Creating lasting equity in health and education takes mobilization of multiple partners to change systems that serve kids and families. Our Community Schools Initiative tackles barriers students and families face to their health, well-being and success. Using the research based national Community Schools model, we transform schools and communities to ensure every child has an equitable opportunity to succeed in school and life. Using a whole child mindset, we mobilize partners and schools to transform systems of care for children. We know from research that health and education are intimately related. Ensuring students graduate from HS and are on track for post-secondary success is an important step in ensuring a lifetime of success, health and well-being.

TOGETHER! is currently partnering with Tumwater School District and Yelm Community Schools to implement this model in elementary, middle, and high schools.

Mobile Community Resource Centers     

In a time of global pandemic, our Community Schools team is mobile, working closely with students and families to remove barriers and meet basic needs. To do this we need a little support from the community in the form of donation of funds and products. To donate funds, visit our donate page, and to donate food or other key items, check our list below, or check out our Tumwater Community Schools Facebook page for updates on current top needs.

Want to help Yelm or Tumwater Specifically?   

Help us spread the word about these important resources.

Having access to food, clothing and hygiene items is important to getting children to school and engaged in their education. Imagine knowing your only meals come from your school, or coming to school in January with no socks. TOGETHER! works in partnership with the school district, local churches, teachers, Rotary clubs, foundations and student leadership groups to help manage and maintain physical and mobile pantries full of items children and families need most. 

We maintain Community Resource Centers in every school we serve, where students can easily and discreetly access all of the basic needs that keep them healthy and happy during school and over the summer. Each Community Resource Center also serves as a point of entry into Community Schools wraparound services, where staff can get to know a student's individual needs and offer sustainable assistance. The Community Resource Center is the hub and the footprint of Community Schools in each building and all of the work we do spreads out from there, yet in a time of this global pandemic, we have moved all of our support services to be asccessible remotely.

Our model’s integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development and community engagement leads to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities. The approach is adapted to meet each school’s unique needs.

Many children face challenges both inside and outside the classroom. Through a school-based site manager, our initiative strategically aligns and leverages needed resources so that students can focus on learning.

Areas of Support
When it comes to making sure kids get the supports that they need to succeed in school and in life, we never give up. The Community Schools Initiative works to address the needs of the whole child by leveraging partners and resources in the following domains:
Basic Needs
Physical Health
Mental Health
Family Engagement
Enrichment
Community and Service Learning

Initiative Resources:
Executive Summary 

Results Framework

TOGETHER! is an affiliate of Communities in Schools. Working with both schools and their surrounding communities, Communities In Schools does whatever it takes to help kids stay in school and succeed in life. Based directly inside schools throughout the country, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to basic and critical educational and community-based resources, tailored to each student's specific needs.

Operating in more than 2,400 schools in the most challenged communities of 25 states and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves nearly 1.5 million young people and their families every year. As the nation's leading dropout prevention organization, Communities In Schools is the only one proven to both decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates. Learn more at www.communitiesinschools.org.

Partnering School Districts

Yelm Community Schools

Yelm High School

Program Manager:
Sean Lewis (he, him)
SLewis@thurstontogether.org

Ridgeline Middle School
Yelm Middle School

Program Manager:
Sierra Abrams (she, her)
SAbrams@thurstontogether.org

Tumwater School District

Black Hills High School
Cascadia High School

Program Manager:
 

Tumwater High School

Program Manager:
Stephanie Lopez (she, her)
SLopez@thurstontogether.org

Peter G. Schmidt Elementary
East Olympia Elementary
Littlerock Elementary

Program Manager:
Aaron Polasky (he, him)
​APolasky@thurstontogether.org

Michael T. Simmons Elementary
Black Lake Elementary
Tumwater Hill Elementary

Program Manager:
Courtney Prothero (she, her)
CProthero@thurstontogether.org

If you are interested in supporting our Community Schools program, please contact Meagan Darrow:
mdarrow@thurstontogether.org

Community Schools Initiative Funders:
Tumwater School District
Community Investment Partnership
Tumwater Rotary

Community Schools Facebook
TUFF Page

“The Tumwater Community Schools partnership with TOGETHER! has become an essential part of our mutual effort to support students and families facing challenges in their lives which impact the ability to learn.  Our growing list of community partners wanting to support and expand this effort would not have been possible without the amazing leadership, networking, and support our TOGETHER! team provides. Thank you to the entire TOGETHER! organization for the important work you do in support of children and families!" - Partner John Bash