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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Following is a list of frequently asked questions about Chicago Communities
In Schools:
1. What is Chicago Communities In Schools (CCIS)?
2. Why is CCIS needed?
3. How does CCIS work?
4. What services does CCIS work to bring to schools?
5. What are some outcomes of CCIS brokered services?
6. How and when did CCIS get started?
7. How do I recommend a school to partner with CCIS?
8. How is CCIS funded?
9. Why invest in CCIS?
10. How do I invest to CCIS?
1. What is Chicago Communities
In Schools (CCIS)?
CCIS is a nonprofit organization that links existing community resources
into school sites to help young people successfully learn, stay in school
and prepare for life. We do this by connecting students at Chicago public
schools to resources such as community-based agencies, hospitals, corporations,
and universities who provide services directly at the school site. Our
goal is to help meet children's needs so they can concentrate on learning,
to free teachers so they can teach, and to help foster a safe learning
environment in schools. Through CCIS' involvement, these partnerships
become institutionalized and continue long-term, bringing children the
help they need to succeed – in school and in life.
2. Why is CCIS needed?
Children today face more risks then ever before. The best way to provide
hands-on help to Chicago's young people is to go where they are with the
resources they need to learn, grow, and prepare for life. School is simply
where most children are for a portion of the day, most days of the year,
the biggest part of their lives. School is also the place where providing
the basics children need can pay off right away – in stronger school
performance.
At CCIS, we believe that all children can learn but that issues of poverty,
crime and family dysfunction interfere with their ability to succeed in
school. We know Chicago is blessed with resources – hospitals, nonprofit
agencies, universities and other support organizations – but that
children and families in need often do not access them. Children rarely,
if ever, seek help without their parents. Even when parents want to seek
help, they are sometimes hindered by transportation problems, work restrictions,
limited finances, and lack of knowledge about available resources. CCIS
identifies existing resources and negotiates with them to send their doctors,
tutors, counselors, mentors, and other professionals into schools to deliver
services where children and families can easily and safely access them.
With finite dollars available for social services, CCIS also plays a
critical role in fostering collaborations and identifying duplication
in services.
3. How does CCIS work?
First, schools apply to work with CCIS. Once selected, CCIS and school
personnel work together to identify the top ten obstacles interfering
with the education of their students.
Second, CCIS negotiates agreements with hospitals, nonprofit agencies
and other organizations to send agency personnel and volunteers into school
sites to deliver services to meet the most critical needs – at no
cost to the school system.
Third, CCIS and the school monitor the quality of services and form teams
of service providers from a variety of agencies at each school.
Fourth, CCIS helps build capacity at the school and agency level so schools
can develop and maintain successful relationships with community partners
in a sustainable way in order to eliminate the need for CCIS involvement.
The result is that when children gain access to services and community
resources otherwise unavailable, it is clear that these children have
a much better opportunity to learn, succeed in life and become productive
citizens.
4. What services does CCIS work
to bring to schools?
CCIS negotiates agreements with more than 150 agencies to bring a variety
of services including prevention programs, healthcare services, tutoring
and mentoring programs, parent/community and family services, mental health
services, arts, sports and enrichment programs, and college and career
planning services to schools. To view the list of service providers, click
here.
5. What are some outcomes of CCIS
brokered services?
By bringing service providers to school sites, we help increase the accessibility
to the people who need them in a place where they already feel comfortable.
We are cost-effective by leveraging partnerships and bringing the services
to the school at no cost. We help build a comprehensive approach to providing
a network of services from a variety of agencies, in addition to building
capacity so schools and agencies can sustain the partnerships without
CCIS' help. We are helping to improve school climate by providing support
to teachers and administrators and by helping students learn more because
their social and emotional needs are being met. By linking critical and
life changing services to students at Chicago public schools, we are helping
create a brighter future for the children leading to a better future for
the city. Click here for testimonials.
6. How and when did CCIS get started?
For background and history of CCIS, click here.
7. How do I recommend a school
to partner with CCIS?
To recommend a school partner, click here.
8. How is CCIS funded?
CCIS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Our main sources of revenue
come from foundation and corporation grants, and individual contributions.
We also participate in the Celebrity Charity Chair Auction each fall.
To see our foundation and corporate donors, click
here.
9. Why invest in CCIS?
Investing in Chicago Communities In Schools is an investment in the education
and future of Chicago's children.
Each year, CCIS brings help to increasing numbers of children. During
the past five years alone, more than 80,000 children directly benefited
from a multitude of services. Caring professionals or volunteers from
150 different agencies, hospitals and universities and other nonprofits
delivered these services directly at the school site for easy access by
children – all at no cost to the school. Children were not receiving
these life-changing services before CCIS brought them to their schools.
10. How do I invest in CCIS?
Please join us by making a gift to Chicago Communities In Schools and
investing in the education and future of Chicago's children. We believe
that when a child's social, emotional and health needs are met, educational
attainment and success will follow. As we continue to expand, add new
schools each year, and reach increasing numbers of children and families,
your gift is especially important.
Ways of Giving
There are several options to use in making a gift to Chicago Communities
In Schools. Please note that your donation is tax deductible.
- Cash
Gifts of cash are the easiest and most conventional way of giving to
Chicago Communities In Schools. Cash gifts of any size can make an immediate
impact on our work. Please make checks out to Chicago Communities
In Schools.
- Stocks
CCIS accepts gifts of stock as well as revenues generated through stock
sales. CCIS has an account with William Blair & Company, 312-236-1600,
Account #156-60356, Depository Trust Co. #771 to make giving to CCIS
in this manner as easy as possible.
- Charge Cards
CCIS accepts gifts through Visa and MasterCard. To make a credit card
contribution now, click here.
- Matching Gift Program
Through your place of employment, you can double or triple your gift
to Chicago Communities In Schools. Please call your personnel office
to see if your company has a matching gifts program and secure a matching
gift form from them.
If you are ready to make an investment in Chicago Communities In Schools
and have additional questions, please call Becca Kopf at 312-829-2475 ext. 20. Thank you in advance for your consideration to become our partner.
The young people of today are the community of tomorrow, and their success
in school is the best investment we can make in helping them become contributing
citizens in our society.
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