The recipient entity's physical address:
           3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           P.O. Box 792800 New Orleans, LA 70179-2800

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Incorporated on February 15, 1996 by:
Margaret Wall
Elsie Rose
Shannon Parker

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  7054

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $450,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Dr. Elizabeth Rhodes, Ed. D. Chair - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Mr. Kendal Thomas, MPH, Vice Chair - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Ms. Deedy Johnson-Reid, Treasurer - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Ms. Lisa Pellerin, Secretary - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Ms. Amanda Schroeder, President, CIS Gulf South - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Mr. John Fisher, CWS - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Ms. Gracia Hillman - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Ms. Laura Lamartina, LPC - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Mr. Ali Bustamante, Ph.D. - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Mrs. Jennifer McKay - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Ms. Kimberly Reese - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Mrs. Cat Howard - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Ms. Francis Geisler - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Ms. Claire Stahel - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119
Ms. Margaret Wall - 3400 Bienville St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70119

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           At Communities In Schools (CIS) Gulf South our mission is to surround students across the state with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Struggling students and their families have a hard time accessing and navigating the maze of public and private services. There may be ample resources in a community, but rarely is there someone on the ground who is able to connect these resources with the schools and students that need them most. We do this through our unique model of Integrated Student Supports (ISS) that places a school-based site coordinators directly in schools to bring local support and resources into the school and work to do whatever it takes to ensure that all kids, regardless of the challenges they may face, have what they need to succeed
in school and beyond. In Louisiana, CIS has six components: health and human services, including mental health and basic needs; Supportive guidance and counseling (both individual and group) and crisis response; Parental and family engagement including home visits and consultations; Academic enhancement and support including tutoring and extended learning time; College and career awareness including preparation and transition; and Enrichment activities including mentoring and school engagement activities. All students in CIS partner schools are eligible for CIS services, but specific populations are also targeted such as student’s who are designated as homeless by LDOE standards; students experiencing a family conflict or mental health crisis; students with special needs; and students and families who have been referred to DCFS due to mandatory reporting requirements. Over 90% of students served by CIS live below the state poverty line.

CIS is requesting $450,000.00 in funds to to support CIS Gulf South's current operations in Louisiana, in the Parishes of Orleans, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Mary, and East Baton Rouge by providing Integrated Student Supports in 35 partner schools in these districts.

As the nation’s leading provider of Integrated Student Supports, CIS is uniquely positioned to provide evidence-proven mental health services in schools in Louisiana. CIS of the Gulf South has structured our 501c3 to be replicable in any community and school district throughout the state of Louisiana. The CIS National office has continually re-accredited CIS Gulf South, and has approved our affiliate to operate in the central and southern parts of the state of Louisiana. We have a proven track record of success in working in both public and public charter schools, and in urban and rural communities. The fiscally responsible and sustainable model of implementation allows CIS to begin operation immediately in a new community and service area.

CIS services are consistently sought after by school districts in Louisiana, but in order to continue growing and to serve more children in our state CIS requires additional funding to meet the needs not directly met by the school districts themselves. The average cost for CIS implementation in a school site is $95,000.00 per school, and each school/district provides 75% of the total cost for services. CIS the raises the additional 25% per school position each year. As CIS has grown exponentially in the state of Louisiana, the organization is now at a place in which funding from state entities is required to continue to provide integral services to children and families.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,466,450
          Professional Services. . . $19,900
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $86,000
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $412,768
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The mission of Communities In Schools of the Gulf South, Inc. is to
surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Communities in Schools is asking for $450,000 to support CIS Gulf South's current operations in Louisiana in the Parishes of Orleans, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Mary, and East Baton Rouge by providing Integrated Student Supports in 35 partner schools in these districts.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          CIS aims to keep students in schools, decrease dropout rates, and increase on-time graduation rates. During the 2022-2023 school year, our students’ results included 88% improved behavior, 94% were promoted to the next grade, 86% improved attendance, and 80% improved wellbeing. Our continued goals are to support over 14,000 students in Louisiana and for our case-managed students to attain a minimum of 80% goal achievement in their goal area (academics, behavior, wellbeing, and attendance)

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           12 months

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 N/A
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 N/A

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 N/A

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  N/A

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               N/A

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               N/A

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                N/A

          What is the nature of the relationship?  N/A

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 N/A

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               N/A


Contact Information
name:  Erin Sims 
                                       address:  P.O. Box 792800 New Orleans, LA 70179-2800
                                       phone:  225-975-4407
                                       fax:  504-486-8020
                                       e-mail:  erins@cisgulfsouth.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Director of Advocacy