Support from the Hoffberger Family Philanthropies will enable SWCOS to focus the work of their Community Schools Initiative at James McHenry Elementary/Middle School on developing a middle school student-led and -driven leadership team that would focus on positive school climate in West Baltimore City.
The Community School Coordinator and Principal will select middle school students who have experienced challenges with attendance, climate, and engagement to provide the supports and services needed to develop them as climate changers in their school community. The Community School Coordinator will facilitate an array of trauma-informed, restorative, and culturally responsive supports and partnerships that engage the middle school students. With the assistance of UM School of Social Work graduate social work interns and the Positive Schools Center, and in collaboration with the parents and teachers, youth development strategies will be integrated to implement leadership and school climate trainings for the middle school students. The middle school leadership team will learn how to implement school climate change activities and become responsible agents of change within the school community.
The Goals and Objectives for James McHenry are to increase attendance; improve school climate and; to increase student, parent and community engagement. Students will be provided training and ongoing supports in the following areas: School Climate; Student Leadership and Engagement; Trauma-Responsive and Restorative Practices; Peer Mentoring and Mediation; and Project Development and Management.