Dropout Prevention Program

Action for Success
An evidence-based CIS Dropout Prevention Program


Too many young people are failing in our public schools today, leaving the classroom without the skills needed to succeed in life. Schools alone cannot solve the complex and diverse problems faced by today’s youth. Students' school failure is usually the result of multiple stresses, most often from factors outside of school. CIS Action for Success works by building relationships that remove the barriers to learning and improve ways our community responds to needs of at-risk students and their families. Whether it’s math assistance, eyeglasses, or a caring person to talk to, when these basic needs are met, students can concentrate on what’s really important – learning – and educators can concentrate on teaching. 

Action for Success case manages identified middle school students according to their risk factors and needs. The Success Coach, who serves as the case manager, designs a service plan for each student and serves as a liaison between the family and the school.  Once risk factors are assessed and the parents are contacted to discuss the plan, the student is referred to services. The number and duration of interventions are determined on an individual basis. Most services are provided during school hours when students are not in core subjects, while others are offered after school.   

Some of the services available for referral are:
Academic Tutoring Family Counseling Mentoring
Basic Needs Individual Counseling Parent Involvement
Community Service Life Skills Parenting Education Workshops
Conflict Resolution Workshops Mental Health Services Truancy Prevention

Action for Success follows the best practices of the national CIS Model, recognized by the National Dropout Prevention Center “for reducing school dropout and increasing high school graduation.”

Brunswick County Schools responds to Action for Success: 

ardityCIS has been great for Brunswick County Schools. Ardith Shaw and this program have made tremendous impacts on the lives of some of our most needy students. Words cannot express what Ardith through the program has done for some of our students.  
Thank you for hiring such high quality staff and for working so hard to provide these resources to Shallotte Middle School!!! Thank you again!”
 
Paul Price
Principal, Shallotte Middle School
 
 
brian“Brian Walker is such a huge asset to Cedar Grove Middle School. Thank you to all who have made this position possible. Cedar Grove Middle School salutes you!  
Having Brian Walker at Cedar Grove Middle School as the Dropout Prevention Coach has been a tremendous asset to our school. His ability to build relations with the students and their parents as well as members of the school community has made him an important member of the Cedar Grove Middle School family. He works closely with the faculty as well to meet the needs of the students and to provide as many opportunities for student success as possible. I can't imagine the Cedar Grove Middle School family without him!”
 
Rhonda Evans Benton
Principal, Cedar Grove Middle School
  
 
courtney“Courtney Milliken is doing a fantastic job as graduation coach.  She is recruiting and matching mentors to student personalities.  She really reaches out to the whole community for help for our students.  She monitors the progress and makes adjustments as needed. Just wish we had her all the time as the needs are great and time is limited for addressing all the needs.”
 
Beverly B. Marlowe
      Principal, Waccamaw School


For further information, contact:

Shallotte Middle School
Ardith Shaw, Dropout Prevention Director / Success Coach
910-754-6882
ashaw@bcswan.net

Cedar Grove  Middle School
Brian Walker, Graduation Coach / Success Coach
910-846-3400
bwalker@bcswan.net

Waccamaw School
Courtney Milliken, Graduation Coach / Success Coach
910-287-6155
ciswaccamaw@2khiway.net



Communities In Schools of Brunswick County, Inc.
PO Box 10087
Southport, NC 28461
Tel (910) 457-3494 Fax (910) 457-2293
e-mail: info@cisbrunswick.org