LEWISVILLE, TX (August 22, 2018) – The OneStar Foundation has awarded Communities In Schools of North Texas (CISNT) with an AmeriCorps grant of $150,789 for the 2018-2019 school year to onboard and support 39 AmeriCorps Members. Each Member will provide 300-450 service hours to support CISNT’s school-based case management programs and provide direct services to CISNT students under the supervision of their CIS Site Coordinator. Grant funding will also support professional development and leadership training to equip AmeriCorps Members for success beyond the CISNT AmeriCorps program.
Through their work with Communities In Schools of North Texas, AmeriCorps Members will have a chance to gain a broader understanding of the North Texas community, while developing professional skills under CISNT staff expertise. During the 2018-2019 school year, Members will serve alongside CIS Site Coordinators at school campuses in Bridgeport ISD, Denton ISD, Lake Dallas ISD, Lewisville ISD, Little Elm ISD, and Northwest ISD.
Across North Texas, nearly 1 in 2 students are at-risk of dropping out of school. Communities In Schools of North Texas has implemented an effective model of integrated student supports for 25 years, resulting in a 99% success rate of keeping students in school and on track for graduation. The AmeriCorps program will support and expand CISNT’s capacity for evidence-based service delivery, increasing student engagement in school and empowering them for success.
“Student engagement in school is a critical component for academic achievement”, commented Ann Pape Wilson, Chief Executive Officer. “We are honored to add another layer of support for students and schools and to have the chance to prepare the next generation of professionals for service-driven leadership in our community.”
AmeriCorps Members who complete their service term with CISNT will be eligible for an education stipend from the Corporation for National and Community Service. To express interest in a CISNT AmeriCorps Member position, please visit cisnt.org/careers.
More About Communities In Schools of North Texas
Communities In Schools of North Texas (CISNT) was founded in 1993 as a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. The mission of CISNT is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. CISNT’s vision is that each child has the tools and guidance they need to succeed in school, graduate high school, and be prepared for college and/or career. Over the past 25 years, CISNT has successfully partnered with school districts to provide evidence-based dropout prevention programs in a safe school setting and help students address and eliminate barriers to their successful education. Communities In Schools of North Texas believes that every child needs and deserves five basic things: 1) a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult; 2) a safe place to learn and grow; 3) a healthy start and healthy future; 4) a marketable skill prior to graduating; and 5) a chance to give back to peers and the community. Through CIS, students are equipped, engaged, and empowered for success! To find out more about CISNT, visit http://cisnt.org/.
