What CAN Bright Futures Look Like in a Community? Barb Lake, Neosho, Missouri Teresa Howard & Angie Lawson, Clinton, Missouri Megan Frazier, Miami, Oklahoma

No Two Communities Are Alike Every Bright Futures program will look different. Learn from others’ successes!

School System vs. Community Most Bright Futures Affiliates started with the school. Financial Security and Stability Few Bright Futures Affiliates started because of their community Strong volunteer group Strong Community Buy-in

Initial Questions/Concerns Community- Why is it needed? School staff- Is it “just one more thing”? Social workers/coordinators- Aren’t we already doing this/ meeting needs?

Bright Futures Neosho Neosho, MO Barb Lake, Coordinator lakebarb@neoshosd.org

Bright Futures Neosho, MO Demographics: -Rural, population- 15,000 -Student population- 4,500 11 buildings: PreK-High School Alternative High School, Behavioral Center -Free and reduced rate- 62% (82-85% at 3 Elementary Schools) -Full time Bright Futures Coordinator 6 years implanted in district

Bright Futures Neosho, MO How We Started -Bright Futures was implemented in nearby Joplin Schools. -Advisory board formed -District Community Relations director appointed as coordinator

Neosho First Year: Kick-off Breakfast Site Councils Established - Community Ambassadors conducted “needs assessments” in each building. Site councils began meeting in each building Meeting Basic Student Needs Community Awareness

Neosho: Growing Beyond the first year Americorps VISTA added and full time coordinator added the following year. Distribution Center added and enhanced each year. Clothing, coats, shoes, socks/underwear, hygiene, school supplies, gym clothing Community Events/Drives added: Stuff the Bus, Food Drives, Pass The Pride, Peanut Butter Drive, New Student Packs Mentoring Programs – Lunch Buddy, Career Day Dual Credit Scholarships for High School Juniors & Seniors Community Awareness Poverty Simulations Funding – Annual Golf Tournament, Bowling Tournament, grants, donations, employee payroll deductions

Weekend Backpack Program Has increased from125 to over 450 students enrolled Grants, Corporate donations, and fundraisers to fund program at annual cost of $75,000 25 dedicated volunteers

Utilize Media Opportunities TV, Radio, Newspaper

Community Awareness Light The Night

Poverty is REAL LIFE Sharing stories and photos

Seizing Opportunities to Share our Story Kiwanis Club Lions Club Rotary Club Exchange Club Newcomers Club Realtor’s Assoc. Pastoral Alliance Churches/VBS VFW PTO School Board Elected Officials Businesses Industry Chamber of Commerce

Joining Forces Partner with area Community Action Agencies (communityactionpartnership.com) Spotlightonpoverty.org Area Coalitions Economic Security Food Pantries Homeless Shelters Health Department

Hands On Hygiene Drives

Hands On Food Drives

Hands On Peanut Butter Drive

Move it from Head Knowledge Poverty Simulation Move it from Head Knowledge to Heart Knowledge

Poverty Simulation

Bright Futures Clinton Clinton, MO Angie Lawson- alawson@clintoncardinals.org Teresa Howard- thoward@clintoncardinals.org

Bright Futures Clinton, MO Demographics: -Rural, population- 9,023 -Student population- 1,839 6 buildings: PreK-High School/Tech School -Free and reduced rate- 58% - 2 school social workers in district who are BF school coordinators and are responsible for all things BF -3rd year of BF implementation

Bright Futures Clinton, MO How We Started -Concerned community member approached school board, wanting to meet student needs -School board researched BF and voted to affiliate (also fits into district’s strategic plan) -Advisory board formed -Two district social workers were appointed as co-coordinators

Clinton First Year: Kick-off Breakfast - Introduced Bright Futures to Community Site Councils Established - Community Ambassadors conducted “needs assessments” in each building. Site councils began meeting in each building (only met twice the first year) Building Partners Secured Began Meeting Student Needs thru Social Media

Methodist Womens’ Group Optimist Club Retired Teachers Association Advisory Board Members Spoke with Community Groups- -to Raise Awareness and Build Community Partnerships Rotary Club Methodist Womens’ Group Optimist Club Retired Teachers Association Clinton Literacy Council Ministerial Alliance VFW

Focus on Awareness and Brand Recognition Created and distributed flyers Printed t-shirts

Implemented Back to School Fair Provided: School supplies Shoes Dental exam Head checks Care Closet info Backpacks Socks/undies Hygiene kits Haircut vouchers BackSnacks information

Clinton: Growing Beyond the first year Annual Kick-off Breakfast - Evolved to Business After Hours Active Site Councils Continued Meeting Student Needs Positive Adults (mentoring) Implemented Classroom Partnership Program Volunteer/Mentoring Programs Added Community Awareness – added social media campaigns Back to School Fair expanded

Kickoff Changed to “Business After-Hours” Social - to Thank and Showcase

Began to Focus on Providing Positive Adults (volunteers/mentors)

Implemented Classroom Partnership Program Every elementary and intermediate classroom Smaller businesses, civic groups, church groups

Classroom Partnership cont.

Expanded Classroom Partnership Program In an effort to make the program a better experience for volunteers, we created a “Welcome Packet” *Welcome Letter *Teacher Info *School Calendar *Helpful School Info *Ideas of how to Get Involved *Volunteer & Confidentiality Forms

Implemented & Expanded Variety of Volunteer/Mentoring Programs Book Buddies Lunch Pals/Buddies Muffins with Mom/Donuts with Dad Rotary Sponsored Basketball/Character Ed Camp Family Fun Day Reading Pals Study Buddies

Began Looking at Ways for Students to Give Back Implemented Senior “Skip2Serve” Day

Expanded Focus on Teaching Students to Give Back Making service learning a priority

Continued Focus on Awareness and Recognition Implemented #BrightFuturesChampionsFriday Social Media Campaign

(D Annie Dillon, Shelley Mills and 17 others Brig,ht Futures Clinton added 27 new photos_ Published by Angie Wilson Lawson [?l - February 17 at 7:31pm -0 ,, Uke Page Bright Futures Clinton added 15 new photos_ Published by Tracy Patterson Howard !?l - February 10 - ,, Like Page A short week didn't stop some pretty amaz ing things from happening in al.Ir schools this week! Shout al.It to all of these volunteers on this In this week's edition of #BrightFuturesChampionsFriday we hope yo l.l not only notice the difference al.Ir volunteers are making, but also the difference al.Ir students are making in al.Ir commun ity! Thank you volunteers for showing students that volunteering is fun and for leading by examp le! 779 people reached Comment ,+ Share •• Like (D Annie Dillon, Shelley Mills and 17 others Comment ,+ Share

Implemented Monthly “Bright Futures Day” -To Continue to Raise Awareness

“Bright Futures Day” cont. I Celebrate BF Because…. I Celebrate BF Because…..

Expanded Back to School Fair Offered “On-site” Haircuts

Bright Futures Can Look Different in Every Community Megan Frazier Bright Futures Miami

Senior Photo Day at Alternative School Local Photographers volunteered Local Hair Dressers volunteered

Business/Career Days

Business/Career Day

How can we communicate quickly? Remind ME www.remind.com It’s FREE

Summer Snack Program at the Pool Kids are hungry….they pick up trash for a free snack

College Bound 2nd graders-5th graders visit local colleges Not “IF I got to college” but “WHEN I go to college.”

College Bound

Lunch PALS Positive Adults Lunching with Students

Discussion & Questions?