Annual Report

The following information reflects services offered by Communities In Schools (CIS) of Brunswick County, Inc. for children and families. The services address dropout prevention and the need for coordinated community-based resources among communities of faith, county agencies, local government, businesses, civic groups, nonprofits, and the volunteer community.

Through formal partnerships with the Brunswick County Board of Education, Brunswick County Government and community partners, CIS has the opportunity to facilitate five core programs: Adopt A School and Volunteer Program, After School Program, Teen Court/Peer Court, Family Resource Centers/Family Literacy/Parenting Education, and Academic Scholarships. (September 17, 2008)

Adopt A School and Volunteer Program
Services Provided:
• Recruitment and training of volunteers focusing on one-on-one tutoring/mentoring for students performing below grade level to provide remediation and positive role models
• Recruitment of adopting partners through businesses, communities of faith, civic groups, and agencies to provide needed community resources for children and schools
• A consistent and structured Adopt A School and Volunteer Program for all Brunswick County Schools

Measures of Success 2007-2008:
• 679 one-on-one community volunteer tutors/mentors served 1,686 students
• 1,707 volunteers provided indirect services for 6,986 students
• 39,761 volunteer hours (value of $740,000)
• 54% of students who received one-on-one tutoring from volunteers reached grade level proficiency in Reading (Reading scores have not been release by the State at this time)
• 68% of students who received one-on-one tutoring from volunteers reached grade level proficiency in Math
• 187 adopting partnerships provided $186,800 in-kind donations to schools

After School Program
Services Provided:
• Affordable, quality after school programs in a safe, nurturing environment at 11 elementary and middle schools
• Homework assistance, tutoring, and educational enrichment to promote academic success and help students achieve appropriate grade level proficiencies
• Quality program with enrichment opportunities, community service, and exposure to community based activities to promote personal development
• No Child Left Behind Supplemental Educational Services provided at Belville Elementary School

Measures of Success 2007-2008:
• 690 students (K-8) received services (362 scholarships)
• 266 students performing below grade level received one-on-one/small group tutoring services
• 70% of elementary school students tutored through grant projects increased their Math grades by at least one level and 64% increased their Reading grade by at least one level
• 53% of middle school students tutored through grant projects increased their Math grades by at least one level and 52% increased their Communications Skills grades by at least one level
• 92% of parents with regular attending students showed positive family interaction
• Parents surveyed reported 82% of all students improved in overall social skills and self esteem
• Teachers surveyed reported 75% of all students improved in completing homework and academic performance
• Supplemental Educational Services provided to 34 students - average gains of 13% in Reading and 21% in Math

Teen Court/Peer Court
Services Provided:
• Juvenile court diversion program for eligible first-time offenders who are judged by their peers in a courtroom setting with sentencing to involve community service, restitution, and educational workshops on decision making skills, conflict resolution, and substance abuse (Peer Court addresses school-based offenses such as truancy and behavioral issues at Shallotte Middle School)
• Programs and positive role models that promote effective decision making skills, positive role models, self-respect, respect for authority, and good self-esteem
• Required parenting classes for all parents of first-time offenders to help address family conflict and disruption, family management problems, and early/persistent behavior problems in school
• Student volunteers trained in various careers within the judicial system while engaged in service learning to provide exposure to career opportunities

Measures of Success 2007-2008:
• 126 first-time offenders served through programs (102 Teen Court, 24 Peer Court) with a 86% success rate of successfully completing their sentence, with 1,055 hours of community service completed (824 hours Teen Court, 231 hours Peer Court)
• 90% of first-time offenders involved in Teen Court did not return to the juvenile justice system one year after completion of their sentence
• 58 parents (48 Teen Court, 10 Peer Court) attended required parenting classes - 90% learned new skills in communication and family management
• 169 student volunteers (118 Teen Court, 51 Peer Court) trained and held positions of prosecutors, defense attorneys, bailiffs, jurors and clerks; 45 adult community volunteers (38 Teen Court, 7 Peer Court)
• Information and assistance to over 173 families in truancy court meetings held by Judge Aldridge
• Juvenile court system saved an estimated $2,000 per case ($252,000) by diverting offenders to Teen Court and Peer Court

Family Resource Centers/Family Literacy/Parenting Education
Services Provided:
• Community-based Family Resource Centers located in Ash and Leland offer coordinated and accessible community-based agency services and resources in education, health, and human services
• Parenting Education Program provides evidence-based/promising practices parenting education classes and support groups throughout the county with a service focus on court mandated families, but open to all interested families
• Family Literacy Center located in Leland is designed to improve the education of children and adults by integrating early childhood education and adult education into a unified program with the following components: adult education/GED and ESL classes, early childhood development, parenting education, parent and child interaction, and home visits

Measures of Success 2007-2008:
• Over 2,700 children/parents served through agency partnerships and services at the 2 Family Resource Centers: WIC (Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program) and other health services, foster/adoptive/kinship care workshops, preschool programs, GED and ESL classes, Sight for Student Vision Vouchers, computer/internet public access, Senior Citizen Services, emergency assistance, information and referral (some limited transportation and childcare services provided for program participants)
• 162 adults and 138 children participated in the Parenting Education Program series; 94% of participating parents increased parenting knowledge/skills and decreased family conflict and disruption; 94% of participating parents indicated they successfully used new parenting and communication techniques and skills at home with their children; only one case of re-occurrence reported for the DSS/court mandated parents who completed the program
• 23 families with 31 children participated in the Family Literacy Program with 7 parents obtaining their GED; 97% of participating parents progressed at least three grade levels in Reading and 83% progressed at least three grade levels in Math; 85% of participating parents increased their parenting skills; 75% of participating children showed significant progress in at least three of the four domains of early childhood development; an additional 20 children participated in the More At Four Program for at risk 4 year olds

