Like so many urban areas across the country, initiatives abound, yet there are significant challenges of alignment, impact, integration, and sustainability. The variety of programming necessary to keep students engaged has not been as robust as needed, especially at schools where the academic achievement on standardized assessments is so low. Conspicuously absent from school programming are on-site primary health and mental health services, parent engagement, and access to social services.
Case Study Example:Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI)
The Need
The Solution
Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) and its community partners reached out to TCG to apply for a federal grant to implement the Full-Service Community Schools project with three schools in a near Eastside neighborhood in Indianapolis. The proposed project would provide a comprehensive, high-quality school-community partnership with an array of services that promotes parent involvement, academic achievement, as well as health, and wellness.
IUPUI was uniquely situated to address the goals of the Full-Service Community Schools project and to serve as an anchor institution in developing school-community partnerships. As an urban university with a central focus on civic engagement, IUPUI was a catalyst for collaboration and service among central Indiana’s educational institutions, including colleges and universities, area schools, non-profit organizations, and community-based learning organizations.
The development of the project followed a collective impact framework and included significant stakeholder engagement. TCG convened a diverse group of stakeholders including representatives from IUPUI, neighborhood task forces, Indianapolis Public Schools administrators, and community partners to form an advisory committee and develop a competitive grant proposal to implement the Full-Service Community Schools project in the Martindale Brightwood neighborhood.
Transform Consulting Group brings not only experience but also a thoughtful approach, offering useful suggestions along the way of proposal development.
Deliverables
Wrote a successful $2.5 million federal grant that was awarded over 5 years and renewed for additional funding. Once awarded, TCG helped with the planning to support implementation including organizational structure, staffing, and light technical support.
