Schools around the country recognize the importance of supporting the whole child even as the financial resources available to districts are changing. Integrated student support provides a proven way to help students learn and thrive.
That’s why it’s encouraging to see communities with City Connects in their schools commit to maintaining that presence for years to come. This summer, Muncie, Indiana, renewed three years of funding to support City Connects in its schools.
“Investing in the success of our youth is the most important thing we can do,” Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour said. “This program helps children and families thrive in our community.”
City Connects is currently being implemented in eight schools in Muncie. It started in five schools in 2021-2022 and grew to seven last school year. This fall, City Connects started in Muncie Central High School. The Muncie school district supports just over 5,000 students each year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each City Connects Coordinator, or family navigator, creates a tailored set of services and opportunities for every student in their school. The Coordinator meets with teachers for Whole-Class Reviews before creating personalized support plans for each student in consultation and collaboration with their families. The Coordinator then follows up on these plans throughout the school year to ensure that each student receives the right services at the right time.
“The City Connects program is making a big difference in our schools, and it’s extremely gratifying to see that the city and Mayor Ridenour recognize that,” MCS Director of Public Education and CEO Dr. Chuck Reynolds said. “Without this support, we wouldn’t be able to maintain a full staff of family navigators who are assisting some of our most vulnerable students, allowing them to overcome significant challenges and succeed in the classroom. This investment helps change students’ lives in very meaningful ways.”
These commitments are important to help City Connects communities sustain integrated student support approaches in a time of shifting resources. As emergency COVID relief funds run out, school districts have to get creative in supporting these initiatives.
“Muncie’s additional investment in City Connects set the stage for ongoing sustainability and is leading by example for other districts in Indiana,” City Connects Midwest Director Jillian Lain said. “They’ve not only invested within their own school budgets but also encouraged and obtained investment from the City of Muncie. This aligns with Marian University’s Center for Vibrant School’s mission to ensure we provide the necessary support and guidance to ensure the ongoing sustainability of City Connects. Beyond consistent collaboration with schools and districts, we also create opportunities for collaborative grant writing and within those grants, provide a step-down funding approach to provide a runway to slowly build funding sustainability within their own budgets. This provides a gradual transition, avoiding a grant cliff, and time to embed City Connects both financially and programmatically.”
City Connects is currently in schools across five states and two countries, including Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, and Ireland. Across the network, it continues working to provide personalized support to every student, giving them opportunities to learn and thrive.
