Alisa is supporting Communities in Schools of PA

The mission of Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. We believe that every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the resources and opportunities needed to thrive. 

CISPA serves 30 individual schools in 12 school districts, including 8 schools in York County. CISPA currently provides programming in the School District of the City of York at Davis Pre K-8, Goode Pre K-8, Hannah Penn Pre K-8, Devers Pre K-8, Ferguson Pre K-8, McKinley Pre K-8, and William Penn Senior High School and Spring Grove Area School District at Paradise Elementary. 

In these schools, supports include 3 tiers of services to students: Tier 1 (whole-school), Tier 2 (small group), and Tier 3 (intensive casemanagement). Our talented school based team members find partnerships and resources in the community and brings them to students and families, work to support and empower students to remove non-academic barriers to their success, and bring programs and resources to the whole school and work 1:1 with small groups.

Working as a Site Coordinator at CISPA has been a deeply rewarding experience centered on creating safe, supportive, and inclusive environments where students feel valued and connected to their school community. In this role, I have helped foster spaces where students could build trust, express themselves authentically, and develop a strong sense of belonging. By prioritizing relationship-building and consistency, I supported students academic engagement, social-emotional growth, and overall well-being.

Through collaboration with school staff, CISPA colleagues, and community resources, I have had the opportunity to implement student centered programming and coordinated supports that met families where they were. The combined impact of safe spaces, basic needs assistance, and accessible resources resulted in improved student engagement, a stronger sense of belonging, and a more connected school community. Witnessing students and families feel supported, empowered, and valued reinforced the importance of holistic support and the lasting impact of CISPA’s mission in schools.

In York County during the 2024-2025 school year:

• 70,502 (duplicated) students participated in Tier 1 (whole-school) programs

• 316 students were served through intensive, one-on-one case management

• 20,099 (duplicated) parents were served through Tier 1 (whole-school) supports

• 566 basic needs items were distributed, including clothing, food, hygiene, and school supplies