Children’s Home Society of Florida to expand Community Partnership Schools™ model to third school in Duval County | Jacksonville, Fla.(November 20, 2024) — Matthew Gilbert Middle School will become the third school in Duval County to adopt the innovative Community Partnership Schools™ model this year with partnerships among Children’s Home Society of Florida, AGAPE Family Health, Duval County Schools, Florida State College at Jacksonville and University of North Florida
The partnerships are announced as the next step in growing the successful model first implemented in Orlando at Evans High School in 2012 and expanded to 50 schools statewide, transforming tens of thousands of lives.
The effective Community Partnership Schools™ model requires at least 4 core partners – including the school district, a healthcare provider, a nonprofit organization and a college or university – to agree to a 25-year commitment to the school and community, impacting generations.
Founded by the Children’s Home Society of Florida and the University of Central Florida, the Community Partnership Schools™ model engages core partners, collaborating with local nonprofits, businesses, the faith community, and other stakeholders. Together, they operate within schools to tackle crucial barriers to learning, such as food insecurity, poverty, inadequate access to affordable healthcare, behavioral health services, and heightened rates of violence and crime, among other identified challenges.
Children’s Home Society of Florida received $80,000 in state grant funds after being selected by UCF’s Center for Community Schools to launch a community partnership school at Matthew Gilbert Middle School, in addition to local financial contributions to support this initiative.
The first step toward implementation is the planning phase, which includes a community needs assessment. Students, teachers, parents and community members identify their primary needs and challenges, the results of which will determine the services and solutions that will be brought into the school.
“Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is proud to serve as an educational core partner for the newest Community Partnership School in Duval County, Matthew W. Gilbert Middle School,” said Tara Haley, Dean of Education and Human Services, FSCJ and Cabinet Chair, Edward White High School, A Community Partnership School. “Through our work with the Community Partnership Schools at both Long Branch Elementary and Edward White High School, we have witnessed firsthand the impact this model can have on meeting the unique needs of an entire community. The Community Partnership Model moves the needle on education by increasing graduation rates, reducing disciplinary actions, and increasing parental involvement. We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with the other partners to champion overall student success and well-being.”
Other critical components of this model include a focus on parental and family engagement, as well as comprehensive health and wellness efforts.
This collaborative approach leverages schools as central hubs toward improving child well-being by addressing key barriers to learning through counseling, medical and dental services, after-school enrichment, mentoring programs, and more.
Because they center on unique community needs, each Community Partnership School is different, but they all share a similar goal – to empower students to succeed in school and life. Specific successes through the Community Partnership Schools™ model include increased graduation rates, reduced disciplinary actions and increased parental involvement.
CHS received additional planning grants to implement the Community Partnership Schools™ model at Buchanan Middle School, Carver Middle School, Homestead High School, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Elementary School and Turie T Small Elementary School. CHS is a core partner in 37 of 50 Community Partnership Schools in Florida – more than any other entity in the state.
About Children’s Home Society of Florida
On the front lines since 1902, Children’s Home Society of Florida is the oldest and largest statewide organization devoted to helping children and families. Children’s Home Society of Florida serves more than 50,000 children and family members throughout the state each year. More: www.chsfl.org.
Note: The University of Central Florida Center for Community Schools serves as the statewide funder and grant administrator of the Community School Grant Program; provides technical assistance to community schools; and oversees a rigorous, strengths-based certification process for schools to become UCF-Certified Community Partnership Schools.
About Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ)
Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is a public, comprehensive college serving Northeast Florida, offering affordable associate and bachelor’s degrees, workforce certifications, and continuing education to support student success and community growth. For more information, visit fscj.edu.
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