It’s a truism that schools are asked to play an increasing role in our social safety net for families. Community collaboration is not a focus. Just last month, EdWeek published “Are We Asking Schools to Do Too Much?” In that article, Heath Oates, superintendent of the El Dorado Springs district in rural Missouri explained why. “I think the data bear out that people in society like and trust their local schools. So, it’s natural… to say, ‘Hey, let’s have the schools do that.’”
Schools can make a huge impact on families by bringing in support that already exists within the community
ILANA STEINHAUER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE (VIM)
But one innovative organization has turned that approach on its head. Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires, a community health organization whose patient base is primarily first-generation immigrants in western Massachusetts, knows that no single service provider can do it all. So they decided to use the strengths of the school and marry them to their own strengths as a health care provider. The result is an increase in student success and family well-being.
Ready4K recently sat down with Volunteers in Medicine for an interview to find out how school districts can tap into the resources in their communities to ease the load of supporting families while increasing student success rates.
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