New center offering mental health, support services to Tarrant students set to open in 2025
- Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County is opening a new Center for Student Support in 2025, aimed at enhancing mental health and support services for at-risk students and their families.
- The $5.5 million center will feature facilities like a mental health counseling wing and a fresh food pantry, expanding CIS's ability to offer trauma-informed training and comprehensive support services.
- Despite significant donations already secured, CISGTC still needs to raise $2.3 million to complete the project, highlighting the ongoing community commitment to supporting vulnerable students.
Join Our Newsletter
Get the latest news, updates, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
A New Era of Support for Tarrant County Students
In a significant move towards enhancing mental health and support services for students in Tarrant County, Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County (CISGTC) is set to open its new Center for Student Support in 2025. The center, which will serve as the organization’s new headquarters, promises to revolutionize the way at-risk students and their families receive essential services.
A Symbolic Start
The journey to this milestone began with a ceremonial ground-breaking event, where an F-18 fighter jet took off over the future site of the center. This dramatic backdrop served as a powerful reminder of the significance of the project. Lindsey Garner, President and CEO of CISGTC, reflected on the moment, "We planned that," she said with a hint of humor to a crowd of education leaders and local officials who have backed the project since its capital fundraising campaign began in 2023.
A Centralized Support Hub
The $5.5 million project will serve as the central hub for resources aimed at supporting thousands of at-risk students and their families throughout Tarrant County. According to Garner, "The need is there," and the community has responded enthusiastically. The center will feature a mental health counseling wing, a fresh food pantry in partnership with Texas Health Resources, and a training and enrichment facility. This expanded space will allow CIS to extend its services, including trauma-informed training for staff and community members, along with enhanced case management services.
A History of Impact
Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County has been a cornerstone in the fight against dropout prevention for over three decades. The organization's mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. In 30 years, CISGTC has grown from serving 200 students in two Fort Worth schools to serving more than 35,000 students in 71 schools across 11 school districts.
The organization's impact is evident in the data:
- Student Grades Improved: 92 percent of students served in the last school year improved their grades.
- Student Behavior Improved: 90 percent of students served in the last school year improved their behavior.
- Student Grade Promotion: 96 percent of students served in the last school year were promoted to the next grade level.
Expanding Services
One of the key features of the new center is its dedicated mental health counseling space. This space will allow CIS to expand its services to include after-school and weekend sessions for students and their families. This flexibility is crucial for parents who may work during traditional school hours or for siblings who require joint sessions. The Amon G. Carter Foundation has played a crucial role in accelerating these services through a $1 million pledge that enabled CIS to lease a temporary space earlier this year. Already, 65 students from eight different school districts are receiving counseling services at the temporary center.
Community Support
The growth of CISGTC is not just a story of expanded services but also of increased impact. Despite the program’s growth, Garner emphasized that the organization relies on funding from various sources. Fort Worth ISD board members recently approved a contract for CISGTC services for the 2024-25 school year worth nearly $2 million. Similarly, other local school districts like Lake Worth ISD and Keller ISD have also invested significant funds in CISGTC services.
The Future Ahead
While the project has secured $3.2 million in donations, CISGTC still needs to close a remaining funding gap of $2.3 million to complete the project. This underscores the community’s commitment to supporting vulnerable students. As Matt Dufrene, CISGTC campaign chair and vice president at Texas Health Resources, noted, "Those kids just need love and support." Dufrene’s decade-long involvement with the organization has seen its fruits, with overwhelming evidence that students in CIS improve academically and are more likely to graduate on time.
Conclusion
The new Center for Student Support is a beacon of hope for Tarrant County students. By providing comprehensive mental health services, a fresh food pantry, and training facilities, CISGTC is poised to make a significant impact on the lives of thousands of students. The project's success is not just about the physical center but about the community coming together to support its most vulnerable members. As CISGTC continues to grow and expand its services, one thing is clear: the future of Tarrant County's students is brighter than ever.
