Serving Together
Why Focus on Schools?
One in six children is living in poverty in the United States (U.S. Census Bureau). Impoverished children often miss meals, lack adequate clothing and shelter, and attend fewer days of school – factors impacting their health, educational achievement, and future employment potential.
These challenges, coupled with decreased funding to schools, led Caring for Kids to focus upon the needs of schools in the Greater Kansas City Area and to develop a process to effectively mobilize the community.
Caring for Kids’ Four-Step Process
The Caring for Kids process helps develop mutually reinforcing activities to accomplish common goals. The unique needs of the school determine the community resources and volunteers required for each initiative.
Step 1 – Engage
Step 2 – Connect
Step 3 – Empower
Step 4 – Coach
We are there to help you every step of the way! Contact us today with questions or to begin the process!
Step 1 -Engage
We begin by asking the school district leadership how community partners can help schools achieve their goals. The superintendent and leadership team identify schools needing partners and existing programs. The Caring for Kids team plans envisioning events to engage potential church, business and civic partners with the schools identified by the district. We create a unique menu of district initiatives to share with potential partners. Our team also meets with the principals of the schools desiring partners.
Step 2 - Connect
The Roundtable Connection Event brings all partners together with the principals to get to know each other and identify the school’s top needs. It all begins with the question, “How can we help?” This event sets the stage for ongoing collaboration throughout the year.
Step 3 - Empower
Once the needs are identified, a simple action plan is created to bring partner resources to help meet needs. Implementation of the plan connects partners to existing district programs and also allows for innovative ideas to meet needs with partner resources. Partners meet with the principal and each other four times annually to monitor progress and build relationships.
Step 4 - Coach
Our goal is to build truly sustainable, transformative partnerships that will be impactful long-term. When partners work together, it accelerates the impact. Ongoing feedback, evaluation and celebration are all part of sustainable partnerships. Caring for Kids offers tools, ongoing coaching and special events to make this happen.
