Family of Schools Familty of Schools
In this section:
"Our students have been cushioned from some of the budget cutbacks in education because of our participation in USC’s many programs. Music, sports, art, tutoring, counseling and safety programs are all available for our students."

Dee Dee Lonon, principal, Norwood Street Elementary School

Components of a Successful Program

Your organization may be interested in creating a program like the USC Family of Schools program (USC FOS). The following components are ones that have been integral to the program's success.

Staffing
Funding
Critical Mass of Partners
Leadership Commitment
Constant Strategic Planning
School-Site Coordination Support

Staffing
A minimum of one, full-time equivalent paid staff member is the suggested requirement to successfully implement a similar program. This individual would provide technical assistance, executing services that for the USC Family of Schools program have been provided by USC Civic and Community Relations (USC CCR) staff. These suggested services include:

  • Organize meetings
  • Record minutes and keep all files and documentation
  • Develop an inventory of USC programs and resources
  • Create and maintain member database
  • Conduct demographic studies and other research
  • Oversee program implementation
  • Provide marketing efforts
  • Service the members and partners
  • Identify needs and find appropriate resources
  • Organize social and recognition events

Funding
As needs are identified, funds must be secured quickly to implement programs. USC CCR provided assistance with funding identification, cultivation of funders, and proposal writing. The USC FOS program moved rapidly from "words to action" which helped maintain contributors' interest and participation. Supported by USC staff and faculty donations, USC Neighborhood Outreach grants [link to Good Neighbor Campaign page] provided funds for many of the programs in the USC Family of Schools. From 1995–2002, the USC Family of Schools has received 89 USC Neighborhood Outreach grants totaling close to $2.5 million to fund a variety of programs.

Critical Mass of Partners
The University Park neighborhood is fortunate to be rich in institutions and organizations, such as colleges and universities, major museums, recreation centers, libraries, religious institutions, block clubs, etc. Furthermore, these partners had prior experience in collaborations through working with the Education Consortium of Central Los Angeles (ECCLA), the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), and other groups that were able to contribute resources and services.

Leadership Commitment
The USC FOS effort was supported by high-level administrators from the LAUSD, Los Angeles Police Department/Southwest Division, and other partner organizations. Additionally, one USC senior vice president, two deans, one associate vice president, and one assistant vice president were actively involved in the development of the program. These six senior administrators chaired committees and task forces, and provided technical assistance.

Constant Strategic Planning
Annual retreats and smaller meetings with key participants were organized every year to review the goals and objectives of USC FOS. Specific areas of work were identified at these meetings:

  • Safety and positive after-school, intersession and summer activities
  • Literacy and technology
  • Science education
  • Student academic achievement

School-Site Coordination Support
Rapid and considerable program implementation by USC FOS put a burden on the staff and teachers of the participating schools. It soon became clear that a USC program coordinator or liaison was needed at each of the school sites. This role was initially performed at each school by a 17-hour per week Social Work graduate intern. Beginning in the fall of 1999, a staff member at each school received a stipend and functioned as the official USC Family of Schools' in-school facilitator. (The stipend has been paid through a USC Neighborhood Outreach grant.) This person works to ensure that all of the USC FOS-related programs introduced into the schools are successfully implemented.