Leading the way in lifelong learning through research-based educational solutions that strengthen family-school-community partnerships.
Discussions with the Director
Enjoy a short conversation with CSC Director Shileste Overton Morris and former Director Lynn Cromley as they reflect on CSC's 35th anniversary – trends from CSC's history and visions for the future.
If there are topics that you would like CSC to cover in future episodes, please contact us.
CSC is sharing the following information on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Please share with the families you serve.
Pennsylvania Statewide Broadband Connectivity and Digital Access Survey
Deadline: Oct. 6
As the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seeks to expand and invest in improved broadband connectivity and digital access, input from Pennsylvania residents will provide vital support to the Commonwealth’s strategies to close the digital divide.
Residents' input will inform the 5-Year Action Plan and Digital Equity Plans, being prepared in 2023 by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority. By completing this survey, you are providing critical information that will help the Commonwealth qualify for over $1 billion in federal funding to invest in our communities.
Before families download the Saturn app for their child, they should review Center for Safe Schools (CSS) warning and tips to protect their child’s well-being. Please share with families in your program.
The Saturn – Time Together app has emerged as a potential hotspot for online dangers that every parent should know. Saturn – Time Together is marketed as a calendar and organizer app for students. Users create an account, find their school, link their schedule, and the app helps the student stay on track with their classes, assignments, group projects and more. With its seemingly innocent facade, the app may pose serious threats to your child's well-being.
Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) welcomed its 2023-2024 Afterschool Ambassadors to Harrisburg in August to begin their 10-month opportunity.
Listen to Episode 7 of "I Will Be Your Voice" Podcast: Transforming Lives One Cup at a Time: The Story of Monkey and Elephant Cafe
What happens when a café not only serves a warm cup of coffee but also a helping hand to young adults who have aged out of foster care? In this episode, we hear from Kamal Marell, executive director of The Monkey and The Elephant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Monkey and The Elephant is a job and life skills program that seeks to equip youth who’ve aged out of foster care with the tools necessary to make the transition to self-sufficient adulthood.
September Family Support Newsbrief: Supporting Mental Health of Children
Family support professionals know the challenges that families have faced over the past couple of years. Families have experienced several stressors, some uniquely related to the pandemic, such as access to services, changes in employment and finances, lifestyle, including access to others, and many others. These high levels of stress can have a lasting impact on parent’s and caregiver’s mental and emotional health. In addition to the effect stress has on parents, their infant’s or child’s mental health also can be affected. In this edition, learn more about the impact and ways to support children's mental health.
Center for Schools and Communities provides comprehensive services to build organizational capacity. We work closely with local education agencies, community-based organizations and state and local departments to strengthen systems. We help our clients increase their knowledge, awareness and skills by providing high quality professional learning opportunities, research and evaluation design, and customized consultation. Our knowledgeable staff has a diverse array of expertise and skills in school safety, youth violence prevention, out-of-school time, family-community-school partnerships and positive youth development. We will work with you to review, develop and implement plans to meet your needs and identify effective strategies designed to transform lives.
