News & Photos
New Family Resource Center Open in Antioch School
October 29, 2009Health and human service hub serves diverse student body
NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 29, 2009 – When students get help addressing issues affecting them and their families, they can better focus on academics inside the classroom. That’s the theory behind United Way’s school-based Family Resource Centers — and the impetus for the newest center now open at Cole Elementary School in Antioch.
The Family Resource Center at Cole Elementary is the 13th site in United Way of Metropolitan Nashville’s network of one-stop shops for health and human services needs. Family Resource Centers help residents in Nashville’s most vulnerable schools and neighborhoods get the services they need to lead stable, healthy and productive lives by offering programs in one convenient location. Family Resource Centers serve 28,000 low-income residents annually.
Cole Elementary Family Resource Center is the result of a partnership between United Way of Metropolitan Nashville and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.
“United Way is working to advance the common good by focusing on the building blocks for a better life: education, income, health and neighborhoods. Family Resource Centers are a critical component of that focus, especially where education and neighborhoods are concerned. We had been actively seeking an additional location for under-served areas of town and found a great need in the Antioch area. But we don’t act alone; Family Resource Centers are the result of an ever-growing network of partnerships. We are delighted to partner with Metro Schools and Cole Elementary to serve this diverse population of students and their families,” said Eric Dewey, United Way of Metropolitan Nashville president and CEO.
Approximately 11 nationalities are represented among Cole’s 770 students. Family Resource Centers offer programs that address barriers such as high rates of poverty, lower education levels, unemployment and under-employment, crime, teen pregnancy, single–parent households and high rent burden. Core programs can include student mentoring and tutoring, adult education and GED classes, food and clothing banks, case management, financial planning and emergency assistance. Specific services are determined by the particular needs of the population that each center serves.
Conexion Americas is the agency responsible for day-to-day management of the center, as well as seeking out other partners to offer services.
“Conexión Américas is committed to bringing programs and services that address the needs and aspirations of the families of Cole Elementary,” said Renata Soto, Executive Director of Conexion Americas. “We are most excited about the opportunity to help increase parent involvement through our Parents as Partners program and to develop parent leaders who are engaged in their children’s education and work in partnership with the school. As the lead agency of this Family Resource Center, we are also brokers of services, and we are encouraged about the progress made in securing more services with other nonprofit organizations.
