What We Do
We surround students with a community of support — empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
The Communities In Schools® Model
The CIS model is built on a simple but powerful idea: put a trained, caring adult inside schools — not in an office building downtown — where they can build real relationships and respond quickly to whatever students need.
Every student’s needs are different. That’s why our Site Coordinators assess each student individually and connect them to tailored community resources called Integrated Student Supports.
Our Three-Tiered Model
CISofHR serves students at three levels — ensuring no student falls through the cracks,
Tier I
School-Wide Supports
These services benefit every student in the building, creating a positive school culture and climate where learning can happen.
- Anti-bullying programs and assemblies
- Motivational speakers and career fairs
- College awareness and preparation events
- School-wide incentive and recognition systems
- Community resource fairs for families
Tier II
Group Interventions
Small-group programming for students who share common barriers, with measurable progress goals tracked by the Site Coordinator.
- Academic tutoring and homework help cohorts
- Life Skills groups
- Attendance recovery programs
- Peer mentoring and leadership groups
- After-school enrichment programs
Tier III
One-on-One Case Management
Intensive, individualized support for students with the highest need — a personalized plan, consistent check-ins, and community resource connections.
- Food, clothing, and emergency financial assistance
- Housing and utility assistance referrals
- Mental health and counseling access
- Crisis intervention and follow-through
- College and career planning support
Five Integrated Student Supports
Every service we provide falls into one of five evidence-based categories designed to address the whole student.
Basic Needs
No student can learn on an empty stomach. We connect students and families to food, clothing, housing support, and health services so foundational needs are met.
Academic Assistance
From one-on-one tutoring to school supply distribution and literacy programs, we make sure academic barriers don’t become dead ends.
Life Skills
We teach students how to navigate challenges, manage emotions, resolve conflict, and build the social-emotional skills that lead to lifelong resilience.
Enrichment
After-school programs, mentoring, arts, sports, and summer activities keep students engaged and inspired — building confidence and community beyond the classroom.
College & Career Preparation
Career exploration, college planning, scholarship assistance, resume workshops, and connections to internships and mentors.
Meet Our Site Coordinators
Our Site Coordinators are the heart of everything we do. They are full-time professionals embedded directly inside CISofHR partner schools — building trust with students, families, and teachers every single day.
Each Site Coordinator carries a caseload of students identified as under-served, conducts individual assessments, creates personalized support plans, and tracks progress throughout the year.
What a Site Coordinator does every day:
- Identifies and enrolls students in need of support
- Conducts one-on-one check-ins and goal-setting sessions
- Coordinates with teachers, counselors, and administrators
- Connects families to community resources and services
- Tracks attendance, behavior, and academic progress
- Organizes enrichment activities and mentoring programs
Who We Serve
We serve students from elementary through high school across seven Hampton Roads cities: Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News, Hampton, and Virginia Beach. We prioritize students most at risk of dropping out, including those facing poverty, family instability, or life skills barriers.