ANNUAL REPORT
DEAR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS,
This past year has truly been one of the best in our organization’s history! We created a strong culture of belonging and care and shared it with our entire community through our work in the schools, our community outreach events, and our new statewide Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention initiative. We strengthened our core partnership with Santa Fe Public Schools and renewed vital connections with our many generous donors, funders and community partners. We enhanced our data practices to better understand the impact of our work on those we serve. We also developed a Menu of Services to standardize our best practices for supporting academic performance, school attendance, family engagement and well-being, and students’ social-emotional and behavioral health. We deepened our case management practices to ensure quality one-on-one student mentorship and a greater continuity of support for case-managed students advancing to the next grade level. Our new Alumni Program at Capital High School now ensures that young adults have a continuum of support beyond graduation, helping them forge strong pathways to college and career success. It has been - and remains - our primary goal to ensure that ALL students in the schools we serve enjoy equitable access to the resources, guidance and support that make it possible for them succeed in school and life. We believe that one kind, caring and attuned adult can make all the difference in a student’s life trajectory, and we strive to ensure that every young person we serve can find that caring adult on our team.
As we celebrate the successes of this past year, we are already looking forward to the next. During the 2024-25 school year, we will add Gonzales Community School to the roster of Santa Fe schools we serve. Our new partnership with ABC Community Schools will bring CISNM support to students in the Albuquerque Public Schools for the first time. In addition, we will expand our Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention initiative across rural New Mexico, with the goal of training at least 50 schools over the next year. As we vision into a future in which we fully support our home community of Santa Fe and grow to serve many more students and families across the state of New Mexico, we are listening deeply to those we serve in order to ensure that their voices guide our work.
We are truly humbled by your recognition and acknowledgment of the strength and beauty of our community. The students with whom we work daily demonstrate their talents and potential for leadership, while our staff ushers them - and us - to a greater understanding of the communities we serve. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support, your partnership, your generous donations, and your volunteering. We simply could not do this work without you.
RebeccaEstrada,BoardChair
MichelleKatz,ExecutiveDirector andtheCommunitiesInSchoolsofNewMexicoTeam
BoardofDirectors
RebeccaEstrada,Ed.D.,BoardChairperson~DionSilva,BoardTreasurer~ AnnaVargasGutierrez,BoardSecretary~WilliamFeinberg~JoyceIdema~ MarcosMaez~ChristinaPrice,M.D. ~HeatherSellers~CarenShiozaki~ JuneYoder~ReneeStevens~JacksonDooling RachelWhite,Ph.D.,BoardPresidentEmeritus
CommunityVolunteers
62communityvolunteersprovided 860+tutoringsessionsequalingover 2,200+ hoursofacademicsupportto PreK-12 students in12schools this year!
What do you find most rewarding about volunteering with CISNM? “Getting to know the students I work with. After every visit, I feel as if my world is a little bigger. The students I work with are engaging and interesting, and as we form closer bonds, our work is even more effective Every kid is an individual, and I feel lucky to get to know them as individuals.” -Jenny, a bilingual tutor at Nina Otero and Capital High School
“Jenny has helped me achieve my semester goals by taking time out of her day to help me understand difficult subjects that are holding me back. She explains concepts in a way that will make sense to me. She makes it a no-judgment environment for me and makes connections, which helps us bond and helps with my social skills as well. Jenny has been very helpful to me and I am so thankful."
- Capital High School student
STUDENTSUCCESSFACILITATORS
Student because students are at the center of our our work! Successbecause we are focused on our students’ strengths! Facilitator because our team does so much more than coordinate!
