United Way of Mason County IN THE SCHOOLS

In a collaborative initiative between Ludington Area Schools, Mason County Central, Mason County Eastern, Gateway to Success Academy, United Way of Mason County, West Michigan Community Mental Health System, Department of Health and Human Services, Northwest Michigan Health Services, Staircase Youth Services, West Shore Community College and Pennies from Heaven Foundation, UWMC placed Community Resource Advocates in local school districts.

This initiative supports student achievement by bringing together a range of agencies to provide needed services and support.  It specifically includes Resource Advocates that work on-site at all three school districts in Mason County:

Community Resource Advocate–  Provides coordinated access to health and human services within a school setting.

Department of Health and Human Services Success Coach – Provides social services to students and works with families to help and identify a plan for self-sufficiency.

By bringing health and human services into the school building to serve children and families we can accomplish the following:

• Increase support for students, families and schools;

• Increase access to needed health and human services and other community supports

• Promote opportunities that support students’ educational, social and emotional development; and redirect non-educational issues from the principals and teachers, so they can focus on educating children.

At UWMC, we are excited to add the Community Resource Advocate position to West Shore Community College that will work on-site, with the goal of removing barriers that prevent college students from completing their degree and/or certification.