Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
BEING PRESENT MATTERS IN CHICAGO
As the challenges facing our students have increased, so has the need for Communities In Schools (CIS) of Chicago.
Because of CIS, students are more likely to come to school, stay in school, do better academically, and ultimately, graduate, prepared for continued success.
Testimony from principals, teachers, community organizations, and students continues to verify that the work we do matters.
Impact In Our Community
Chicago public-school students benefited from programs and services provided by or connected through CIS of Chicago.*
students in grades K-12 were served by CIS Student Supports Managers. They created plans to develop the skills and access the resources they need to succeed in school.*
schools were served by CIS of Chicago. Our team connected schools with community programs that addressed their unique needs.*
*Data from the 2024-25 school year
PROVIDING HOLISTIC SUPPORT
Chicago students and their families have endured unprecedented challenges since the start of the decade. Systemic challenges like poverty, community violence, and lack of investment have compounded since the pandemic with an increase in youth mental health issues, as well as significant learning loss.
Our team works to ensure that every student, regardless of their identity, ability, or zip code, has access to the resources and opportunity they need to be successful in the classroom and beyond.
When schools need support, they turn to us. CIS of Chicago shows up for our community and school partners to make meaningful connections that positively impact students. We connected DuBois Elementary School with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office to bring an Internet Safety workshop to their 5th graders—and watched students transform what they learned into powerful action. They created eye-catching posters capturing the must-know safety tips, showcasing the real impact of connecting schools with community partners in meaningful, lasting ways. Check out the winning design! ... See MoreSee Less
💚 Happy World Mental Health Day! 💚
Mental health matters—for our students AND the adults who support them. Did you know that 1 in 5 U.S. Adults experience a mental health issue every year? And more than half of people with a mental health condition in the U.S. did not receive any treatment in the last year.
That's why we're excited to announce that CIS of Chicago is now offering Adult Mental Health First Aid!
Just as we've been empowering our community with Youth Mental Health First Aid, we're expanding our commitment to ensure the adults in our students' lives—parents, educators, mentors, and caregivers—have the tools they need to support their own wellness and recognize when someone might need help.
Because when we take care of ourselves, we're better equipped to show up for our young people. 💪✨
Let's break the stigma, start conversations, and build a healthier Chicago—together.
Learn more about our Mental Health First Aid training at www.cisofchicago.org/mhfa/
#WorldMentalHealthDay#mentalhealthmatters#cisofchicago #mentalhealthfirstaid #chicagostrong#WellnessForAll #communitiesinschools ... See MoreSee Less
What an incredible day at our annual Resource Fair!
Today, we brought together all 250 of our school partners with amazing community organizations ready to support Chicago students and families. The energy in the room was absolutely electric!
In times of uncertainty, events like this remind us of the power of community coming together. From student services to family resources, our partners showed up ready to make a difference. Seeing educators and community leaders connecting, sharing, and building relationships—this is what it's all about.
Thank you to every organization that participated and to our dedicated school partners who continue to show up for young people every single day. Together, we're stronger. Together, we're #cisofchicago.
#CommunityPartnership #ChicagoSchools #StudentSupport #StrongerTogether #ResourceFair #EducationMatters ... See MoreSee Less
83,601 students. 239 schools. One school year.
That's the reach of Communities In Schools of Chicago in the 2024-25 school year.
To put that in perspective: we connected services to enough students to more than fill Rate Field & Wrigley Field combined!
Behind that number are tens of thousands of young people who received the support they needed to stay in school, address mental health challenges, and work toward graduation prepared for what's next.
In a city where 41% of students are chronically absent and more than 70% are economically disadvantaged, integrated student support isn't optional. It's essential.
Our community-based approach brings resources directly into schools, meeting students where they are with services tailored to their unique needs.
83,601 students supported. 239 school communities strengthened. This is what happens when we invest in wraparound support that removes barriers to learning. ... See MoreSee Less
🖊️ CALLING ALL CHICAGO MIDDLE SCHOOLERS! 🖊️
Your voice matters. Your words can change the world. ✨
Do The Write Thing invites 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to become community catalysts by exploring youth violence through powerful writing.
