Not only is the Humboldt County School District helping to promote proper healthcare, the Communities in Schools (CIS) program is further advocating for students by “surrounding students with community support and empowering and supporting them to stay in school and achieve in life,” said CIS Program Director for Winnemucca, Kaylnne Mitchell. Her and Administrative Programs and Outreach Coordinator, Omar Gurerro, have organized and partnered with other local resources to support students.
CIS is the nation’s leading drop-out prevention program, and is fairly new to Humboldt County, having officially launched in December of 2019, but has existed nationally for decades, explained Mitchell. The site coordinator’s goal is to have at least 45 students, especially those that are at-risk, that they build one-on-one relationships with.
Mitchell said “I just feel like we’re able to have a direct impact on the students we work with and they know they have someone to turn to.”
CIS also helps schools to implement goals and monitor progress in order to achieve those goals. The types of goals that CIS helps schools to achieve include things like increasing average daily attendance rates, reducing behavioral referrals, and improving standardized test scores school-wide according to Mitchell.
By building these relationships and encouraging students to meet goals, CIS helps students to realize their full potential, which can be detrimental to their future, according to the CIS mission. Showing students that they are supported by dedicated adults goes a long way, as they realize that they are not only accountable, but cared for.
Guerro said “These relationships have been huge. You can tell those kids can feel the support.”
Recently, CIS has partnered with the Junior High and Laurel Thomas of the Rotary Club to organize a school clothing drive. This event will benefit students at all schools and is a great excuse to clean out the closet and donate unblemished and gently-used clothing to a great cause.
CIS often sponors and partners with othe organizations in order to help provide basic necessities and support students. Along with the clothing drive CIS is putting on the All in For Kids Golf Tournement, which will take place on May 20th. Guerrero confirmed that all proceeds that come in through the tournament will directly benefit the students of the Humboldt County School District.
Mitchell explained that CIS is also sponsoring color runs in the coming months as a reward for the schools and students that accomplished their goals. Grass Valley Elementary will have their color run on May 20th, French Ford Middle School will have theirs on June 3rd, Winnemucca Grammar School’s will be on June 6th, and the Winnemucca Junior High will hold theirs on June 9th.
“Our main focus is doing whatever it takes to help students succeed at school and in life,” said Mitchell.