Alliance partners with WCPSS to boost youth engagement

In response to challenges in youth engagement and well-being created by the Covid-19 pandemic, Alliance Health, Wake County Public School System and Wake County Cooperative Extension are piloting a community-informed, data-driven strategy to help school staff and re-engage youth in positive youth development and educational systems.

The Student Engagement Team Pilot is an intentional, collaborative and holistic approach built on a tiered and family-centered system of care support structure. The pilot recognizes the role of school, community and family in a young person’s engagement and success and implements a community outreach campaign to increase access and reduce barriers.

The project will track key indicators associated with student educational success, family economic success and youth development. These include improved school attendance and academic performance, youth and family access to mental health and other resources, skills attainment, positive sense of future and participation in community youth development programs. This comprehensive approach aims to improve student success, family well-being and youth development.

One elementary and three middle schools will participate in this pilot project. Each school will have access to a youth and family engagement coach, a system of care liaison, a family engagement specialist (licensed clinician), a program manager, and a data analyst. The engagement team will provide focused direct service to a minimum caseload of 25 families per school, while all students and families benefit from school and community information and resource access.

The pilot launched in fall 2023 and is funded by the American Rescue Plan through June 2025.