Project Grant 18VSPWA002

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS' MISSION IS TO SURROUND STUDENTS WITH A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT, EMPOWERING THEM TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND ACHIEVE IN LIFE. SCHOOL ACADEMIC DATA SHOWS THAT STUDENTS IN POVERTY ARE LESS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS SO CIS INTENTIONALLY PLACES SITE COORDINATORS INTO SCHOOLS WITH HIGH POVERTY RATES TO ADDRESS ISSUES THESE STUDENTS ARE DEALING WITH INCLUDING FOOD INSECURITY, HOUSING INSTABILITY, UNMET PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS IMPACTING THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. LAST YEAR, 92% OF STUDENTS RECEIVING INDIVIDUAL SERVICES WERE ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH SHOWING OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING THIS POPULATION. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE K-12 SUCCESS FOCUS AREA. THIS GRANT REQUEST SEEKS TO PLACE 4 VISTA MEMBERS EACH YEAR OF THE THREE YEAR GRANT CYCLE - 2 STANDARD AND 2 COST SHARE. THE VISTA PROJECT WILL SUPPORT ACTIVITIES TO INCREASE AGENCY CAPACITY AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH THE FOLLOWING GOALS: -AN INCREASE IN DOLLAR VALUE OF CASH RESOURCES LEVERAGED BY VISTA MEMBERS. -INCREASE IN NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS RECRUITED OR MANAGED BY VISTA MEMBERS -INCREASE IN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP SUPPORT SERVICE DELIVERY THROUGH THE WORK OF THE VISTAS IN THE FIRST YEAR, CIS AFFILIATES WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 200 AT-RISK STUDENTS WITH OUR MODEL OF INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORTS. IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE GRANT (AND CONTINUING TO BUILD FROM THEIR WORK IN YEAR 2 AND 3) VISTA MEMBERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT BY PERFORMING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS: -DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING FUND DEVELOPMENT PLAN -DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A MARKETING AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN -DEVELOP AND MANAGE WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE -CREATE AND IMPLEMENT VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT PROGRAMS