Mapping for Alignment: Inventorying School-Based Services in WCCUSD. PLUS Fellows Policy Brief 2014

Aiming to support the "whole child," many public schools are complementing their academic focus with physical and mental health services, as well as family support programs. These efforts are particularly important in low-income neighborhoods where children may experience social and physical challenges to their wellbeing. West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) has committed to this important cause in their 2014-2019 Strategic Plan, which details a district-wide vision for Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS). However, WCCUSD does not have a complete inventory of all programs at each school. To strategically plan for FSCS implementation, this project sought to identify existing programs at school sites in WCCUSD and analyze how the distribution of services aligns with local needs. This brief summarizes the methodology, findings, and recommendations of the project.