2023-28 Strategic Roadmap

StrategicRoadmap 2023-2028

StrategicRoadmap 2023-2028 Communities In Schools has served students across South Carolina for more than thirty-five years – equipping them with the tools and support they need to stay in school and achieve in life. In 2021, we took a significant step forward by uniting three separate CIS affiliate organizations to become one statewide nonprofit: Communities In Schools of South Carolina (CISSC). Over the past two years, we have aligned our efforts to create a stronger collective impact, and I am thrilled to present the executive summary of our inaugural five-year strategic roadmap.

Our Strategic Roadmap is the result of collaboration and input from our internal team, external stakeholders, and valued partners – from board members to school district representatives, to the crucial voices of students, families, and community members.

This roadmap outlines our intentional focus and approach to solidify CISSC as the foremost leader of Integrated Student Supports. As we look to the future, the same north star continues to guide our work: fueling personal potential so every student can take charge of their story and thrive.

In partnership,

Jamie Cooper, President & CEO 1

About CISSC The mission of Communities In Schools of South Carolina is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

Our Evidence-Based Model: Site Coordinators Students & Families Collaborative Partners

Our vision is to:

Evaluation

Strengthen organizational excellence & internal capacity.

Monitoring & Adjustments

Deepen mission impact & sector leadership.

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Proven Success

Needs Assessment

2 Planning 3 Integrated Student Supports

Grow services & advance new initiatives.

1991

1986

CIS Midlands affiliate founded

CIS Greenville affiliate founded

Jan. 2021

Affiliates merge to create CIS of South Carolina

Summer 2019

1989

CIS of the Charleston Area affiliate founded

Three affiliates begin exploring feasibility of statewide merger

Feb. 2022

CISSC awarded $2.5 million from McKenzie Scott 2

OurAspirations We will be student-driven, data-informed, and evidence-based.

We will serve as a community aligned advocate.

We will remove barriers to improve the future of education in South Carolina.

We will empower transformational change that spans generations.

The Need South Carolina ranks 39 out of all states in child well-being, with 19.7% of children living in poverty.1

In 2022, South Carolina's statewide graduation rate was 83.8%, while CISSC's graduation rate for case managed seniors was 98% .2

CISSC partner schools have an average poverty rate of 85%, and on average, 83% of the students served are people of color.

Between 2020 and 2022, the need for free school lunches increased by 43%, and the need for reduced price lunches increased by 34%.3

Source: Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children. Committee on Children: 2023 Data Reference Book.

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2023-28 Focus Areas 1

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Organizational Health

Programmatic Advancement & Growth

Organizational Sustainability

Sector Leadership & Impact

The core values that guide our work: Integrity

Collaboration

Purpose

Relationships

We are accountable to each other and practice a shared responsibility for successes and failures. We believe the best in others and align words and strategy with actions and results.

We are guided by and focused on mission-driven service and goals.

Excellence

We are one team, unified towards the collective benefit of the whole.

We foster a culture of connection and encourage diverse ideas and perspectives.

We lead with respect and extend grace and trust to one another.

We are committed to the collective wellbeing of the team.

We value, recognize and celebrate excellence at all levels and in everything we do.

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Focus Area 1: Organizational Health 1.1 Enhance organizational culture

CISSC seeks to be the best nonprofit organization to work for in South Carolina. With a relationship-driven culture, we will prioritize staff wellbeing, foster an inclusive environment and boost employee engagement.

GOAL: 85% of staff agree CISSC has a workplace culture where they can thrive.

1.2 Strengthen and invest in internal systems

CISSC will invest in processes, systems, organizational communication, and people to ensure a strong foundation for long-term sustainability.

2023 CISSC All-Staff Conference

GOAL: 80% of staff agree they have access to the tools they need to excel at their jobs.

1.3 Deepen Board of Directors development and engagement

As a merged entity that combined three separate nonprofit boards into one statewide governing body, the Board of Directors will work towards cohesion and increasing effectiveness in order to support the strategic priorities of CISSC.

GOAL: 85% of external stakeholders would consider the CISSC Board of Directors as a preferred board to participate on in South Carolina.

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Focus Area 2: Programmatic Advancement & Growth 2.1 Grow regional and school district footprint

CISSC will use the statewide service area and leverage to explore feasibility of expansion to new regions, while also deepening our services within current school districts. New growth will be strategically implemented, considering the highest need areas, rural communities, and the capacity of the organization.

GOAL: Increase service area growth to 50 schools by 5 years.

2.2 Deepen impact by deploying strategies and structures that scale programmatic advancement and diversification

While maintaining the core of the model, CISSC will innovate around new approaches and collaborative partnerships, from early childhood to higher education, to serve more students and have a deeper impact across the state.

GOAL: Increase Integrated Student Supports by 15%.

Photo Credit: Communities In Schools of the Gulf South

Our CIS site coordinator is incredible; she's creative, dedicated and works hard for students and families. Our site coordinator adds so much to our community.”

– CISSC School Principal

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Focus Area 3: Organizational Sustainability 3.1 Sustainability of sites and operations

CISSC will prioritize existing school sites and programmatic operations each year to ensure continuity of services and prove the efficacy and dependability of the CIS program model.

GOAL: Retain 95% or more of existing sites each year.

3.2 Strengthen external partnerships and diversify funding sources

CISSC will implement a strategy to diversify revenue acquisition by growing external partnerships and scaling major gifts and planned giving.

GOAL: Individual donors and major gifts will represent 20% of annual revenue.

CISSC Partner Appreciation Night in Columbia

The comprehensive framework for services, the professionalism of all staff, and the data that proves transformational outcomes for the children served makes CISSC a desirable organization to collaborate with.”

– Collaborative Community Partner

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Focus Area 4: Sector Leadership & Impact 4.1 Establish a data-driven culture through the lens of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)

With timely and meaningful student data, CISSC will enhance the quality of data sets and mechanisms for reporting and accountability. Quality data will be integrated at all levels to strengthen the case for support, progress, and impact.

GOAL: 96% of case managed seniors will graduate from high school.

4.2 Solidify CISSC as the leader of Integrated Student Supports in South Carolina

As the primary provider of Integrated Student Supports, CISSC provides essential supports and resources. CISSC will focus on education policy, branding, research, and staff training so we are regarded as sector leaders in the state.

GOAL: Be recognized as a funded partner by the state of South Carolina.

CISSC Class of 2023 Graduate

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1691 Turnbull Ave, Suite 200 North Charleston, SC 29405 @cisofsc • cisofsc.org • (877) 920-3633