Academic Scholarships
Services Provided:
• Academic scholarships for Brunswick County graduating seniors

Measures of Success 2007-2008:
• Eighteen $1,000 CIS Scholarships awarded to graduating seniors from each of the three high schools and the alternative school
• North Brunswick High School: Stephanie Johnson (Campbell University), Kaitlyn Shank (University of North Carolina Wilmington), GleAna Stackhouse (University of North Carolina Wilmington), Kelly Bryant (North Carolina State University)
• South Brunswick High School: T. Scott Moore (North Carolina State University), Sarah Edison (Central Piedmont Community College), Saphyr Amrol-Davis (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill), Sarah McCarley (Appalachian State University), Yolanda Ray (North Carolina State University)
• West Brunswick High School: Megan Wheeler (University of North Carolina Greensboro), Blythe Butler (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill), Gail Murray (Catawba College), Stephen Canady (East Carolina University), Erin Dingess (Appalachian State University), Blair Lane (North Carolina State University)
• Brunswick County Academy: Johnnie Mobley Jr. (TBA), Megan Phelps (University of North Carolina Wilmington)
• Teen Court Student Volunteer: Ashley Williams (Charleston Southern University)

274 volunteer workshop participants
679 one-on-one volunteer tutors
1,707 volunteers serving in other ways
39,761 volunteer hours
1,686 students tutored/mentored one-on-one
6,986 students served in other ways
979 school staff served through events/activities/incentives
187 Adopt A School partnerships
$186,813 value of donations from Adopt A School partners to Brunswick County Schools

Adopt A School and Volunteer Program: Dr. Dwight Willis, Principal of Supply Elementary School said, “The volunteers at Supply Elementary give more than 2,000 hours of service each year and much of their time is spent tutoring students who need extra help and encouragement to succeed. The assistance volunteers provide in helping with class and school projects saves the school staff a lot of time. Our volunteers and school partners provide extras that otherwise would not be afforded. Their generous support and gifts of time and effort have made them an invaluable part of our school effort.”

After School Program: A parent of a 5th grader enrolled in the After School Program said, “I think the program is wonderful. It’s a God send; it has been such a relief not having to worry about my daughter’s care after school and being able to count on services provided by such qualified staff, I can work worry-free.”

CIS received the following thank you note from a mother whose son participated in the summer Fun-tastic Program. “My son had a wonderful experience at the CIS Summer Camp this past summer. You may recall that he is autistic. However, Mr. and Mrs. Marlowe at Jessie Mae Monroe welcomed him and treated him exactly like all the other children. To my delight, he not only thrived, but blossomed! Thank you and please thank your staff!”

Teen Court: Sometimes the defendants divulge much more about themselves and how they feel about their experiences in Teen Court when they complete their surveys. One student wrote, “I am really glad I was in Teen Court. It really changed my behavior. I would like to thank everyone in the Teen Court system for their time and efforts with me.” Another teen commented that his relationship with his parents had changed because “now I’m honest with them and we don’t argue” and another wrote “it’s easier to talk to my parents now.”

Peer Court: “Tyler”, a 6th grade student who appeared as a defendant in Peer Court, had numerous referrals to the Assistant Principal’s office for classroom disruption and disorderly conduct before eventually being charged with larceny. Upon completion of Peer Court, his discipline referrals had dropped drastically. His teachers reported that the program had a “positive impact” on Tyler and they had seen an increase in positive behavior, as well as academic improvement. Tyler was even nominated by his teachers and the administration as a “Citizen of the Month”. His parents and teachers have attributed part of Tyler’s success to the help that he received in Peer Court.

Family Resource Centers: A single mother of three who lost her children to foster care came to the Leland Family Resource Center looking for help to get on the right path for reunification with her family. Staff first enrolled her in parenting education classes. She soon received employment as a result of using the center’s public access computers and resume programs. She was also connected with a mentor to help her with the educational plans for her two children with developmental disabilities. During this time, she had to move from her mobile home because it was being sold by the owner and staff was able to help her obtain the deposit she needed for a new home through a partnership with one of the local churches. This young mother has since given back to the Family Resource Center by volunteering.

Family Literacy Center: A recent graduate of the Family Literacy Center wrote the following to the staff: “The CIS Leland Family Literacy Program has meant a lot to me. I have tried many other programs and failed. In this program I have reached my goal to get my GED. It makes a difference when you have people that care. You get to interact with your children throughout the day. Everyone at the center is very loving and caring. They treat your children like their own. The GED teacher, Mrs. Bess, she understands that everyone learns at different levels. She made a huge difference for me; she gave me the confidence that I needed. When I got frustrated with a subject she was there to reassure me that I could do it. Without this program I would not have accomplished my GED.”

Parenting Education: A parent attending the parenting education classes said the following, “The parenting program has taught me to control my emotions and alternate ways of discipline and things that I do that will affect the way my children will turn out. I always learned something each week and it has made me a better person and a better parent. I have a great feeling of accomplishment. I really enjoyed the classes and will miss it.”