Parent Engagement in Public Schools
Before she retired in 2007, Donna Vlassich, the Assistant Director of Public Engagement for the Pittsburgh Public Schools, decided to spearhead an ambitious public outreach campaign. She wanted to find a way to distribute printed directories of after-school programs to every family in the district, detailing services available within a one-mile radius of their child’s school. During the initial weeks of the project, Donna discovered the Information Commons, which already contained a comprehensive listing of after-school programs, broken down by school district. In addition, Donna found a wealth of other family services that parents often need, so she decided to include these services as well in the Community Resource Guide printed directories.
Donna worked in partnership with local non-profit, 3rc, using Rhiza’s Community Catalog to create the custom directories of after-school and family services for each school. 3rc is a regional partner of the Information Commons in Southwestern PA
Parents now have information about tutoring services, counseling, and even medical assistance for their children—services that many parents were unaware of—within a close walk of their child’s school. Principals and counselors in the district are thrilled because they no longer have to hunt down referral resources from multiple sources.
Learn more about Rhiza’s Community Catalog and how it can help your organization connect people to the resources they need.