Our October 13 meeting featured a panel discussion with Dr. Cheryl Harris, Assistant Superintendent of Support Services for the Normandy Schools Collaborative (NSC); Carrie Collins, Senior Director of Education for Beyond Housing; and Julia Beinke, Wraparound Coordinator for Beyond Housing.
Ailey Pope, Director of Service for The Community Impact Network, led the panel in a thoughtful discussion of how wraparound services can improve student outcomes for children in the NSC. Below are five lessons we learned.
1. Children Need More Social-Emotional Support
The COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools for nearly two years, isolating children and families. This isolation harmed children’s social skills, and the emotional effects of the pandemic and other social factors in recent years have increased their stress and anxiety levels. The panel observed that children need a strong foundation of social-emotional support to truly thrive in school.
2. NSC Teachers and Staff Need Support, Too
Children of all ages have struggled to adjust to classroom learning after spending key developmental years at home.
This has made it harder for teachers to manage classroom behavior and group instruction. The panel emphasized the importance of supporting teachers and support staff so that they have the resources they need to successfully lead their classrooms.
3. Collaboration is the Key to Growth
The NSC and Beyond Housing partner with other local organizations to provide resources that students, families, and staff need to succeed. However, there is room for more collaboration to provide additional comprehensive services. The panelists remarked that they have been retooling wraparound services to better serve NSC families and staff, and they look forward to working with more Network members to increase the resources they offer in the 24:1.
4. Wraparound Services Address Root Causes
Chris Krehmeyer, President and CEO of Beyond Housing, pointed out that during a typical school day, teachers, staff, and support personnel understandably focus on students’ immediate behavioral or academic problems. However, these problems stem from deeper issues, such as housing insecurity, food insecurity, or family instability. Wraparound services, which are possible through collaboration, can improve student outcomes by treating these root causes and not just the behaviors that result from them.
5. The Network Has a New Mission Statement
Continuing the theme of the importance of collaboration, Winston Calvert, Chief Executive Officer for The Community Impact Network, announced the Network’s new Mission Statement:
The Community Impact Network builds equity by serving those who create opportunities for people in the 24:1 community to learn, live, and leave a legacy.
This new mission emphasizes that it is the Network’s role to serve the people of the 24:1 community through our service to you and other Network members.