Providence Full Service Community Schools

Mission:

to impact learning for Providence children through school-based family supports students in the urban neighborhood of South Providence face significant challenges to academic success. When they walk through the doors of our participating schools many carry the heavy burdens of poverty, limited English proficiency, poor nutrition, high mobility, and family distress among others. As a result only 36% of Providence children are reading at grade level by fourth grade. Mitigating barriers to learning is a task that cannot be accomplished by the School District in isolation but requires multiple community partnerships and resources. It also requires that we assist the family as a whole, not the child in isolation. The Full Service Community School Program will create an easily accessible, comprehensive set of services based in the school. By integrating these services with existing school systems and curriculum, children and families will experience success and maximize learning.

What makes us different?

Services occur in the school, supporting the idea of the school as the center of the community
School staff and community partners work together to impact academics
Services are integrated and streamlined, maximizing effectiveness
Program implemented bottom up: staff works with families as they enter the school and assess needs individually
Program implemented top down: institutional buy-in from District and Community leaders generates a holistic view of programming
Wide range of services designed to support whole child and whole family

Locations

All services will take place at Elementary Schools in South Providence.
Schools are located within 1 square mile of each other.
Dorcas Place and the 5 participant schools are located at: (Purple)Dorcas Place, (Green)Robert Bailey, (Blue)Charles Fortes, (Yellow)Alfred Lima, (Pink)Charlotte Woods and (Red)Cornell Young

View Dorcas Place and Full Service Community Schools in a larger map

Services

Family Literacy - families participate in classes at the elementary school that teach English as a Second Language while promoting family involvement in the school and allowing parents to practice literacy skills with children
Out of School time - children are enrolled in before and after-school programming at the school. Academic enrichment and experiential learning are targeted to academic needs of students.
Wraparound Case Management -students with behavioral issues will participate in a family-based intensive case management program. A clinical team will create an individual family plan and provide counseling, family supports and additional services to strengthen the family.
Nutrition Services - children and families will participate in healthy eating classes, fun nutrition workshops, and playful exercise classes. An organic produce market will occur at the school weekly.
Family Engagement - Families will be intentionally involved in every aspect of this project. Families will be surveyed about their needs and wants for services and monthly family events will address those needs. The SIT, PTO and Governance Council for this program will cultivate parents as leaders of the school and facilitate a school atmosphere that is welcoming to families.

Duration and Numbers

Project is currently funded from January 2009 - August 2013
Out of School time - children are enrolled in before and after-school programming at the school. Academic enrichment and experiential learning are targeted to academic needs of students.
Year one implementation will occur at Robert Bailey, serving 95 children and 126 adults
Year two implementation will add Charles Fortes and Alfred Lima, serving 178 children and 252 adults
Year three through five full implementation will add Charlotte Woods and Cornell Young, serving a total of 262 children and 378 adults

Partners

Dorcas Place Adult and Family Learning Center - lead agency
Providence Public School District
John Hope Settlement House
Greater Providence YMCA
Making Connections Providence

Impact

When fully implemented Full Service Community Schools will serve 375 children and 570 adults annually. Programming will impact children and adults in the following ways:

Participant children will improve reading skills
Participant children will improve school attendance
Participant children will be physically healthier
Participant children will experience improved well-being.
Participant adults will feel welcomed, supported and engaged by their children's schools
Participant adults will demonstrate increased knowledge of nutrition, family health and the importance of physical activity
Participant adults will increase their literacy levels
A coordinated system of service providers will be developed in the school community

External Evaluation

2009 PFSCS Qualitative Baseline Study