Catholic Charities, Franklin-McKinley School District expand collaborations with $6.4 million Community Schools Partnership Grant
CORAL Students at McKinley Elementary, located in the Franklin-McKinley School District
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County and the Franklin-McKinley School District have worked together for more than 25 years to improve the futures of children, youth and families living in some of the most distressed communities of San Jose.
Our ongoing successful partnerships include the Franklin-McKinley Children’s Initiative; CORAL Expanded Learning programming at 16 District schools; and Behavioral Health services with prevention and early intervention to recognize early signs of mental illness. All of these initiatives pave the way for our latest collaboration with the District: A $6.4 million, five-year grant from the Community Schools Partnership Program of the California Department of Education. With Catholic Charities as its partnering agency, the Franklin-McKinley School District is beginning implementation this school year (2023-2024).
This Community Schools Partnership focuses on the success of the whole child, whole family and whole community, with education at the core and insulated by comprehensive, integrated family-centered health and social services and neighborhood economic development.
“We are excited to expand and leverage our collaboration and have an even greater positive impact on the futures of children and families,” said Greg Kepferle, CEO of Catholic Charities. “The Community Schools Partnership is a neighborhood-based collaborative service model similar to other initiatives we’ve deployed successfully in the past such as the Franklin-McKinley Children’s Initiative, and ‘Footsteps: Pathways to Self Sufficiency’ launched in Gilroy last year.”
The Community Schools Partnership builds a formal collaborative of stakeholders representing:
• The District and five participating schools: Bridges Academy, Capt. Jason M. Dahl Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Los Arboles Literacy + Technology Academy, George S. Shirakawa Sr. School
• Catholic Charities staff and programs
• Parents and caregivers
• Community organizations
This model—with all stakeholders regularly convening and working together to improve outcomes for students, families, and neighborhoods—is developed from the Franklin-McKinley Children’s Initiative, a place-based collaborative anchored in the Santee neighborhood and co-led by the District and Catholic Charities since 2009. Community voice has been a consistent priority and informs how both organizations serve the community.
A key feature of the Community Schools Partnership model is School Linked Services Specialists. These staff will serve as liaisons working with the schools, stakeholders, and Catholic Charities and ensure project oversight, accountability and ongoing monitoring. They also make certain that a collaborative process is maintained, and focused on the delivery of programs and services.
“We believe this Community Schools Partnership aligns with our mission to ensure that our students have the ability to pursue a program preparing them for university and/or careers and lifelong learning,” said Superintendent Juan Cruz. “Our schools are located in some of Santa Clara County’s neighborhoods that had a disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on their lives, and related issues that impact their capacity to thrive. Grants like this one awarded can provide much needed assistance to improve lives in the community.”
