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������Ƶ has received an additional $1.25 million from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) to continue to expand the work of the Central/Western Community Schools Technical Assistance Center (CSTAC), which facilitates the development and sustainability of community schools in the central/western regions of the state. The amended contracts allow CSTAC to partner with community- and faith-based organizations to aid those that have been most impacted by COVID-19.

“As the coronavirus pandemic continues to adversely affect those who are economically disadvantaged within our communities, this amended contract will provide important resources that will continue to help students and families within our schools,” said Laura Bronstein, dean of ������Ƶ’s College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA). Bronstein is the principal investigator for the contract and oversees ������Ƶ Community Schools (BUCS). “These essential professional development tools will have positive short and long-term results for students throughout New York state.”

Through funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the NYS Cares for Communities (NYSCFC) award will provide two primary functions to serve New York state. The funding is designated to 18 counties that have been most impacted by COVID-19 infection rates. Within those 18 counties, BUCS is awarding 20 partnership contracts, ranging from $10,000 to $25,000, to support community-based and faith-based organizations working with families and children in those regions.

The second function will lead to increased resources for professional development, asynchronous training modules, and tools designed to support community-based and faith-based organizations, as well as the school districts within their communities. BUCS will also offer consultation to schools, institutions of higher education and community- and faith-based organizations upon request.

“This funding will continue to make sure schools are the hub of our community for working families to combat the unique challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Luann Kida, New York State Cares for Communities (NYSCFC) director at ������Ƶ. “Additionally, we’re excited to facilitate ‘Community Cafés’ to help communities bring stakeholders together to help them better understand the community schools framework and how they can start thinking strategically to create successful partnerships.”

Total awards have been made in the amount of $2.5 million from CARES Act funding divided equally between ������Ƶ and Fordham University to launch the New York State Cares for Communities (NYSCFC) initiative.

For more information, contact Luann Kida, director of NYSCFC at ������Ƶ, at 607-777-9282 or lkida@binghamton.edu, or Laura Bronstein at 607-777-5572 or lbronst@binghamton.edu.