The national Communities In Schools program showcased Thursday how it helps Putnam County students overcome non-academic barriers.
The program started in Putnam County two years ago and serves Cane Creek Elementary, Cornerstone Elementary, and Park View Elementary. Park View Program Manager Jennifer Misener said uncertainty in home life is one of the major barriers that students in Putnam County face. Misener said CIS helps students and their families inside and outside of school.
“We can help with their bills if needed, just to get them on their feet,” Misener said. “I’ve helped find places to start looking for jobs for parents who are not sure where to look, and also just those basic need amenities.”
Cane Creek CIS Program Manager Debbie Thomas said chronic absenteeism has drastically reduced since the implementation of the program. Thomas said the program has already made a huge difference in a short amount of time.
“I see this work,” Thomas said. “I see parents who weren’t really fans of school, now coming to our back-to-school bash, because with CIS, we are able to kind of fill in all of those gaps. And some of those gaps are, you know, the teachers want to communicate with the parents, but they have got all these kids that they are taking care of. So CIS is able to call those families and say, ‘Hey, we got this coming up, would you guys like to come?’ and give them that personal touch.”
Misener said removing the non-academic barriers has led to student success in the classroom.
“The kids who didn’t necessarily like school are starting to like school, like they were talking about with lunch bunch, if they know it’s their day for lunch bunch, they will show up,” Misener said. “It’s just being able to be there, and meet everybody at their level and where they are at. I feel like everybody wants to be seen, and everybody wants to be heard, and just being able to be that extra person for somebody is crucial for success for everybody.”
The community can be involved in the program by volunteering. Thomas and Misener both said they would love to see local organizations, churches, or individuals get involved with the program and make a difference in their local schools.
