Full-service schools reach out to children and parents.(after-school programs in Waco, TX and Charleston, WV)(Special Report - Pew Partnership for Civic Change) - Nation's Cities Weekly

In a time of lean budgets and increasing demands, communities are thinking in innovative ways about how to make the most of existing resources. Schools have emerged as promising locations for a variety of community activities, including job training, social service delivery, and after-school programs for young people.

'The dream of a community school that is open rom early in the morning until late at night, which offers a place for families to came for services and a quality education, is now a reality in Charleston,' says Leonard Allen, principal of Elk Elementary Center in Charleston, West Virginia. Elk Elementary is one of the locations of Charleston's Family Resource Centers (FRCs). Staffed by Americorps and community volunteers, FRCs offer families a variety of services--from literacy counseling to home-buyer training to child care and immunizations--in friendly and accessible locations. In their first three years of operation, Charleston's four FRCs have provided preventive health care and support services to over 5,000 children. Over 1,000 families have been able to access community services through the FRCs.

Waco, Texas, is also using its schools to support youth and families. Through its Lighted Schools program, middle school students can participate in a wide range of after-school activities, including recreational sports, cultural enrichment, and career exploration. Lighted Schools also provide routine health check-ups to students and their families through a partnership with the Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center.

Initiated in 1994 by six primary partners--the City of Waco, the Chamber of Commerce, the Art Center, the Waco Independent School District, Baylor University, and the McLennan County Youth Collaboration--the Lighted Schools collaborative has expanded over the past three years to include 25 different programs, several local and national funders, and parents of participating students. Approximately 600 students have participated in Lighted Schools programming on four middle school campuses.

By using school facilities in innovative ways, Charleston and Waco are maximizing their existing assets and creating safe and accessible places for children to learn and grow.