The Communities In Schools office in the b-wing of Loy Norrix where students can go if they feel they need help.
Communities In Schools is a program we have here in Kalamazoo that provides help for students. Communities In Schools provides a wide range of services from tutoring to counseling. CIS of Kalamazoo is part of a network that works in public schools and their goal is to help kids succeed academically and in life.
The program was founded in the 1970s by Bill Milliken who is a youth advocate in New York City and in the time span of 40 years, CIS has come to be the leading drop-out organization in the nation. According to the CIS website, Communities In Schools Inc. has 192 affiliates in 26 states and serves nearly 1.3 million students and their families and CIS site teams are present in 18 KPS schools.
“I like the aspect of linking students to services such as mental health, dentistry, and food pantries,” said Jenee McDaniel, who works in the b-wing CIS office here at Loy Norrix High School. “We capture every aspect of a student’s needs.”
Founder, Bill Milliken developed the “five basics” that represent what the staff at CIS believe are essentials to a student’s success, these five basics are:
- A one-on-one relationship with a caring adult
- A safe place to learn and grow
- A healthy start and a healthy future
- A marketable skill to use upon graduation
- A chance to give back to peers and the community
If you or anyone you know is in need for anything academic or personal, stop by the b-wing office, call the Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo building at (269) 337-1601 or visit their website at communitiesinschools.org.
