Monthly Archives: February 2010

Excerpted from the The Spokesman-Review
Jody Lawrence-Turner
February 24, 2010

Third-grader Tyrese Patrick opened wide and showed no fear as his teeth were inspected, scraped and a few were covered with a sealant by the dental hygienist visiting his school.

The 8-year-old had been put at ease by Gail Heacox, who explained the tools of her mobile dental office as Tyrese lay on her portable chair in the temporarily converted nurse’s office at Sheridan Elementary School.

Heacox is the first hygienist in Spokane County to offer the school-based dental sealant program, a preventive effort overseen by the Washington Department of Health. The veteran hygienist was brought into the schools through Communities in Schools, a nonprofit that seeks to connect students with community resources.

“If kids’ teeth hurt, they can’t learn,” said Ben Stuckart, director of Communities in Schools.

According to the Washington Department of Health, an estimated 51 million school hours are lost per year in the United States because of dental-related illnesses.

The need for dental care was discovered during conversations in the schools where “dental and medical kept coming up,” Stuckart said.
“One of the problems is that if a single parent works all day, they do not have time to get kids to an appointment,” Stuckart said. “Access at the school is key.”

Before the visit, each school is informed when the dental hygienist will be coming. Forms are sent home with students to get parents’ permission and insurance information. If a student doesn’t have insurance, the dental care is done free of charge.

Heacox assesses the students’ teeth, cleans them, then uses sealant to close cracks where a cavity could easily grow. Other services include oral hygiene instructions and painting the teeth with a highly concentrated fluoride that makes them stronger.

An informational sheet is sent home to the parents indicating whether the child has cavities or other problems that need to be addressed by a dentist.

“She does such a great service,” said Heacox’s assistant, Toni Carey. “Some of these students would never be seen by a dentist.”

When Heacox started dental work, she never planned to focus on children, she said. “It’s been the most fun, rewarding … and challenging job I’ve ever done.”

Read the full story here….

Around a hundred supporters turned out on a beautiful spring day in Olympia to urge legislators to fund Communities In Schools organizations in Washington. The day marked the culmination of a year of legislative meetings by staff and board members across our network, as well as hundreds of letters written on our behalf, as we sought to lay the groundwork for eventual state funding.

As the Washington network of thirteen CIS organizations comes into our own as the leader in school-based coordinated services we seek to complement our funding (traditionally business, foundation and individually supported) with consistent funding from the State of Washington. Such funding will sustain our momentum of reaching thousands more youth in need and at risk of dropping out.

This is our first year at a concerted network-wide request, and with a state budget deficit of $2.8 billion we knew our chances were a long shot at best. But we decided to use the opportunity to more assertively educate policy makers about the work we are doing – work that ultimately decreases unemployment, reduces social service costs and drives our tax base. And in the words of Senate supporter, Tracey Eide, “If you don’t come down and ask you’re never going to get anything.”

As we all feared, proposed House and Senate budgets released yesterday were marked more by cutting programs than adding new ones, no matter how effective. And while the budgets did not include Communities In Schools funding our efforts have still enjoyed considerable success. When it comes to dropout prevention and school-based coordination, we are now front-and-center in the minds of leading legislators and policy makers. When our economy eventually rebounds we are, more than ever, poised to gain state funding.

We knew going in this was going to be a multi-year process. Count our first year a success that we will build on over the course of 2010, let culminate on Olympia Day 2011, and result in state funding for our Washington State network.

Thanks to everyone for your support and hard work as we work to make state funding a reality in Washington!

For 31 years the Telly Awards has honored the very best in video, film and commercials. Now for the first time they’ve introduced People’s Telly categories on a YouTube channel to let you be the judge and help pick the next Telly Awards winners. The first round of votes ends March 5th

Our Communities In Schools event video, produced and directed by David Merwin, has been nominated for the best nonprofit, online video. Please click here to vote with a quick thumbs up!

Excerpted from the Auburn Reporter

Communities In Schools of Auburn (CISA) finished distributing a semi load of notebook paper to Auburn schools last Monday.

All 22 schools received a half-pallet of paper to ensure all students have the necessary supplies.

Communities In Schools of Auburn was aided in the distribution effort by a number of volunteers who brought their trucks and muscles to the two-day effort. The donation is the result of a partnership between Communities In Schools of Auburn and the World Vision Storehouse Program.

CISA pays a membership fee in the Storehouse Program and receives monthly distributions of essential supplies for students and families in need. Grooming aids, clothing and cleaning products are routinely included.

Supplies are targeted to the schools in the downtown core with the highest rates of poverty, but given the tremendous amount of product in this distribution, Communities In Schools of Auburn was able to assist students at every district school.

“Our extraordinary partnership with World Vision allows Communities In Schools of Auburn to serve more schools and students in need. We are very grateful to have the support of such a high caliber organization,” says Arlene Pierini, Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Auburn.

“Our students use journals extensively in their curriculum,” says Brad Sprague, Principal of West Auburn High School. “This donation ensures our students have the supplies they need to be successful.”

Story excerpted from the Auburn Reporter. Read the entire story here.

Who knew Mardi Gras could find its way up to Seattle in January? But on a rainy winter night, typical of the Pacific Northwest, Mardi Gras was in full swing. The costumes were extravagant, the laughs were affable and the beads abundant. And all of this festivity was in the spirit of giving. On January 30th, 2010 Communities In Schools held its first-annual Mardi Gras Dinner Auction to both celebrate and support the organization’s statewide mission to keep kids in school.

The guests of the night clearly captured this spirit of donation and dedication and met it with their own share of festivity and fun. Bidding wars broke out as guests tried to claim their favorite items in the silent auction. Throughout the presentation attendees stood to celebrate our work. And when the invitation to give was announced, auction paddles were pushed into the air.

Through the energy and compassion of the 125 guests, Communities In Schools is, after expenses $12,000 more able to do our work. Schools can’t do it alone, and neither can we. We sincerely thank all our supporters, our sponsors—Pike Brewing Co., Mercer Estates, Service Linen Supply, and Linda and Larry Huseby—and each and every guest that showed their support for kids and families.

 

Thank you,
Communities In Schools of Washington
Board and Staff