August 10, 2022 edition

Shout Outs

Share appreciation and gratitude for a fellow CIS employee. Giving a shout out is a great way to recognize an individual or group for their extra effort and talent, and to contribute to a culture of appreciation, community, and kindness.  

Click here to submit a Shout Out
Read this week's Shout Outs

August All-Staff 


The event is this Friday, August 12th.

Click here for all the All-Staff details
Carpool Sign Up

Deidre Brown, Special Events Manager, is your contact for any All-Staff questions.

[email protected]g


Mandatory Training


Joyce James' Groundwater Analysis workshop is a phenomenal experience for recognizing and navigating systemic and institutional racism. It is an interactive, revolutionary exploration into how systems of racism work. CIS staff can select between August 17 or August 18. Both dates will be hosted virtually. Sign up in Auzmor.

CEO Search Update


After many years at the helm of CIS, CEO Suki Steinhauser is stepping down this fall. We—the members of the CEO Search Committee—have been sending you all brief, regular updates on where we are in the CEO search process.  As you all return from what we hope were great summer vacations, we wanted to provide you another update (or the first one for brand new staff).


Click here to read the full update

CIS Mentors Needed!


CIS Mentorship Program Kick off! If you are interested in being a CIS Mentor, please complete the interest form


Contact: Kiki Williams, LCSW l Program Director of Program Team Training & Support

[email protected]


Flyer

New Resource


An "Ideal CIS Room" PDF document is now available to provide a visual when discussing space on campus with your principal. It can be found in Members Only - ShareFile and online in the Communications Resources folder.



Click here for the Ideal CIS Room PDF (password is empower)

Community-Based Program Leadership in the Innovation Department


Education and community are values at the core of these programs. The alignment under this department has opened new cross-collaboration opportunities for this school year.


Click here to learn more

AmeriCorps Site Supervisors


ICYMI, the August training schedule for AmeriCorps Site Supervisors is outlined here on Members Only (password empower).

Lifeworks Survey


LifeWorks is conducting a Community Needs Assessment in Austin/Travis County for the Department of Family and Protective Services Family and Youth Success Program (DFPS-FAYS). The goal is to better understand current youth and family needs for mental health services and other supports in our community. Deadline to provide input is 8/24.

Paid Opportunity for Youth 16-24


The Hogg Foundation is seeking talented young creators, ages 16 to 24, for its New Voices Showcase. They are looking for short videos that answer the question, “How would the world be different if it cared about your mental health?” Video creators can use storytelling, humor, advice, or any of the above in creating an entry for our mental health video contest for youth. Submissions must be no longer than five minutes in length. Videos can depict situations that are real or fictionalized. Videos created in the style of popular platforms like Tik-Tok are acceptable.


The cash awards are as follows:

  • First prize: $500
  • Second prize: $250
  • Third prize: $100


Learn more

Professional Development Opportunities


Foundations of Restorative Practices: Building Healing and Hope in Your Clinical and Community Practice Setting

October 11 – 12, 2022

9 am – 4 pm daily • 12 CEUs

Re-scheduled event! 

In-person: Thompson Conference Center

  

The Ethics of Self Care & Sustainability: Addressing Vicarious Trauma in Staff and Leadership

November 17, 2022

9 am – 12 pm • 3.0 Ethics CEUs

Watch for registration link at OPD Events Page

Watershed Protection Survey


City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department is currently focusing on how rainwater makes its way across Austin’s landscape and would like community input. One of our former students and a member of the CIS Alumni Network is working on this project. 


Click here to take the survey

Communications Crash Course


Sign up for the Communications Crash Course to learn about key messaging, the CIS brand, available resources, photo & media release policies, and more. Ideal for new employees or those wanting a refresher.

Sign up in Auzmor: 

Strong Voices Public Speaking Training


Strong Voices Public Speaking Training is (3) 2 hour in-person events (must commit to attending all 3 sessions) plus prep time before each training event. 

- Learn tips and tools to overcome nervousness when speaking before an audience

- Develop confidence communicating about Communities In Schools

- Gain experience preparing for, and giving a presentation

Sign up in Auzmor:

Seeking Family to participate in Video Project


We are looking for a family to feature in this year’s Food for Thought video. The goal is to highlight the strengths of one of our families, to honor them, and to have family members speak in their own words about their relationship with Communities In Schools. Email Debra Joiner to learn more and to recommend a family to participate. 

Stewardship Opportunity for Program Managers


The Development team is raising funds for school supplies. To show our appreciation to the folks who have donated to the drive, we are looking for a Program Manager to record a short video (~5 seconds) of a small group of student recipients holding their new supplies and saying “thank you" by Thursday, September 1. If you can identify 3-4 students who would be a fit for this short video clip, email Lila Weatherly Rivera for more information, including the necessary parent permissions. Thank you for helping us show our dedicated supporters the impact their giving can make! 

Nissa Wood, Program Manager, Widén Elementary School


Favorite Quote:  

“Progress, not perfection”


Employee Spotlight: Nissa Wood celebrates 3 years with CIS!


Nissa was an AmeriCorps intern in the spring of 2014, then a temporary Program Manager at two elementary schools during the 2017-2018 school year.


She says, "One memory that I love is the drive through parade my school put together for our May 2020 5th graders. All the staff decorated cars with streamers, balloons, and signs, and we all drove through the neighborhood with music blasting. It was a joyous occasion seeing all the families and neighbors coming outside to celebrate after several months of isolation and stress. I also love getting together for All-Staff and building our community through games, meals, and learning (remember the one in fall 2019 when we had a delay due to ice and cold? Still a fun memory)."


When Nissa isn't working, you can find her spending time outside, visiting a coffee shop, working on a craft, or hanging out with her pup Olive.

CIS History Feature - coming soon


CIS Care Coordinator Edith Rivera submitted a suggestion to include CIS history in the Apple staff bulletin. Great idea Edith! Our CIS National Office has an art installation in their lobby area with CIS history and we will use this information to kick off this series starting next week. 


Click here to see the CIS National Office art installation 

Austin Community College hosted 27 recent CIS of Central Texas high school graduates last week for a tour and information sessions. 

We welcomed this great group to the CIS of Central Texas team this week!

You'll learn more about all our new staff members during Friday's All-Staff event.

The winner in last week's Apple drawing was Rebecca Staffon who won a $15 Torchy's gift card!

Click to enter this week's drawing for a gift card prize
 Apple archive with links to resources, upcoming events, and past editions
Communication Material Request Form
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Communities In Schools of Central Texas surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.