Communities in Schools rallies for funding this year
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 4, 2016 1:46 PM
It's been a "wait and see" funding year for Communities in Schools, says executive director Selena Bennett, who is busily planning this month's fundraiser to keep the program afloat.
"It's all about trying to keep the funding coming into the program every year," she said. "Without the support from our local community we would not have the dollars that we need to provide the program for these students."
CIS has a presence in six schools -- Brogden, Grantham and Mount Olive middle schools and Goldsboro, Southern Wayne and Spring Creek high schools.
The organization has a proven model of success, Mrs. Bennett said, providing success coaches who connect with students and shore up coursework and school attendance rates, improve behavior and has been credited with raising graduation rates.
"A lot of students that we work with in our six schools, or a lot of the students that we provide materials for throughout the year, are students that are coming from poverty-ridden environments," she said, adding that the program's extra support has been beneficial.
But of course, funding is needed to maintain those services.
CIS, which also operates the Teen Court program, is fortunate to have funds generated through the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council and United Way. Dollars for the schoolwide program have come from grants, county fundings, some city money and business and industry donations, she said.
"We're in the middle of that grant cycle again, waiting to hear back from our funders," she said. "Every year, when we go to the table now to talk about funding for the next year, they want to know, 'Are you fundraising?' and 'Are you looking at multiple grants?'"
The efforts of non-profits are becoming more diverse, Mrs. Bennett said.
"It's becoming harder and harder to get those dollars in communities like ours, where there are multiple non-profits. We all are in competition, but we all work together," she said.
Others vying for a piece of the proverbial pie are also getting creative with funding efforts, she said, making it a bit tricky when it comes to scheduling.
"I don't want to do anything that's going to interfere with others," she said. "Just setting a date and venue, that's a puzzle within itself. I'm having to plan a year out."
The local agency is also juggling efforts to retain accreditation status.
"We received our national accreditation in April 2013. We're in the middle of reaccreditation this year," Mrs. Bennett said. "They have revised both the business standards and the site standards so there's more and more recommendations on both levels.
"Come this summer, I'm having to prepare for my state office to come down and do an abridged reaccreditation at the state level. Then next summer, we go through national reaccreditation."
Communities in Schools of Wayne County is actually one of the fortunate ones, she said. The agency now has 29 accredited CIS programs in the state, down from 47.
"What this means is it's becoming harder and harder to meet our standards and to meet the standards and to provide the funding," she said. "It's difficult to remain a CIS agency."
Some of the casualties in the accreditation and funding war have revamped under a different name, to avoid closing down completely. But there is a down side to that, Mrs. Bennett said.
"You lose your brand," she explained. "The fact that we're a CIS affiliate shows how difficult it is to maintain the status. It says something -- you're part of a greater network.
"It's not like a club where we pay dues. We do not pay any dues to state or national. Our money doesn't go outside the community. The local dollars that we receive stay right here to provide programming for kids."
Her goal is to expand the program even more, extending the reach down into the elementary schools.
"Funding is critical," she said.
"I have been very fortunate to retain a staff of quality people who are all very knowledgeable about the needs of children. We have been very fortunate to receive the support from both the school system and the six schools that we're working in.
"The program would be greatly missed if we didn't have the funding and had to start picking and choosing the schools (where we serve)."
This year's fundraiser, "Have a Heart for Kids" will take place April 15 from 6-9 p.m. at the Terrace Room downtown. In addition to "sparkles and spirits," there will be hors d'oeuvres, entertainment, a silent auction and a raffle.
Cost is $30 a person, $60 a couple, she said.
"The money that we get from this fundraiser goes directly back into student programming so that we can continue to provide for our kids," she said.
For more information, e-mail sbennett@ciswayne.org.