Returning to school after winter break can be a challenge for many students. They often need time to remember the academic and behavioral expectations at school and adjust back to their routine.
Our team at CIS provided support -- before, during, and after winter break -- to help teachers mitigate the "winter slide" and ensure that students had the holistic support they needed to return to school, focused and engaged.
Check out our most recent blog post on the issue! Link here: ... See MoreSee Less
To help students maintain a routine over winter break, CIS of Chicago supported schools, students, and families with a multi-faceted approach on avoiding the "winter slide."
Last fall, CIS partner the American Writers Museum hosted an Author Talk for CIS schools featuring author Elizabeth Brown. Brown's children's book, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦, tells the true story of a Portuguese diplomat who saved thousands of refugees from the Nazis during World War II.
One CIS school, South Shore Elementary, brought 40 third and fourth graders to the event, which included a reading, an author Q&A, and time for students to write their owns poems. Students also left with their very own copies of Brown's book! ... See MoreSee Less
As schools close for winter break, it's important that our young people continue to maintain some structure and sense of routine so they return to the classroom focused and ready in January.
Our Chief Operating Officer and Clinical Director, Dr. Judith Allen, joined Lisa Dent on WGN-AM to discuss strategies for preventing the 'winter slide' and share how CIS is supporting teachers and parents with resources to navigate the holiday break and maintain that structure.
Judith Allen, Chief operating officer of CIS of Chicago, joins Lisa Dent to discuss strategies that help prevent the “winter slide.’ The winter slide, Allen explains, is when schools ki…
The programs that CIS connects not only help students explore their interests; they also help develop their skillset - and think critically about their future goals.
One program we connected to an elementary school on the West Side this year was through the Chicago Blues Revival! This was the organization's second year with the school, and students learned the history of Blues, how to play the harmonica, and explored song writing. 🎤🎼
Check out the video of their end-of-year student showcase: ... See MoreSee Less
This fall, our Partnership Team held meetups on the Southwest and West Sides for CIS school partners!
During the meetups, schools heard directly from CIS community partners, learned more about programs available to them, and discussed ways to leverage their partnership with CIS.
Special thanks to Plant Chicago and ComEd for hosting these meetups and providing tours of their facilities. The tours were a unique highlight. ... See MoreSee Less
Snapshots from the end of the semester! Here is one of our CIS students with her science fair project. 🌥️ Photo captured by Ms. Awalt, our Student Supports Manager embedded there. 📷 ... See MoreSee Less
Connecting students with items like hygiene supplies, backpacks, and winter clothes are one of the top priorities for CIS schools. And with support from our network of community partners, CIS is able to help schools meet their priorities and better serve students and families.
This winter, CIS connected 59 schools with 1,529 winter coats from our partner Cradles to Crayons Chicago! Schools were very appreciative to receive the coats -- and in a wide range of sizes. ... See MoreSee Less
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗶𝗿! Last week, the CIS team came together to celebrate the season, share treats, and enjoy each other's company. And at one of our schools on the West Side, Student Supports Manager Arnetra created a Sip & Study station for students to come after school, take some time to work on their assignments, and grab hot cocoa. ... See MoreSee Less
The holiday season is a stressful time for many, and it's important that individuals have a community of support they can lean on during this time.
Dr. Judith Allen joined WGN-TV on Friday to discuss strategies to manage holiday stress and how our team at CIS is equipping people with the tools to recognize and respond to someone experiencing a mental health crisis.
Are you interested in learning Mental Health First Aid? CIS is offering virtual and in-person sessions in December and January for community members. Learn more on our website here: www.cisofchicago.org/mhfa/
Schools in CIS' network have been requesting hygiene workshops, and with support from our partners Wellness4Every1 and Adams Street Partners, CIS helped pilot a program to respond to this need. Recently, CIS connected two schools with hygiene workshops -- and provided hygiene kits for participating students.
The workshops taught young people how to communicate their health needs and make healthful personal decisions. Feedback from the participating schools was powerful and showed the tremendous need around hygiene programming. One educator shared, "The 4th grade teachers requested a hygiene program last spring, and this was exactly what they hoped for!" ... See MoreSee Less
Last week, our Chief Partnership Engagement Officer Robin Koelsch had the opportunity to chat with WGN Radio's Lisa Dent about Adult Mental Health First Aid!
Adult Mental Health First Aid is a program facilitated by CIS of Chicago that helps adults recognize and respond to a person experiencing a mental health crisis.
"When we’re operating as Mental Health First Aiders, we need to really focus on that person [experiencing a challenge] and remember that it’s not about us at that moment," Robin said. "We have to take ourselves out of the scenario and focus on what that person needs. As a Mental Health First Aider, we must discern between if this is a crisis and this person needs help immediately, or if I can help support you just by being a caring adult."
Interested in learning more about Mental Health First Aid? Visit our website: ... See MoreSee Less
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a certification course that CIS of Chicago offers to teach adults how to help either kids or fellow adults who may be
Our school-based team supports students individually and in groups, and one group building strong connections this year is Karen's eighth grade girls!
"They have been so receptive to working in my group and fully engaged during our time together," Karen said.
"They are looking forward to our groups together, and they like coming to my office for lunch. I am looking forward to creating memories and moments with them this school year and watching them walk across the stage. " ... See MoreSee Less
Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
Returning to school after winter break can be a challenge for many students. They often need time to remember the academic and behavioral expectations at school and adjust back to their routine.
Our team at CIS provided support -- before, during, and after winter break -- to help teachers mitigate the "winter slide" and ensure that students had the holistic support they needed to return to school, focused and engaged.
