Our Focus
At Communities In Schools of Houston (CIS), we amplify the power of each student’s potential by connecting them to caring adults and community resources designed to help them succeed. We’re by their side every day, supporting them in ways that go beyond the classroom. Across the Houston community, we knit together a powerful network of partners—including volunteers, social service agencies, mental health providers, and educators—that help students stay focused, so they can go further tomorrow.
Whatever it takes. However they need us. CIS is IN SCHOOLS to help students succeed.
Programs don’t change people...relationships do.
Many students and their families have a hard time accessing and navigating the maze of public and private services. There may be ample resources in a community, but rarely is there someone on the ground who is able to connect these resources with the students and schools that need them most. Through a school-based Student Support Specialist, we provide supportive guidance and counseling and bring community resources into schools to empower success for all students by removing barriers that stand in the way of students from reaching the bright futures they deserve.
CIS provides three tiers of on-campus Integrated Student Supports where we provide our
Six Core Services.
INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORTS
CIS’ evidence-based Integrated Student Supports Model is a school-based approach to develop academic success by tackling academic and non-academic barriers. CIS serves students of all ages from Pre-K through Community College. These supports are provided by our CIS Student Support Specialists who assess a student’s needs, and then provide direct services and/or make referrals to community partners to ensure a student has everything they need to succeed in and out of the classroom.
CIS Student Support Specialists deliver Integrated Student Supports on the school campus in three tiers:
Tier 1: School-Wide Services
Coordinating campus-wide events for students and families.
Ex: Career Day, Health Fair
Tier 2: Targeted Programs
Providing small group sessions/clubs on campus that serve a specific purpose.
Ex: Healthy Relationships Girls Group, Anger Management Group
Tier 3: Individualized support
Providing case management to targeted students.
Ex: Counseling Services, Basic Needs Provision
Within each of these tiers CIS Student Support Specialists provide our Six Core Services:
1. Supportive Guidance & Counseling
Providing students with individual supportive guidance and counseling and facilitating support groups to help them manage their emotions and interactions with peers; addressing issues such as grief and loss, depression, low self-esteem, anger management, anxiety, and suspected drug/alcohol use.
2. Academic Support
Providing tutoring sessions for students requiring personalized attention in test-taking, study skills, or specific subject areas.
3. Health & Human Services
Linking students via referrals to local service agencies to meet basic needs involving food, clothing, housing, transportation, employment, rent and utility assistance, as well as referrals for crisis intervention, medical, dental, and mental health issues.
4. College & Career Readiness
Building students’ skills to prepare them for post-secondary education and careers beyond high school by providing workshops on essay-writing, college applications, resume-building, job applications, successful interviewing and hosting college tours & career days.
5. Parent & Family Engagement
Providing parent workshops to engage parents and coordinate volunteer opportunities for parents at the school to involve the family in their child’s education.
6. Enrichment Activities
Organizing field trips for students to visit local museums, cultural events, and college campuses, as well as planning large group events such as guest speaker presentations and health fairs.