For Service Providers
Service providers throughout Chicago are eager to reach children with their programs but need assistance accessing and navigating schools and ensuring that their programs are appropriate for the classroom.

Communities In Schools of Chicago partners with more than 150 hospitals, universities, theaters, community-based nonprofits, government agencies, museums, corporations and individuals and helps them facilitate their programs within schools. Communities In Schools of Chicago directs our service provider partners to schools that need the services they offer, helps them navigate these schools and helps improve the quality of their services.

Working with Communities In Schools of Chicago: Emerald City Theatre
Experiencing live theater is a rare occurence for many Chicago public school students. Emerald City Theatre (ECT) recognizes the challenges that urban schools encounter. In the fall of 2006, ECT contacted Communities In Schools of Chicago for help supporting a school-based outreach program.

We helped ECT access schools in targeted neighborhoods. In their first year of partnership, nearly 700 students from nine Communities In Schools of Chicago partner schools attended an ECT performance. With such a successful first year, ECT committed to expanding its school-based work. In 2007-2008, ECT served 2,385 students at 23 of our partner schools - an astounding increase.

According to Beth Klein, ECT's Business Manager, "Through Communities In Schools of Chicago, we are now providing free theater to those who most need it."

Training and Seminars
Every year, Communities In Schools of Chicago hosts trainings to help our service providers maximize the impact of their community programs. These free events provide insight and instruction on how to work effectively with schools and students and provide opportunities for service providers to share trends and best practices.

Some of the topics covered in our training and networking opportunities include:

- Curriculum support
- Managing an unfamiliar classroom
- Using student assessment and evaluation data to improve your program
- Opportunities for collaboration
- Marketing your program for today’s schools

Work with us