Building a Community of Support Across CAST Schools

A strong school community extends well beyond the classroom. It includes the people, organizations, and resources surrounding students and families—and a growing collaboration between CAST Schools and Communities In Schools of San Antonio (CIS-SA) is helping strengthen those connections across the CAST network.

This school year, CIS-SA Community Specialist Denise Keeter is working across CAST campuses to identify needs and connect schools with community resources, programs, and partners. Her role includes building relationships among students, families, school staff, and community organizations and coordinating services so they are accessible to students who need them.

That work was already visible as students returned to school in August. CIS-SA helped bring community organizations to back-to-school events across the network, connecting students and families with resources related to health, transportation, and other supports. Partners included DentaQuest and AugustHeart at CAST Lead; VIA, Texas Diaper Bank, and YWCA at CAST Tech; and DentaQuest and Community First Health Plans at Advanced Learning Academy Primary.

The collaboration has continued into September. At CAST Med, students participated in a drug-free vaping presentation facilitated by the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness, where they learned about the potential consequences of tobacco and vaping, health information, and available cessation programs. CIS-SA also worked with the Texas Diaper Bank to provide hygiene items, including feminine supplies and T-shirts, to coordinators supporting students.

These individual efforts are part of a larger strategy. CIS-SA’s Community Specialist model organizes its work around three Future Ready pillars: Healing, Access, and Voice. Across those areas, Community Specialists can help campuses expand support, connect students with postsecondary and career opportunities, and create more opportunities for youth leadership and student-led work.

For CAST, the partnership helps strengthen the network of relationships and resources surrounding young people by bringing community expertise directly into schools while helping students and families connect with support when they need it.

As CIS-SA puts it, the mission is to “surround students with a community of support, empowering them to succeed in school and in life.”