Wraparound Center focuses on Student Needs

The Problem

Fifty years have passed since Congress adopted legislation to fight the War on Poverty, yet the growth of poverty in our student population in Meriwether County has increased exponentially. Meriwether County's profile includes an area of 505 square miles and a poverty rate of 22.9% (U.S. Census American Community Survey, 2020).

Poverty is the prevailing factor for the population of Meriwether County that creates impediments to adequate housing, medical, dental, and mental health care. In 2019, 10.2% of the children in Meriwether County did not have health insurance. The community also lacks available financial resources for food, with 23.6% of households considered food insecure.

The rural location of Meriwether County also lacks a large employment base and public transportation, making it difficult for working-age adults to commute to higher-paying job opportunities. In addition, 12% of the households in Meriwether County do not own vehicles.

Compared to the State of Georgia, Meriwether County School System's students' poverty rate is 165% higher, thus making 100% of the students qualify for free school meals.

The Kids Count Data by County demonstrates that many social problems result from poverty. This data reports that in 2019, 711 households in Meriwether County received Food Stamps, and 340 children aged birth to four were enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program

Further data shows that children entering school are at a disadvantage because of living in a community steeped in generational poverty.

With all of these issues, the Meriwether County School system knew they had to offer some form of intervention for their students and their families by going beyond academics and focusing on the Whole Child. A whole-child approach to education is defined by policies, practices, and relationships that ensure each child, in each school, in each community is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

Wraparound CARE services in schools are designed to give a child the support they need throughout the school day to lessen the intricate barriers of out-of-school obstacles that affect in-school learning. In most cases, what separates Wraparound CARE services from other support systems is its comprehensive approach. This centralized approach to serving the whole child on a school campus aligns with Georgia's Whole Child Initiative.

Data from Turnaround for Children (TFC) schools in New York City indicates that providing center-based Wraparound support to school-age students is a robust evidence-based practice. TFC schools showed dramatic improvements in math and English language arts scores, decreased student suspensions, and reduced teacher absences and turnover.

Two years ago, the Meriwether County School System opened a school, and community-based Center called the Wraparound CARE Center within Manchester High School and Greenville Middle-High School. Smaller CARE Centers were opened within the Manchester Middle School, Unity Elementary School, and Mountain View Elementary School.

Today, the Wraparound CARE Center continues to rely on other types of community and private resources to help sustain the continuity of care offered through the Center. The Meriwether County School System Wraparound CARE Center is requesting a continued partnership with the Rotary Foundation for $10,000.

Impact

Schools are natural centers for the community, and it makes sense that they become hubs for community support services. The idea is also practical for families who benefit from the convenience and for taxpayers because school facilities serve more than one purpose.

However, one of the most significant benefits for schools should be attendance, student achievement, and graduating from school. Poverty is one of the most critical factors impacting these issues, so by providing services that address the needs of students, schools stand a better chance of keeping students in class and learning for more extended periods. The Wraparound Center approach has a strategy for addressing equity issues and improving opportunities for traditionally underserved students.

This year, the Meriwether County School System (MCSS) CARE Center's goal was to ensure all students grades PK-12th have equitable access to food, hygiene products, school supplies, clothing, health services, counseling services, and academic support.

In 2021-2022, the Wraparound CARE Centers provided 4,243 services to students within the school system.

Services Provided

Food Pantry 26.8%,

Clothes Closet 20.9%,

Personal Products 10.4%,

Counseling Services 10.4%.

Student Race

African American 61%

Caucasian 33.8%

Student Gender

Female 62.5%

Male 37.5%

Student Grade

10^th Graders 20.3%

9^th Graders 19.8%

12^th Graders 17.6

Center Location

MHS 52%

GHS 21%

GMS 13.2

In this period of stripped-down budgets, educators, community leaders, and policymakers are more aware than ever of the need to use scarce resources to maximize results. Through partnerships, the Wraparound CARE Centers align and integrate strategies to support students, strengthen schools, and engage families.

With the help of the Rotary Foundation, we can support the needs of Meriwether County students by meeting student needs such as School Supplies, Food Pantry items, personal care products, and clothes items.

Volunteer Involvement

The Rotary Club of Meriwether County plays a prominent role within the Wrap Around Care Centers located within Unity Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, Manchester Middle School, Manchester High School, and Greenville Middle High School. Rotary members volunteer their services by:

1. Empowering Girls with Dignity Bags. (Building a weekly supply of feminine products in a unique bag).
2. Creating Personal Care bags for students (Washrag, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and shampoo in a bag).
3. Organizing clothes items within storage bins at each school.
4. Washing donated clothes before they are distributed to students.

4. Arranging, coordinating and distributing the food items within the Food Pantry.

5. Arranging, coordinating, and distributing school supplies.

Public Image Impact

Engaging with your community is vital for your product or service. Being involved in the community helps build strong personal relationships and get our Center and its services noticed. Being involved in the community allows us to connect with individuals, thus making valuable contacts.

By engaging with the community, we can accomplish the following:

• Build and maintain a positive image.

• Inform various audiences about the positive attributes of the CARE Center and the services it provides
• Maintain good relationships with influencers who strongly influence family and community opinions.
• Generate goodwill among families, the community, other educators, and the media, thus raising the organization's profile.
• Stimulate demand for the service.