Join us in continuing this vital work and take action today! Click the link below to support your local back-to-school drives and make a difference.      https://lnkd.in/gWDFDhkN #AllinforKids 

🎉 We are thrilled to welcome Grace Fritzke to the Communities In Schools of Washington team as our new Program Support Specialist!     With a diverse background in education, Grace will provide programmatic guidance, training, technical assistance, and data management to support the delivery of the CIS model of Integrated Student Supports within our network. Her role involves building capacity for program managers, ensuring quality program delivery, and maintaining fidelity to our evidence-based, data-driven model.    Grace brings a wealth of experience, including roles as an academic researcher, paraeducator, a 21st-century coordinator, and a dance teacher.     Welcome to the team, Grace! We're excited to have you on board and look forward to the amazing impact you'll make.    #AllinforKids 

Did you know? As ESSER funding sunsets, schools and communities across Washington are feeling the impact. The end of ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) Funds has led to significant challenges for school districts, including inequitable closures and staffing shortages. In the 2022-2023 school year, 8% of the schools where CIS delivers the CIS model were impacted by the sunsetting of ESSER dollars (14 schools out of 171 model sites). With $2,136,621 in support from the second round of ESSER dollars (SY 21/22) and $1,472,617 from the third round (SY 22/23), these funds played a crucial role in our work. The end of these funds has resulted in:  - Inequitable closures, with funding formulas that prioritize enrollment over fixed costs like building maintenance and school buses.  - Districts needing to deprioritize spending on solutions to learning delays, focusing instead on teachers, teaching, and student well-being.  - Challenges such as staffing shortages, deteriorating school infrastructure, and declining student mental and physical health. You can help us continue to deliver vital programs and support to students by:   🏛️ Advocating for future legislation   🎉 Hosting fundraising events   ✏️ Providing basic needs and program supplies   🤝 Sponsoring site coordinator convenings   📈 Supporting professional development   🎁 Making in-kind donations Together, with your continued support, we remain committed to serving as many students and schools as possible. Join us in making a difference—take action today by visiting https://lnkd.in/gwDn6Anr. Learn more about the challenges posed by the expiration of federal K-12 emergency funds: https://lnkd.in/gjxSy4yi 

⏱️ Application deadline extended to Friday, August 30th!    Communities In Schools of Washington (CISWA) is seeking a state legislative lobbyist to join our mission of supporting students across Washington. If you have a proven track record in lobbying and advocacy, we want to hear from you.    Learn more and submit your proposal here: https://lnkd.in/gFmZVKUT 

The CIS WA network is gearing up for a strong year ahead! Our focus on team development included a successful Program Manager Retreat, Mental Health First Aid training, and more. Key Takeaways:  🛠 PM Retreat: Participants gained valuable tools & strategies, praising it as "the best time spent learning."  🧠 Mental Health First Aid: Equips our team to support the well-being of the youth we serve. Looking Forward:  💡 Leadership and HR training are top priorities to further empower our program managers.  ⚡ Our network thrives year-round with monthly collaboration & committees working on student goal-setting resources and the Site Coordinator Convening. Investing in our team translates to a positive impact on the youth in Washington communities!  Read the full story at https://lnkd.in/eAHCMsVk and learn more on how you can support our network.    #AllinforKids

We recently held a transformative two-day retreat for all CIS WA network Executive Directors! 🌟    After over a year, our leaders came together in-person to connect, grow, and learn from each other.    ✨ Day 1 Highlights:  - Trust-building activities  - Reconnecting with peers  - Personal and professional development sessions    ✨ Day 2 Highlights:  - Continued meaningful conversations  - Goal setting for the future  - Strengthened momentum to advance educational equity    This retreat was a powerful reminder of the impact we can make when we come together. We're excited to push forward and continue making a difference in communities across Washington!    Learn more about your local affiliate at www.ciswa.org/our-network    #AllinforKids 

We are committed to educational equity, meaning we work with the populations and communities that need the support the most 🫶 During the 2022-2023 school year, the data in the graphic underscores our commitment to empowering and uplifting the most vulnerable students across our state. 🤲Together, we can make a difference in their educational journeys and future success. Learn more and join our mission at www.ciswa.org

📢 Exciting opportunity!    Communities In Schools of Washington (CISWA) is looking for a state legislative lobbyist to join our mission of supporting students across Washington. If you have a proven track record in lobbying and advocacy, we want to hear from you. Deadline to apply is Friday, August 2nd.    Application details here: https://lnkd.in/gFmZVKUT #AllinforKids

As we gear up for the upcoming school year, we're excited to share some key moments and resources we're providing to support our staff!    📅 Site Coordinator Convening (October 9/10) - A vital opportunity for our site coordinator team to come together, share insights, and strengthen our strategies.    🏛️ Town Hall (September 18, 19, 20) - Proud to sponsor our affiliates to attend this important event, fostering collaboration and innovation across our network with national representation.     🎓 Motivational Interview Training (October/November) - Equipping our staff with essential skills to better connect and support our students.    ✊ BIPOC Leaders of Color - Provide access to professional development opportunities for BIPOC and Lived experience folks to feel more confident in their current role or enhance their skills for their career trajectory.    Thanks to the incredible support we receive, our staff can attend these key events and access resources to further their education. Together, we're committed to making a positive impact on our communities and ensuring our staff has the tools they need to succeed. #AllinforKids