Our Student Success Facilitators (formerly titled Site Coordinators) work inside high-poverty public schools to provide and facilitate a wide variety of resources, supports and services for students and their families Student Success Facilitators help to create the conditions for a positive learning environment by providing the resources, guidance and support that students need to overcome barriers inside and outside the classroom, including:
One-on-One Mentorship to help students navigate challenges
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) to build emotional skills
Family Engagement to ensure strong school communities
Academic Support to ensure educational achievement
Positive Behavioral Interventions to support behavioral health
Restorative Practices to facilitate healthy conflict resolution
Progress Monitoring to support student improvement goals
Basic Needs Resources to support family wellbeing
Resource Navigation to connect families to additional support
93%of school staff surveyed found CIS has a transformative impact on creatinga PositiveLearning Environment
During the 2023-24 school year, our 17 Student Success Facilitators provided 2,251 hours of Academic Support; 1,087 hours of Social-Emotional Support; 430 hours of Attendance Support; 391 hours of Family Engagement; and 3,264 hours of Intensive Case Management. CIS brought 35 community partners into the schools to provide emotional support and enrichment activities. We also distributed 107,000+ meals’ worth of healthy groceries in partnership with The Food Depot and $21,609 worth of school supplies, clothing and shoes to our students and families.
ThemissionofCommunitiesInSchoolsofNewMexicoistosurroundstudentswith acommunityofsupport,empoweringthemtostayinschoolandachieveinlife.
WHOWESERVE
OurSchools
FamilyRiskFactors*
* % of 2023-24 case managed students experiencing family risk factors
“CIS helped me to find so much comfort and support, and kept me motivated to show up and push myself to do more than I believed I could.”
- CIS of New Mexico Graduate, Class of 2024
“Being an adult and navigating all these new responsibilities by myself is difficult. CIS reminds me that I’m not alone in this crazy world, and there are students like me who are just as lost. It’s so helpful to have that relationship with a community organization that I can go back to.”
- CIS of New Mexico Alumni Student
IDENTIFYASHISPANICOR NATIVEAMERICAN
42% 100% 92% QUALIFYFORFREE& REDUCEDSCHOOLMEALS
AREENGLISHLANGUAGE LEARNERS
Upon Maya’s arrival to the United States from Egypt, along with the expected language barrier and culture shock, her academic achievement was further challenged by the pandemic and virtual learning without the traditional one-on-one support with her teachers. Since Maya is bilingual, she is the primary spokesperson for her family when communicating with school staff, and doctors.
“I want to pursue law and help people by advocating for them, making sure they are getting their rights and fighting injustice. And one day, I dream of going back to the Middle East and helping people there.”
–Maya, CIS Graduate age 18
OURIMPACT
5,635 PreK-12 students in 12 high-poverty public schools had access to CIS support
107,000+ meals’ worth of healthy groceries were distributed through CIS school pantries
$63,066 was paid to landlords or utility companies to keep families in safe, stable homes
$21,609 was raised to provide school supplies, warm clothing, and shoes
62 CIS volunteers provided 860+ tutoring sessions (2,200+ hours of academic support)
35 community organizations were brought into schools to provide enrichment
536 students and their families received one-on-one, intensive case management support
99% of our case-managed students PreK-12 stayed in school
86% of students with a social-emotional learning goal improved
“Ms.Jennisaconstantsourceof emotionalsupportforourstudents throughherkindapproachandhowshe speakstostudents.Sheoffersclothing andfoodregularlyforourfamiliesin need.Ihavewitnessedhergivingherall whenhelpingstudentsfeelsuccessful. Honestly,CISispartofwhatmakes SweeneyElementarytheloving environmentitis.Theyareahugepartof ushelpingstudentsfeelloved,valued, andsupportedastheymaketheirway throughschool!
-MelissaKovac,SweeneyElementary SchoolPrincipal
OURIMPACT
CIS case-managed 46 seniors at Capital High School this year (our largest class of rising graduates ever)!
100% of case-managed seniors graduated
Our Alumni Support Program, established in 2023, served 19 CIS alumni this year, providing them with a continuum of support as they forge strong pathways to college and career success
CIS began working at Capital High School in 2013. Since then, the overall graduation rate has risen 30 points (from 59% to 89%).
100%
of case-managed seniors stayed in school
YELLOW RIBBON SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM SPRING 2024
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program is designed to empower school staff, students, and community members with the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent suicides. This initiative focuses on interactive and engaging educational sessions that promote understanding of mental health issues, emphasizing early detection and effective intervention. Each training includes youth, school staff and community components.
