Children’s Home Society of Florida awarded Manatee Community Foundation Grant

Funds to support The Community Partnership Schools™ model at Manatee Elementary

BRADENTON, FLA. (December 15, 2021) — Children’s Home Society of Florida was awarded a $20,436 grant on behalf of the Conrad and Ruth Ann Szymanski Fund of Manatee Community Foundation to support the Community Partnership Schools™ model at Manatee Elementary.

“The generous support of the Conrad and Ruth Ann Szymanski Fund of Manatee Community Foundation will grow our Community Partnership School team at Manatee to better serve students, their families and the entire community,” said Jessica Davis, Regional Executive Director for Children’s Home Society of Florida. “We’re tremendously grateful for their support and commitment to empower children in Manatee County to realize their full potential.”

Community Partnership Schools focus on removing tough barriers to learning by bringing together high-quality academics, health care, counseling, support, mentoring and more – right on-site at the school.

Manatee Elementary adopted the innovative Community Partnership Schools™ model in 2019 as a partnership among Children’s Home Society of Florida, MCR Health, the School District of Manatee County and the University of South Florida.

Based on a highly successful initiative launched in New York City, the Community Partnership Schools™ model is proven to increase graduation rates, support parent engagement and decrease disciplinary referrals.

Together, core partners work within the school to address key barriers to learning including poverty, food insecurity, lack of affordable healthcare and mental health care and more, often bringing in additional community support to provide opportunities for children to succeed – both inside and outside of the classroom.

About Children’s Home Society of Florida

On the front lines since 1902, Children’s Home Society of Florida is the oldest and largest statewide organization devoted to helping children and families. Children’s Home Society of Florida serves more than 50,000 children and family members throughout the state each year. More: www.chsfl.org.

Note: The University of Central Florida Center for Community Schools serves as the statewide grant administrator of the Community School Grant Program; provides technical assistance to community schools; and oversees a rigorous, strengths-based certification process for schools to become UCF-Certified Community Partnership Schools.

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