The Children's Aid Society Community Schools

The Children's Aid Society (CAS) currently partners in nine public schools in northern Manhattan, the Bronx and East Harlem. These community schools are the result of partnerships between CAS, the New York City Board of Education, the school district and community based partners. The aim is to develop a model of public schools that combines teaching and learning with the delivery of an array of social, health, child and youth development services, while emphasizing community and parental involvement.

CAS schools serve more than 10,000 students and their families by providing on-site child and family support services -- from health-care clinics and counseling to recreation, both before and after school extended education, summer programs, early childhood and Head Start programs, adult classes, job training, immigration services, parenting programs, and emergency assistance. Services are offered from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. year round.

Instead of creating "a school within a school," CAS's goal is to help strengthen the educational process for teachers, parents and students in a seamless way. Thus, at each school, the site director, employed by CAS, works as an equal partner with the principal on integrating their concerns and expertise to achieve this common goal.

CAS, through its National Technical Assistance Center, also offers training and guidance in all aspects of designing and implementing the CAS community school model to suit the unique needs and strengths of individual communities.