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

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

3. 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

4. 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?

5. Bright Futures Neosho Neosho, MO Barb Lake, Coordinator

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Utilize Media Opportunities
TV, Radio, Newspaper

12. Community Awareness
Light The Night

13. Poverty is REAL LIFE
Sharing stories and photos

14. 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

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

16. Hands On
Hygiene Drives

17. Hands On
Food Drives

18. Hands On
Peanut Butter Drive

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

20. Poverty Simulation

21. Bright Futures Clinton
Clinton, MO
Angie Lawson-
Teresa Howard-

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

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

27. 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

28. 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

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

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

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

32. Classroom Partnership cont.

33. 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

34. 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

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

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

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

39. (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
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•• Like
(D Annie Dillon, Shelley Mills and 17 others
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40. Implemented Monthly “Bright Futures Day”
-To Continue to Raise Awareness

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

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

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

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

45. Business/Career Days

46. Business/Career Day

47. How can we communicate quickly?
Remind ME
It’s FREE

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

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

50. College Bound

51. Lunch PALS
Positive Adults Lunching with Students

52. Discussion & Questions?