Over the course of 3 months in Spring 2024, CISNM facilitated Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention trainings in rural and Indigenous communities around the state that demonstrated a tailored approach to meeting the distinct needs of each community.
We anticipate and are very hopeful that we will be able to continue and expand our suicide prevention work in rural New Mexico schools and communities in the 2024-2025 school year.
TRAINING SCOPE
Total of 40 youth, school staff, and community trainings proved at 18 distinct sites
Training sites spanned 9 NM counties: Catron, Guadalupe, Lea, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos
Exempt and non-exempt school staff trained: 386
Middle and high school students trained: 1,513
Community members trained: 50
Total number of participants trained: 1,949 in 90 days
POSITIVE IMPACT
School staff reported a 21 48% improvement in understanding suicide risk factors and over 30% improvement in their confidence to intervene effectively
Students demonstrated an 18% to 24% improvement in their understanding of personal challenges leading to suicide and their confidence in recognizing and responding to suicide risks 9 ‘Ask 4 Help’ cards were used by youth in crisis after participating in these Yellow Ribbon trainings.
Students created papel picado messages of care for their peers during our youth trainings
Yellow Ribbon pins created by a staff participant in our Kirtland Middle School training
Glimpses of our trainings at Spartan Learning Academy, Questa Middle and High School, and Kirtland Middle School
OURPARTNERS FUNDINGPARTNERS
Specialthankstothefollowinggenerousdonorsforyoursignificant, invaluablesupportthisyear.Wecouldn’tdothisworkwithoutyou!
Anchorum Health Foundation
City of Santa Fe Children and Youth Commission
Foundacion La Liga
The Fasken Foundation
New Mexico Foundation
New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Division
Special Relativity Fund
Santa Fe County
Santa Fe Public Schools
Our profound thanks to the following foundations, corporate sponsors and public funding partners who gave $500+ this fiscal year:
Avalon Trust
Bernalillo County
Cathedral Basilica St. Francis
City Different Investments
Civitas Resources
Communities In Schools, Inc.
Del Norte LOV Foundation
Enterprise Bank & Trust
Flow Science, Inc.
Frost Foundation
Gale Family Foundation
Hudson Group
Las Campanas Community Grants
Leslie Jones Foundation
Lineberry Foundation
LANL Employee Giving Fund
Montezuma Lodge #1 N3B
Nancy Ann Mellen Foundation
Norma Green Foundation
Nusenda Foundation
Presbyterian Healthcare Services
S.B. Foundation
Santa Fe Community Foundation
Santa Fe Hestia Fund
Santa Fe Kiwanis Foundation
SLF Foundation
Steele Family Foundation
Sunflower Bank
The Irene Ritter Foundation
The Santa Fe Boys Foundation
The Sulica Fund
The Waite and Genevieve Phillips Foundation
Thornburg Foundation
Triad National Security, LLC
Trinity On The Hill Episcopal Church
United Church of Santa Fe
Woods Family Foundation
COMMUNITYPARTNERS
Gratitude to these wonderful community partners for the contributions they made this year. By working together, we achieve positive results for students and families!
Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region
BookKids
Breakthrough Santa Fe College and Career Plaza
Cozy Coats
Fathers New Mexico
Free Flow New Mexico
Future Focused Education
Gerard’s House Girls Inc.
Girls on the Run
Lettuce, Etc.
Littleglobe, Inc.
Mountain Kids
My Little Horse Listener
New Mexico Dream Team
Northen Soccer
Reunity Resources
Santa Fe Children’s Museum
Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe Mountain Center
Santa Fe Rooks Chess Club
Santa Fe Rotary del Sur
Santa Fe Teen Center
The Food Depot
The Master’s Program
The Sky Center
Western Sky Community Care
Yoga in Schools
Enterprise Bank & Trust has partnered with Communities In Schools of New Mexico to provide generous funding since our founding in 2012. We are profoundly grateful to Regional Bank President Dion Silva, who has been a valued member of the CIS of New Mexico Board of Directors and a true champion of New Mexico students’ success.
