Communities in Schools (CIS) in a collaborative effort with The Nurturing Center, Inc., has been awarded a grant from Central Carolina Community Foundation. The program, referred to as "PEEK" (Project to Enhance Education in Kershaw County), for at-risk children is ultimately aimed at improving the educational services provided to at-risk children and their families. "This specialized training and support, which will be offered to 30 of our case managers, site coordinators and directors, will improve the services we provide for over 200 families with school age children in Kershaw County," says Melissa Lanford, Director of CIS Kershaw County.

Training is provided by Carolyn Dorrell, MEd., Director of the Century Oak Resource Center, a research and training extension of the Nurturing Center. Kris Pickens, Executive Director of the Nurturing Center, states, "This is a wonderful opportunity for both organizations to come together in a collaborative effort to assist the families and children at risk in Kershw County. It's an opportunity to share 15 years of qualitative understanding of how to bring and keep families together, without stressing Communities in Schools financially with a new program."