Communities In Schools of Appalachian Highlands
Student Support Coordinators Bring Social-Emotional Learning Programming to Schools in Rural Appalachia
Considered one of the world’s great wilderness areas, the Appalachian region is rooted in music, culture, and community. Yet underneath the postcard-perfect landscape, the region lags behind much of the nation economically with generational poverty, socioeconomic disparities, and a longstanding struggle with substance abuse. Schools across Appalachia often reflect those burdens with absenteeism, disengaged parents, poor academic performance, declining mental health, increased substance use, and more.
Through a grant from All Points North Foundation, Communities in Schools of Appalachian Highlands (CIS-AH) will expand its evidence-based social-emotional learning (SEL) program serving as the “compass, map and guide” to 10 middle schools across Smyth, Tazewell, and Washington Counties in Southwest Virginia to promote positive youth development. This transformative SEL program is rooted in five core skills-building principles: self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, self-management, and responsible decision-making.
Embedded in each school, Student Support Coordinators will provide case management services to 500 at-risk students and 1,000 parents/guardians, and tailored school-wide SEL programming to over 3,000 students. Innovative family engagement events and consistent parental and guardian contact will be a foundational component to the SEL programming, reinforcing SEL skills at home. Research has long documented the link between SEL and improved academic performance and mental health, increased student engagement, and reduced dropout rates.
Serving over 40,000 students across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, CIS-AH adopts research-proven methods from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) to foster youth voice, agency, and action while building supportive classroom and school environments, and cultivating family and community partnerships. Support and interventions are tailored to the needs of each student with small group and one-on-one sessions and a focus on trusted peer and adult relationships, resource coordination, and learning SEL skills. Coordinators also partner with school leaders to create a positive school climate and break down barriers such as bullying.
CIS-AH’s proactive and consistent presence in schools ensures that support meets students where they are, no child is left behind, and every child and family is surrounded by a community of support – offering hope for a brighter future.
For more information: www.cisofah.org
Photo credit: Communities In Schools of Applachian Highlands