For More Information, Contact:
Gary Henderson
CISNT Executive Director
896 North Mill Street, Suite 201B
Lewisville, Texas 75057
972.436.6377 Office Phone
972.436.6770 Office Fax
ghenderson@cisnt.org
www.cisnt.org Website

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Communities In Schools of North Texas Receives $193,653 in Grant Funding from the Criminal Justice Division

Friday, September 2, 2004 8:00am CST

Lewisville, Texas - With recommendation for funding from the North Texas Council of Governments, the Texas Criminal Justice Division announced yesterday the award of four Safe and Drug Free School grants totaling $193,653 to Communities In Schools of North Texas (CISNT) to provide dropout prevention services to students at risk of not promoting to the next grade level or dropping out of school. The goal of CISNT is to keep at-risk students in school, and prepare them for a successful life, to partner with school staff, to coordinate fragmented social services, and to remove barriers that prevent access to resources needed to achieve academic success.

Funding from this grant award will provide for new CISNT's services and programs at Calhoun Middle School in Denton ISD, Lakeland Elementary in Lewisville ISD, and Peters Colony in Lewisville ISD. In addition, for the second consecutive year, CISNT was awarded funding for program at Central Elementary in Lewisville ISD.

"We have a growing number of students who face basic needs issues like vision correction, dental care, clothing, nutrition, and homework assistance. When the educational level and the income level in the home isn't adequate to provide the student what they need to keep up with their peers, we must intervene or we face certainty that the cycle of poverty will be repeated. CISNT stands in the gap to bring these and other resources from the community to the student to alleviate that which stands between the student, the teacher and success", said Gary Henderson, Executive Director of CISNT. "Because we can place professionals in the school who are experts at linking student needs to community solutions, we are uniquely positioned and qualified to be the critical partner to the schools in drop out prevention".
The CISNT program consists of: supportive guidance/counseling, life skills training, and drug abuse prevention activities, tutoring, mentoring, homework assistance, parental and family involvement, referrals to community agencies that provide health and human services, and case management from the CISNT professional.

"We are pleased that through our development efforts, CISNT is able to bring $193,653 into the community with these grant awards that will make it possible for us to offer our programming to over 3,000 additional students this school year, thereby providing them with the support they desperately need." Henderson said.

"One of the most powerful components that CISNT offers the students is to have a one-on-one relationship with a CISNT volunteer that serves as a Tutor and Mentor during the school day" Brian McCauley, CISNT Program Director, said. "With these grant announcements, CISNT invites the community to become part of our successful program by giving one hour each week to serve as a Tutor/Mentor to a student at a CISNT campus. If you care about the academic success of a student and desire to have a direct impact on the future of a child you are encouraged to submit a volunteer application or by calling (972) 436-6377. There are hundreds of students in need of a Tutor/Mentor today."

Communities In Schools of North Texas, a dropout prevention program, is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization that has served students across Denton and Wise Counties since 1994. To serve as a volunteer or make a donation, contact Communities In Schools of North Texas at (972) 436-6377.

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