For 50 years, Communities In Schools of Atlanta (CIS of Atlanta) has been a leading service provider specializing in drop-out prevention and youth advocacy. Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. While CIS of Atlanta has been on the forefront, helping metro Atlanta schools located in underserved communities to excel in promotion and graduation rates, the organization also established its Alumni Division in 2021 to provide post-secondary support. The Alumni Division provides alumni with access to tools and resources to position them to become productive members of society and ultimately achieve the American Dream.

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When CIS of Atlanta students graduate from high school, their site coordinators transition the relationship to the Alumni Division. The staff conducts needs assessments to develop post-secondary support plans for alumni as they progress in their education or careers. More than 150 alumni are now receiving ongoing support through CIS of Atlanta’s post-secondary framework, modeled after our evidence-based K-12 programing.
 

The Alumni Division helps our alumni with these core competencies: Life Skills, Professional Development, Civic Engagement and Leadership. The framework focuses on the following:

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• Enrollment – in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program

• Enlistment – in the U.S. military

• Employment – through career pathways or trade programs

• Entrepreneurship – support for future business owners

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We provide wrap-around support services in the following areas:

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• Financial Support – such as tuition assistance, covering the cost of summer fees, supplies, clothing, groceries, housing, technology support, and our College Trunk Giveaway

• Social & Emotional Sustainability – assists students in navigating life after high school

• Professional Mentoring & Coaching – supports students in their career pursuits through exposure to industry experts, workshops, networking, social media training, and goal setting

• Resource Linkage – partner with companies and organizations to provide our students and alumni with personal and professional resources and summer internships

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To prepare students for their post-secondary journey, CIS of Atlanta created a program for high school seniors which includes college and career preparation workshops focused on:

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• Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form

• Scholarship Search

• College Matching

• Career Preparation

• Financial Literacy

• Character Development