Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania Expands Programming in Central Dauphin School District

HARRISBURG, Pa. (Oct. 18, 2022) – Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania (CISPA) is partnering with Central Dauphin School District to bring social, emotional and academic supports to Central Dauphin East High School and Swatara Middle School. CISPA implemented programming in Central Dauphin East Middle School in March 2022 and served 2,602 students during the remainder of the school year.

CISPA is part of the national Communities in Schools network, which operates in 27 states and the District of Columbia and serves more than 1.2 million youth annually. Communities in Schools’ holistic approach addresses both the academic and nonacademic needs of students. Communities in Schools recognizes that if basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter are not met, children are unable to learn. During the ’21-’22 school year, CISPA distributed 45,153 basic item needs (clothing, food, hygiene and school supplies).

“I am truly excited to serve the students and families of Central Dauphin,” said Angelica DeSantiago, CISPA’s Dauphin County Program Manager. “The expansion into this diverse and dynamic district will allow CISPA to bridge the gap of understanding the nuances of the community while partnering to provide wraparound supports in academia and family life. I eagerly anticipate the impact of this partnership!”

Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania began in 1994 as a statewide advocacy and fundraising organization, working to support accredited CIS affiliates in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and the Lehigh Valley. In 2014, CISPA launched its first school-based programs in the School District of the City of York. CISPA currently serves 27 schools across 11 school districts. CISPA’s mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

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