Heart of Illinois United Way

Community in Schools

Community in Schools is a collaboration between Peoria Public Schools and Heart of Illinois United Way partner agencies that provides a full-service substance abuse, violence prevention and mental health program for students in kindergarten through high school.

PACES Report Cover
Read the Report Card to the Community (PDF 632kb) from the Heart of Illinois United Way and Peoria Area Community & Educational Services.

Community in Schools focuses on drug and alcohol abuse among students, which often results in problems such as violence, anger, physical and mental health issues. Students then bring these issues to school, interfering and they interfere with learning and the classroom environment.

In 2010, the Heart of Illinois United Way partnered with Bradley University’s Institute for Principled Leadership to manage the program within District 150.

    Community in Schools is bringing on-site services to:
  1. Garfield Primary
  2. Trewyn Middle School
  3. Manual High School
PACES photo
    Key Components of the Community in Schools Program:
  • Prevention and Intervention
  • Mental Health Screening and Counseling
  • Substance Abuse Prevention
  • Abeyance Case Management
      What is Abeyance?
    • Rather than being expelled, this new program offers a positive solution to being removed from school and risking falling farther behind academically.
    • Students now continue to receive education instead of being at home or on the streets during the school day.
    Tools Used Throughout the Community in Schools Program:
  • Student curriculums and classroom tools focusing on prevention and education with pre-tests and post-tests to measure impact.
  • Training and education of school personnel resulting in school-wide coordination.
  • Parent and family education.
  • Screenings for substance abuse, suicide prevention and mental health issues.
  • On-site individual counseling, support groups and small group counseling.