Children's Home Society
Contributor
Jefferson County K-12 will adopt the innovative Community Partnership Schools™ model this year with partnerships among Children's Home Society of Florida, Florida A&M University, Florida Department of Health-Jefferson County, Florida State University, Jefferson County School District and North Florida College.
The partnerships are announced as the next step in growing the successful model first implemented in Orlando at Evans High School in 2012 and expanded to more than thirty schools statewide, transforming tens of thousands of lives.
The effective Community Partnership Schools™ model requires at least four core partners – including the school district, a healthcare provider, a nonprofit organization and a college or university – to agree to a 25-year commitment to the school and community, impacting generations.
Through the Community Partnership Schools™ model founded by Children’s Home Society of Florida and the University of Central Florida, core partners – in collaboration with local nonprofits, businesses, the faith community and other stakeholders – work within the schools to address key barriers to learning including poverty, food insecurity, lack of affordable healthcare, behavioral health services, and elevated rates of violence and crime, in addition to other challenges as identified.
Children’s Home Society of Florida will receive $80,000 in state grant funds after being selected by UCF’s Center for Community Schools to launch a community partnership school at Jefferson County K-12 in addition to local financial contributions to support this initiative.
“A Community Partnership School in this district will be transformative for our students. Our schools have needed these targeted supports for so long, and knowing the commitments from Children’s Home Society of Florida and our four core partners run through the next 25 years means generations of supported learning and wrap-around services for Jefferson families,” said Eydie Tricquet, Superintendent of Jefferson County Schools. “This is going to entirely change the game for Jefferson students and families.”
“The Community Partnership Schools™ model provides support for the entire family and surrounding community,” said Tiffany Martin, Children’s Home Society of Florida Regional Executive Director. “At CHS, we have seen disciplinary referrals fall and academic successes soar thanks to the model’s impact and the partnership that makes it possible and we are thrilled to have another school community selected for this amazing initiative.”
The first step toward implementation is the planning phase, which includes a community needs assessment. Students, teachers, parents and community members identify achievement paves the way for a lifetime of benefits for health. The Community Partnership Schools™ model provides the structure for success we need to make this a reality for Jefferson County.”
Other critical components of this model include a focus on parental and family engagement, as well as comprehensive health and wellness efforts.
“Florida State University is proud to help implement this approach in Jefferson County,” said Jarrett L. Terry, FSU’s Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs. “We see the community partnership school as an excellent opportunity for our students to grow academically, culturally and professionally through internship experiences and service projects for the benefit of Jefferson County students and the broader community.”
This collaborative approach leverages schools as central hubs toward improving child well-being by addressing key barriers to learning through counseling, medical and dental services, after-school enrichment, mentoring programs, and more.
"Florida A&M University welcomes the opportunity to participate in this strategic partnership that will have an untold impact over the next two decades and beyond," said College of Education Dean Allyson Watson. "We will mutually benefit as teacher preparation pathway programs and professional development take root during implementation of this initiative."
Florida House District 9 Representative Allison Tant said, “I am thrilled that the grant application for Jefferson K-12 to become a Community School has been approved. Jefferson K-12 will be the first model to be a full K-12 school and will change the trajectory of these students' lives by providing wrap-around services for them and their families. As a member of the Children's Home Society board, when the first Community Partnership School was created, I have seen first-hand the positive impact this model will have. I was honored to be able to donate $25,000 of my campaign funding to support their efforts, and I look forward to seeing the bright future of Jefferson K-12.”
Because they center on unique community needs, each Community Partnership School is different, but they all share a similar goal – to empower students to succeed in school and life. Specific successes through the Community Partnership Schools™ model include increased graduation rates, reduced disciplinary actions and increased parental involvement.
With the addition of Jefferson County K-12, Children’s Home Society of Florida has received planning grants to implement the Community Partnership Schools™ model at Caribbean K-8 Center, Daughtrey Elementary, JFK Middle School, Lake Worth High School and Pine Forest High School. CHS is a core partner in 27 of 36 Community Partnership Schools in Florida – more than any other entity in the state.
Who are the partners in this partnership?
On the front lines since 1902, Children’s Home Society of Florida is the oldest and largest statewide organization devoted to helping children and families. Children’s Home Society of Florida serves more than 50,000 children and family members throughout the state each year. To learn more, visit www.chsfl.org.
The University of Central Florida Center for Community Schools serves as the statewide grant administrator of the Community School Grant Program; provides technical assistance to community schools; and oversees a rigorous, strengths-based certification process for schools to become UCF-Certified Community Partnership Schools.
Jefferson County Schools (JCS) serves a diverse student body in a public K-12 setting.
Located in the Big Bend area of Florida and just 30 miles from the state’s capital, it is the sole school district in the county and is a Title I District. JCS is steeped in the knowledge of local student and family needs and history, and strives to provide excellent education services to all students. Programs include dual enrollment, career and technical education and voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK).
About Florida Department of Health – Jefferson County
The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. Florida Health, our brand, represents the vision that health belongs to everyone and every group—not just a state agency. It takes individuals, families, communities, and partnerships with local and state-level policymakers, and stakeholders to create a culture of health in Florida. While our agency is the spearhead for public health in the state, we are all stewards of health in Florida. Florida Health belongs to all of us.
Florida State University is one of the top public universities in the world and is proud to be recognized as a Preeminent University by the State of Florida. Designated as a Carnegie Research University (very high research activity), Florida State offers more than 275 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs, including medicine and law. The diverse and highly talented student body of 45,493 is selected from all 50 states and more than 120 countries.
Florida A&M University, founded on October 3, 1887, began classes with 15 students and two instructors. Today, FAMU is one of 12 institutions in Florida's State University System and has nearly 10,000 students.
FAMU offers 54 bachelor’s degrees, 29 master’s degrees, 12 doctoral degrees and three professional degrees. The three professional degrees include the J.D., Pharm.D., and the Doctor of Physical Therapy. The 12 doctoral degree programs include 11 doctoral degrees and one Doctor of Public Health. The 11 doctoral programs are: biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, physics, educational leadership, environmental science and entomology. For more information, visit www.FAMU.edu.