Coalition

● Helping to close the widening opportunity gaps after the pandemic

● Aligning local networks to community-identified needs and goals

● Developing opportunities and skill-based pipelines with community organizations, businesses, and local entities

●Supporting school professionals so that they can focus on education and we can focus on students' behavioral, environmental, and social needs

● Building relationships and local networks that contribute to youth, family, and community transformation

Community Schools have been long-standing in the educational community, however, national recognition for Community Schools is relatively new to Arizona. Restart SMART, Higher Ground’s adaptation of the Community School model, centers youth, family, and community needs to achieve long-term and locally-led sustainability. Arizona historically faces high poverty rates. The communities we serve have histories of generational trauma, racial discrimination, and resulting opportunity gaps. The Arizona Coalition for Community Schools centralizes local assets to serve Arizona’s most vulnerable populations.

Arizona Coalition of Community Schools' goal is empowering entire communities and school systems to prioritize student and family success– on all levels and according to individual needs. We know students have better chances of success when their families are well. Families can only reach wellness when their basic needs are met. Housing, food, high-quality services, accessible resources, and equitable enrichment opportunities are all necessary for individual and local growth.

There are 5 driving principles identified in a Community School research brief that also apply to the Arizona Coalition for Community Schools:

• Trusting relationships- Intentionally build mutual trust and cooperation between networks and individuals involved. Build trust by moving slowly, together, with urgency, and by showing that students and families are the center of our work.

• Cross-sector partnerships- We know that resources and time are limited, but that does not mean that stakeholders need to compete. When we intentionally coordinate efforts and resources, we can avoid service duplication or offering services that will go unused.

• Purposeful engagement- Center youth and families in the data discussions and strategy designs. Real change happens when service providers understand the root issues. Our communities need to know they are leaders and partners in this work. In addition, the work of youth and families should lead to positive outcomes. Service provision should be purposeful towards solutions that align with root causes.

• Actionable data- Arizona Coalition for Community Schools blends and balances community stories, national research, and root-cause-analysis data to inform our decisions. We know that data and research are crucial. Data and research cannot paint a holistic picture without including community voices. Youth and family voices, experiences, and wisdom can inform service providers of issues that data alone will miss, such as policy and systemic issues.

• Shared accountability- Too often, society centers low-income students and families as the problem. Failed reforms that do not address root issues lead to mistrust and larger issues. Nonprofits, practitioners, and other entities need to assess their contributions and shortcomings to accept shared accountability for community-led sustainability. If entities want to be part of the community, we need to accept accountability, offer strategies that work, and build trust.

● Empower communities to collaborate toward shared and individual goals

● Collaborate in groups that represent the community- youth, families, and entities

● Engage in transparent communication that leads to shared decision-making

● Foster data and story-driven conversations that inform sustainable policy

● Model a responsive approach to locally-led change

The Arizona Coalition for Community School seeks to empower historically vulnerable and neglected communities to reach, transform, and elevate their communities. The Coalition will bring together stakeholders such as youth, families, community-based organizations, provisioners, leaders, and school professionals. The Coalition seeks to develop local-national advocacy, outreach, and information structures. We will engage in transparent communication, shared decision-making, continual education, and policymaking opportunities. We will include multiple modes and times of participation such as one-on-one conversations, meetings, webinars, surveys, and group events. Our data and stories will contribute to collaborative efforts that target student progress. Our collaborative efforts and findings will inform conversations with policymakers. Over time, our efforts will highlight the impact of listening to communities, assessing our ability to support, and responding in ways that treat the root causes of recurring challenges. We hope that the Arizona Coalition of Community Schools can act as a responsive model, helping other communities transform outcomes for youth and families.

We understand that successful, locally-led change depends upon solid collaboration between the school district, schools, community partners, and residents. This coalition serves as a space for provisioners and organizations to listen and collaborate on the seamless integration of resources, programs, and services that respond to community needs. Transparent conversations ensure that we are not duplicating services or offering services without a direct need, which would otherwise lead to burnout and unutilized resources. The AZ Coalition for Community Schools seeks to be a representative group so that we can fully understand the strengths and address the challenges of the community.

Aligned partnership is critical in responsive community work. The AZ Coalition for Community Schools would love to hear from organizations, provisioners, individuals, or entities who:

● Understand that they are one part of community success– many parts make a whole

● Have the willingness and capacity to consistently engage in their community

● Are willing to engage in transparent and respectful conversations, even when difficult topics arise

● Want to see and be a part of improving outcomes for youth, families, and schools