1 in 6 children live in poverty, creating daily struggles with access and equity. To address these growing systemic issues in our students, the HANNA Foundation and Susquehanna Township School District, partnered to fund a pilot project with Communities In Schools of Pennsylvania. The pilot ran spring of 2019, and was incredibly successful. Due to the success, additional funding was secured to continue it for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. We will have dedicated site coordinators in three out of four STSD Schools but we need your help to keep them there.

what is CIS?

Communities in Schools (CIS) is the nation’s leading community-based organization that helps students succeed in school and prepare for life. CIS partners with schools to identify challenges students face in the classroom or at home. It then works with volunteers and community resources to provide those students the support they need to overcome those challenges. CIS has a proven evidence based model that has worked for over 40 years and they have the data to prove it.

CIS Site Coordinator 

Part of the success of the CIS program is due to the Site Coordinator, who works full time in the building, 12 months a year.

Read the Spotlight about the STMS Site Coordinator - Ms. DeSantiago!

Her role is to help provide students whatever resources they need, including the “5 Basics”

• A one-on-one caring relationship with an adult.

• A safe place to learn and grow.

• A healthy start and a healthy future.

• A marketable skill to use upon graduation.

• A chance to give back to peers and the community.

Students are facing a growing list of issues

• hunger

• lack of medical care

• mental health issues

• physical abuse 

• substance abuse

• safety concerns

• homelessness

• no caring adult at home