The following is a news release from Communities In Schools of the South Plains:
Communities In Schools of the South Plains (CIS) is pleased to announce that it has received a $5,000 grant from Superior HealthPlan. This generous gift will allow Communities In Schools to provide Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to its staff. Youth Mental Health First Aid reviews typical childhood development, introduces common mental health challenges, and teaches a five-step action plan to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including ADHD), and eating disorders. This generous grant will also allow CIS to certify a staff member as a Youth MHFA Instructor.
About the grant, Kenna West, CEO, stated, “CIS is embarking on a new path with a Mental Health Initiative designed to support districts in providing safe schools for all students and we wouldn’t be able to do it without Superior HealthPlan! Thank you for partnering with us to ensure all children are safe in our local schools!”
The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. The objective is to prevent students from dropping out of school by giving them the tools they need to be successful. These tools include evidence-based programs that address both academic and non-academic factors that directly impact students’ ability to be successful.
Communities In Schools of the South Plains partners with 15 school districts on 60 campuses in the City of Lubbock, the greater Lubbock area (Frenship, Lubbock-Cooper, Roosevelt, Shallowater, and Slaton), and throughout the South Plains (Dimmitt, Floydada, Hale Center, Levelland, Lockney, Lorenzo, New Deal, Plainview, and Tulia). During the 2017-2018 school year, CIS-South Plains provided services to 2,377 at-risk students. Of those students: 94% Improved in academics; 84% improved in attendance; 96 % improved their behavior; 97% had social service needs met; 95% were promoted to the next grade; 97% of eligible seniors graduated; and 99% stayed in school.
Communities In Schools of the South Plains is currently accepting donations to sustain, expand, and enhance its programs and services. For more information about Communities In Schools of the South Plains and how you can help, please visit www.cissouthplains.org or contact Jennifer Wall, Director of Development, at (806) 368-8090 / jennifer.wall@cissouthplains.org.
(News release from Communities In Schools of the South Plains)
