STICK WITH YOUR KIDS! is a Project Success initiative to promote increased parent involvement - a key indicator of how well a child succeeds in school. In the past this has included a September Back-To-School parade, community wide showcase and service fair featuring schools and community partners with ways parents can stick with their kids. The 9th Annual STICK WITH YOUR KIDS! was held on Saturday, September 20th.  The School Spirit Parade included more than 1000 children and families marching together from the Ameren Parking Lot to the STICK showcase at the Decatur Civic Center.  More than 60 agencies, Decatur Public Schools, and organizations manned information booths.  We set a record for event attendance, estimated by Civic Center staff at 4,500!

Project Success also provides funding for schools to implement STICK WITH YOUR KIDS! Family Activities.  Proposals are accepted each year in October and February.  These funds are used by schools to support year-long family activities that encourage parent involvement. Events such as Family Reading Nights, Grandparents Days, Service Fairs, ISAT Information Nights, Family Game Nights, and Family Math and Science Nights give families many opportunities to interact socially.  When parents and families feel comfortable at school, their children benefit and we increase chances for their academic success.  During the 2007-2008 school year, 165 Family Activities in our public schools were supported by Project Success and were attended by 18,648 people!

The position of Famliy Liaison was created by Project Success when it began as a grant funded initiative in two schools in 1992.  Its purpose was -- and still is - to have a person at the school who can help to nurture a strong connection between the school, the home, and the community.  Liaisons work to do whatever it takes to address 'basic needs' so that children are able to succeed in school.  Families in need of health or dental care, counseling, mental health services, housing, food, clothing or other assistance are linked with appropriate providers by Family Liaisons.  In addition to linking families to needed services, Family Liaisons make home visits, plan family activities at their schools, and provide casework follow up for truant students in the Right Track program.

Project Success provides partial salary support of this position in 12 of Decatur's 16 public elementary schools.  Monthly Networking Meetings are also held for all Family Liaisons in cooperation with District 61 to increase awareness of services available to families, and provide opportunities for sharing of information between schools.


Service Fairs

Project Success coordinates Service Fairs in conjunction with scheduled school family activities.  Service Fairs feature area social service agencies and programs to showcase the many opportunities available to help families in Decatur.  Agencies interested in participating can contact the Project Success office for further information.


Parenting Skills Training

Guiding Good Choices is a nationally recognized model program offered each year by Project Success in area schools and community centers.  It is designed to coach parents of children ages 9-14 in family management and drug prevention skills. 

We also help parents of children in grades K-3 learn and practice the skills necessary to support a child’s school life and life success with the Supporting School Success program.  ‘SSS’ is designated by the U.S. Department of Education’s Safe and Drug Free School’s Program’s expert panel as a Promising Program.  Sessions are led by Certified Teachers and Family Liaisons on the Project Success staff.

 

 

Why?  House Calls Home Visits build the capacity of teachers and parents to work together to improve home-school relationships.  These visits - before the start of the school year each August - are designed to increase parent involvement,both at school and at home.  They provide families with increased knowledge of their children's school, activities they can be involved with, and ways they can help in their children's education.

 

What?  Parents receive information regarding teacher expectations for the coming year.  Visits increase school staff understanding of the home environment, which helps to foster positive relationships with the families and enhance student success.