U.S. Rep. Terry Sewell (AL-07) announced Tuesday that the Central Alabama United Pathways (UWCA) Bold Goals Coalition is funding $2.5 million to continue providing services and supports to students and families through the Community Schools Strategy. announced that it had won a federal grant. The program began last year in partnership with Fairfield City Schools. The grant, administered by the U.S. Department of Education, will provide $2.5 million over five years, on top of the $1.5 million UWCA has already committed to the program's first three years.
“We are already beginning to see the positive outcomes of this partnership for students and families, which is why I am proud to advocate for this grant at the federal level,” said Congressman Sewell. “This funding will go a long way in helping UWCA expand its efforts and serve even more families here in Fairfield.”
Federal funding will enable United Way to hire two additional community school coordinators, who will work to facilitate the delivery of services by United Way's network of partners. The addition of these two of her employees will allow United Way to have a coordinator at each of her four Fairfield City Schools (FCS) locations.
Although still in its early stages, many organizations are developing a variety of services in Fairfield, thanks to the collaborative energy of the Community Schools Strategy, which seeks to use school sites as physical hubs for a variety of services in addition to education. You have already agreed to launch additional services. , responds to the needs of students and families. Such services may include health care, mental health counseling, nutritional and dental services, quality early learning, after-school and summer learning programs, technical and vocational skills training, and more.
This year marks the launch of the Modern Manufacturing Program, sponsored by Central Six Alabama Works!, which provides high school students with up to eight certifications and valuable experience for future employment. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham is also launching a “Beyond School Walls” mentorship program in Fairfield, where students will observe specific Southern Power employees in their daily work environments. be able to.
Additionally, Fairfield University is strengthening its collaboration with the Central Alabama Nurse-Family Partnership, operated by the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, to ensure that pregnant students receive specialized care from early pregnancy through birth and beyond. Masu.
UWCA President and CEO Drew Langlow said the organization is uniquely positioned to utilize and coordinate resources from its six-county service area for the benefit of the Fairfield community. He said there is.
“United Way’s size means we can serve as a connector for communities like Fairfield,” Langlow said. “We are proud to be a leader in community schools in our region and hope to be an example for other regions.”
FCS Superintendent Dr. Regina Thompson said more than 90 partners, including local businesses, residents and nonprofit organizations, have worked to establish common goals for Fairfield.
“Originally, everyone was addressing different needs,” Thompson says. “We had over 90 partners, and they just brought what they could to the table and then went back to their own businesses. [then we said,] “Well, if we're really going to talk about community schools, we all need to be working toward the same goal.”
Fairfield Mayor Eddie Penny said schools are one of the few ways to reach “the whole family,” and the economic circumstances of families in the area directly impact children's success.
“If I didn't have to worry about the financial part of my life,” Penny said. Once you eat your food, the only thing you really have to focus on is your studies. ”
Samford University will serve as an evaluation partner for this study, giving Sanford an opportunity to engage with the surrounding community “in partnership, service, and cultural understanding,” said Beck A. Taylor, Sanford's president. .
“We are excited to partner with United Way of Central Alabama and Fairfield City Schools to change lives for the better with these comprehensive initiatives,” Taylor said. Stated..
To learn more about how Fairfield residents and leaders have responded to the early results of the Community Schools Strategy, please visit: uwca.org/fairfield.