📝 STUDENTS WRITE, WE LISTEN 📝
🗓️ DEADLINE: January 30, 2026
🏆 TOP 100 AUTHORS recognized at special event May 5, 2026
✈️ One Chicago student selected as National Ambassador for Washington, D.C. summit in July!
Ready to make your voice heard? Visit the link below for submission details.
#DoTheWriteThing #ChicagoYouth #StudentVoices #writingmatters #YouthLeadership
An initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence, brought to Chicago students through Communities In Schools of Chicago in partnership with Latham & Watkins
drive.google.com/file/d/1bPVw9aSAIN7nknGoogT53mpMLUpy7LZy/view?usp=drive_link ... See MoreSee Less
Sign the Pledge and Show Up for Student Success!
September is Attendance Awareness Month and this school year, we’re calling on parents, teachers, and community members to help us tackle chronic absenteeism by signing the Pledge to Be Present. As the challenges facing our students have increased, so has the need for Communities In Schools. Because of CIS, students are more likely to come to school, stay in school, do better academically, and ultimately, graduate, prepared for continued success.
✅ When students show up, they succeed.
✅ When communities show up, students feel supported.
✅ When YOU sign the pledge, you’re part of the solution.
Being present every day matters for success in school and beyond. Join Communities In Schools and CareSource in supporting students through this powerful back-to-school initiative. Together, we’re building a culture of consistency, accountability, and achievement — one signature at a time.
📅 Goal: 2,500 signatures by Sep. 30
📍 Be part of the movement!
🔗 Sign the Pledge Now: cisnational.org/41pjOT2 ... See MoreSee Less
As a new school year enters full swing across our city, Communities In Schools (CIS) of Chicago is proud to expand our Intensive Program to 40 schools, a record number in our mission to surround students with a community of support to help them stay on the path to graduation.
You can help kick off the year with strength and purpose. A gift of $40 — in honor of our 40 schools — helps place dedicated adults in school buildings, ready to guide students through challenges, boost their confidence, and help them thrive.
Since founding the Intensive Program in 2009, fewer than 1% of students receiving case management support have dropped out. And the impact goes beyond graduation: students supported by CIS of Chicago attend school an average of 3 to 4 more days per year than their peers.
Being present matters.
www.cisofchicago.org/donate/ ... See MoreSee Less
The Art of Giving Foundation accepted one CIS of Chicago partner schools for their mural installation program! West Park STEAM Academy received their mural this Summer completed by youth from the community. CIS of Chicago is proud to support our community partners and school communities with this impactful connection. Check out the progress! ... See MoreSee Less
CIS of Chicago is excited to welcome 11 new schools to our Partnership Program for the 2025-2026 school year! As partnership schools, their students will receive access to no-cost programs and services from our 200+ community partners across the city. This past week, these new schools attended New School Orientation, where they met CIS staff and learned all the ins and outs of how to bring this high-quality programming to their school community! #newschoolyear ... See MoreSee Less
Back to school season is right around the corner! Last week, CIS of Chicago received a donation of 2,500 backpacks filled with school supplies from Cradles to Crayons of Chicago. CIS team members are hard at work distributing these backpacks to our partner schools across the city, ensuring that every student has the essentials they need to start the school year off strong! Cradles to Crayons Chicago ... See MoreSee Less
Thanks to a community nomination, CIS of Chicago is a Target Circle partner for July-September 2025! Vote for Communities In Schools of Chicago in your Target Circle app, or by visiting www.target.com/circle/community-voting. Thank you for your support of our work with young people across Chicago! #target #targetcircle #ALLIn4Kids ... See MoreSee Less
"Alone we can do so little. Together, we can do so much." We live that sentiment here at CIS of Chicago. Yesterday, we hosted our annual Summer Institute, a day of learning, collaboration, and connection to support our community partners. Check out some highlights- who doesn't love a great presenter gesture!?!? ... See MoreSee Less