OUR STORY
Mission
To surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
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We believe greatness exists in every child.
We see potential coursing through them, a promise waiting to be realized.
So we go where they need us -- understanding their needs and listening to their dreams from the inside-out and the outside-in.
And in every step we take together, we help them find the strength and confidence to look within and see what we see -- a bright future that's theirs for the taking.
Community by community, school by school, child by child -- we are all in this together.
History
For more than 40 years, Communities In Schools National (CIS) has been helping students achieve in school, graduate and go on to bright futures. CIS is the nation’s largest and most effective organization dedicated to keeping kids in school. Our unique model positions social worker-trained Site Coordinators inside schools to assess students’ needs and provide resources to help them succeed. CIS partners with local businesses, social service agencies, health care providers and volunteers to fortify our work in support of student success. Whether it’s food, school supplies, health care, counseling, academic assistance or a positive role model, Communities In Schools is there to help.
Communities In Schools of New Mexico began as The Salazar Partnership in 1998. Bill and Georgia Carson, retired educators from Chicago answered an appeal for help from a local elementary school principal. Working closely with members of the United Church of Santa Fe, the Carsons developed an organically-designed, wrap-around service program.
In 2012, the Salazar Partnership became the 26th State Affiliate of Communities In Schools, bringing CIS's proven framework for increasing graduation rates to New Mexico. Based on the belief that it is relationships, not programs, that change children, CIS of New Mexico currently serves over 6,000 children and youth in ten Santa Fe Public schools. Our Site Coordinators build trusting relationships with students, families, and school administration to help foster community and improve school culture. Young people can thrive when adults care about them on a one-to-one level and support them throughout any circumstance. It is the power of relationships that make our community strong.
