Communities In Schools of Houston (CIS) received the Presidential Award of Excellence at the recent “All In for Students Awards” luncheon held in conjunction with the annual Leadership Town Hall Conference in Washington, D.C., hosted by its parent organization, Communities In Schools.

The award was also presented to CIS Affiliates of Central Texas, San Antonio, South Central and Greater Tarrant County for their leadership and commitment in supporting community recovery efforts in Uvalde, Texas after the May 24 school shooting. Accepting the award on behalf of Communities In Schools of Houston was Shubhra Endley, LCSW-S, Director of Mental Health and Wellness for CIS, who was team lead for the Uvalde effort.

The national conference is an opportunity for CIS leaders from across the country to join prominent education thought leaders, policy makers and key school district leaders to discuss community solutions to help students in need. The “All In for Students Awards” has been an annual tradition for CIS since 2007.

The awards, given in several categories, honor, recognize and celebrate the contributions of key alumni, education and funding partners, legislative representatives, businesses, and community leaders who have demonstrated their commitment, expertise, and fulfillment of the mission of CIS: to connect students in need with a caring adult who empowers them to stay in school and succeed in life.

“In response to the mass shooting, Communities In Schools of Houston deployed a team of seven mental health professionals to Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (UCISD), arriving on Sunday, June 5,” says Lisa Descant, LPC-S, LMFT-S, CEO of Communities In Schools of Houston. “We were there in partnership with UCISD, along with our colleagues from other Texas affiliates, to provide one-on-one and group mental health support to teachers, students and families, as students began the summer session.”

Descant explains that the seven counselors from CIS of Houston were embedded on five campuses across the school district starting on Monday, June 6, which was a teacher workday. Safe and inviting office spaces were set up to welcome all who needed emotional and mental support after the traumatic events that unfolded in late May. CIS staff met with teachers, parents and students for four days that week.

Additionally, CIS helped facilitate the donation of care packages and backpacks for distribution to those in need.

“I am incredibly proud of our team who worked tirelessly for several days in the aftermath of an unimaginable tragedy in the Uvalde community,” Descant continues. “I am hopeful that we were able to make a small difference in the lives of the individuals we touched through the acts of listening and caring.”

The Uvalde team members working with Descant, also a licensed mental health professional, include Endley; Esther Kwak, LCSW; Tanya Shelby, LPC-A; Lee Lozano, LMSW; Arue Z. Jacobo-Kalinowski, LMSW and Elizabeth Reed, LMSW. All members were named as recipients of the Presidential Excellence Award presented at the “All In for Students” luncheon.

One of the pillars of Communities In Schools of Houston is the Mental Health Initiative, which was begun in 2012. Today it has grown to encompass a three-part program of mental health support on the campuses served. Through CIS campus-based mental health professionals, the CIS Mobile Mental Health Team and mental health partners, CIS is able to provide counseling, facilitate support groups and make referrals to students and their parents.

During the 2020-2021 school year, CIS facilitated and coordinated mental health services for more than 5,000 students across 82 Houston-area campuses. CIS stands ready to assist where needed.

For more information about Communities In Schools of Houston, please visit www.cishouston.org.