Check out our most recent blog post on the issue! Link here: ... See MoreSee Less
Beyond Academics: How CIS of Chicago Supported Schools, Students, and Families During the "Winter Slide" - Communities In Schools of Chicago
www.cisofchicago.org
To help students maintain a routine over winter break, CIS of Chicago supported schools, students, and families with a multi-faceted approach on avoiding the "winter slide."𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺.
Last fall, CIS partner the American Writers Museum hosted an Author Talk for CIS schools featuring author Elizabeth Brown. Brown's children's book, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦, tells the true story of a Portuguese diplomat who saved thousands of refugees from the Nazis during World War II.
One CIS school, South Shore Elementary, brought 40 third and fourth graders to the event, which included a reading, an author Q&A, and time for students to write their owns poems. Students also left with their very own copies of Brown's book! ... See MoreSee Less
As schools close for winter break, it's important that our young people continue to maintain some structure and sense of routine so they return to the classroom focused and ready in January.
Our Chief Operating Officer and Clinical Director, Dr. Judith Allen, joined Lisa Dent on WGN-AM to discuss strategies for preventing the 'winter slide' and share how CIS is supporting teachers and parents with resources to navigate the holiday break and maintain that structure.
Listen to the full interview here: ... See MoreSee Less
How to keep kids engaged during winter break
wgnradio.com
Judith Allen, Chief operating officer of CIS of Chicago, joins Lisa Dent to discuss strategies that help prevent the “winter slide.’ The winter slide, Allen explains, is when schools ki…The programs that CIS connects not only help students explore their interests; they also help develop their skillset - and think critically about their future goals.
One program we connected to an elementary school on the West Side this year was through the Chicago Blues Revival! This was the organization's second year with the school, and students learned the history of Blues, how to play the harmonica, and explored song writing. 🎤🎼
Check out the video of their end-of-year student showcase: ... See MoreSee Less
This fall, our Partnership Team held meetups on the Southwest and West Sides for CIS school partners!
During the meetups, schools heard directly from CIS community partners, learned more about programs available to them, and discussed ways to leverage their partnership with CIS.
Special thanks to Plant Chicago and ComEd for hosting these meetups and providing tours of their facilities. The tours were a unique highlight. ... See MoreSee Less
Snapshots from the end of the semester!
Here is one of our CIS students with her science fair project. 🌥️ Photo captured by Ms. Awalt, our Student Supports Manager embedded there. 📷 ... See MoreSee Less
Connecting students with items like hygiene supplies, backpacks, and winter clothes are one of the top priorities for CIS schools. And with support from our network of community partners, CIS is able to help schools meet their priorities and better serve students and families.
This winter, CIS connected 59 schools with 1,529 winter coats from our partner Cradles to Crayons Chicago! Schools were very appreciative to receive the coats -- and in a wide range of sizes. ... See MoreSee Less
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗶𝗿!
Last week, the CIS team came together to celebrate the season, share treats, and enjoy each other's company. And at one of our schools on the West Side, Student Supports Manager Arnetra created a Sip & Study station for students to come after school, take some time to work on their assignments, and grab hot cocoa. ... See MoreSee Less
The holiday season is a stressful time for many, and it's important that individuals have a community of support they can lean on during this time.
Dr. Judith Allen joined WGN-TV on Friday to discuss strategies to manage holiday stress and how our team at CIS is equipping people with the tools to recognize and respond to someone experiencing a mental health crisis.
Are you interested in learning Mental Health First Aid? CIS is offering virtual and in-person sessions in December and January for community members. Learn more on our website here: www.cisofchicago.org/mhfa/
Watch the full WGN interview here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBP_O-ic8Sc ... See MoreSee Less
Schools in CIS' network have been requesting hygiene workshops, and with support from our partners Wellness4Every1 and Adams Street Partners, CIS helped pilot a program to respond to this need. Recently, CIS connected two schools with hygiene workshops -- and provided hygiene kits for participating students.
The workshops taught young people how to communicate their health needs and make healthful personal decisions. Feedback from the participating schools was powerful and showed the tremendous need around hygiene programming. One educator shared, "The 4th grade teachers requested a hygiene program last spring, and this was exactly what they hoped for!" ... See MoreSee Less
Last week, our Chief Partnership Engagement Officer Robin Koelsch had the opportunity to chat with WGN Radio's Lisa Dent about Adult Mental Health First Aid!
Adult Mental Health First Aid is a program facilitated by CIS of Chicago that helps adults recognize and respond to a person experiencing a mental health crisis.
"When we’re operating as Mental Health First Aiders, we need to really focus on that person [experiencing a challenge] and remember that it’s not about us at that moment," Robin said. "We have to take ourselves out of the scenario and focus on what that person needs. As a Mental Health First Aider, we must discern between if this is a crisis and this person needs help immediately, or if I can help support you just by being a caring adult."
Interested in learning more about Mental Health First Aid? Visit our website: ... See MoreSee Less
Mental Health First Aid - Communities In Schools of Chicago
www.cisofchicago.org
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a certification course that CIS of Chicago offers to teach adults how to help either kids or fellow adults who may beOur school-based team supports students individually and in groups, and one group building strong connections this year is Karen's eighth grade girls!
"They have been so receptive to working in my group and fully engaged during our time together," Karen said.
"They are looking forward to our groups together, and they like coming to my office for lunch. I am looking forward to creating memories and moments with them this school year and watching them walk across the stage. " ... See MoreSee Less