Community resource centers—outfitted with everything from medical clinics to employment help—is the goal of community school advocates. The first community school in Yuma County recently opened at OC Johnson Elementary School. KAWC’s Maya Springhawk Robnett reports…
The OC Johnson Community School resource center includes behavioral health assistance through Child and Family Services, a Sunset Community Health Center clinic for parents and children alike, a preschool, and an on-site Goodwill Career Center for parents seeking employment.
Angela Logan, principal of OC Johnson, attended the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We want to become a hub where families have one place to go for all of their needs,” Logan explained. “So, instead of having to go here, there, and somewhere else, they can come to school and get all of their needs met.”
"So, instead of having to go here, there, and somewhere else, they can come to school and get all of their needs met."
Services will be available to all community members at separate facilities on the school campus. Rudy Ortiz, Regional Director of First Things First, helped organize the effort. He said community schools help students by engaging their families.
“Student success also means parent success,” Ortiz elaborated. “When we have parents that are fully engaged and fully see the school as a partner, their children always do better.”
The project took six months. Ortiz said each partner agency contributed funding.
"It's paid for by heart and I mean that."
“That’s the beauty of Yuma,” he said. “How was this paid for? It’s paid for by heart and I mean that 100%. Every agency has found a way in their own set budget to make this work.”
Ortiz said he hopes to see more community schools in the region, but said it would take outside funding.