Back to School Means Much More to Thousands of Nevada Children

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- For many children the first day of school means the end of summer.  But for thousands of children in our state, the first day of school means that they will have access to critical services that will address their basic needs such as food, clothing, medical and dental care as well as mental health counseling through Communities In Schools of Nevada.

Communities In Schools of Nevada will be serving over 55 schools and nearly 40,000 students in our state this school year.  While the numbers themselves are impressive, they take on even greater meaning in the context of the student population on which they are based.  These are young people who, without the intervention of Communities In Schools of Nevada, would likely fall through the cracks and not receive the services they need.

Communities In Schools of Nevada serves these students by positioning a dedicated Site Coordinator on the campus of partner schools.  In this pivotal role, the coordinator works with the school staff to identify students at-risk of dropping out.  The Site Coordinators, who are AmeriCorps volunteers, address school and student needs and establish relationships with local community partners such as Clinics in Schools, Nevada Health Centers, Future Smiles, Three Square, UNLV Department of Counselor Education, Nevada Partners, local businesses and volunteer organizations to ensure the students receive the necessary resources they need to succeed in school.

"Our unique delivery model not only ensures that students receive the services that they desperately need but also have a one on one connection with a caring adult," said State Director, Louise Helton.  "As we surround our students with a community of support, our schools have seen a decrease in behavior problems and an increase in retention rates.  When a child is not hungry or is not suffering dental pain, they can focus on school and have a better chance at success," she added.

For more information about Communities In Schools of Nevada and their mission of empowering at-risk students to stay in school and succeed, please contact State Marketing Director, Carolyn Wheeler, (702) 339-8516 or by email at [email protected].

About Communities In Schools of Nevada: Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.  Through a school-based coordinator, Communities in Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs.  Working in more than 3,200 schools, in the most challenged communities, in 26 states, and the District of Columbia, Communities in Schools serves nearly 1.4 million young people and their families every year.  Communities in Schools has become the nation's leading dropout prevention organization, and the only one proven to both decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates.

SOURCE Communities In Schools of Nevada