Anna Long

COT
Final Project
December 1st, 2020

Indy Resources and Community Specialists:

Each community resource listed below is important for the students at local schools
because it supports at least one of the following: identity, health care, mental and emotional
health, social health, nutrition, and overall being. Each of the resources are targeted at providing
for certain needs to help students succeed.

La Plaza: https://www.laplazaindy.org/our-services/

La Plaza is an organization in Indy that advocates for Latino students in their educational
career and provides connections to other Latino families in the community. La Plaza also
connects families to health care and social services. Through the health and social services,
Latino families are given resources, referrals, and services that are all linguistically and
culturally inclusive, as well as local. The services also ensure that all Latinos in Indianapolis
have health care, shelter, and food. This year, because of the pandemic, La Plaza compiled a list
of informational resources, procedures, and guidance in Spanish for the community.
The Tu Futuro program is specifically designed for Latino students in the Indianapolis
area. The goal of the program certifies that all Latino students in the 9th-12th grades are on track
to complete high school and pursue college. It is a four-year program that has weekly two-hour
workshops to help students and families overcome language, citizenship, and economic barriers.
The program also prepares students for academic success, college, and/or future employment. Tu
Futuro has a 95% graduation rate from high school. Students also have access to FASFA
assistance, summer programs, leadership programs, and scholarships.

Adult & Child Health- School Based Services (In metropolitan cities across the nation)
https://adultandchild.org/school-based-services/

The Adult and Child Health has a School Based Program which provides one-on-one
support for students who need additional help with school, social, behavioral, and developmental
aspects. School Based teams can include therapists, skills development specialists, lead
clinicians, team leaders, psychiatrists, and/or psychologists. Every school and student needs will
be different as will the treatment. Adult and Child Health are currently partnered with more than
120 schools in the Indianapolis area and surrounding counties. The services Adult and Child
Health provide in schools continues year-round even when school is not in session. Additionally,
there are many payment options and programs available.
The Adult and Child Health also has services for adults and children outside of school.
These include the Community Based Treatment for Mental Illness program, Homeless
Engagement Service, Integrated Care Service, Transitional Living Services, and Children’s
Mental Health.
Shalom Health Center: https://www.shalomhealthcenter.org/home/mission/

Shalom Health Center is an organization in Indianapolis with the mission to provide

quality and professional primary care services to the community. The Center has two primary
care clinics and is partnered with twenty-five schools. Shalom Health Center is dedicated to
placing medical personnel such as nurse practitioners or physicians’ assistants in schools. This
gives them the ability to treat and write prescriptions for students they interact with. The goal of
this is to provide efficient and effective care to the community. For example, parents in partnered
schools are less likely to have to take off work for doctor appointments and/or students can get
referrals if needed.

IPS Newcomer Program- https://myips.org/newcomer/

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2020/10/15/hispanic-heritage-month-
indianapolis-susana-colgan-martinez/5943833002/

All students in the IPS district that are new to the United States have the opportunity to
attend the Newcomer school for third through ninth grade. Students stay at the Newcomer school
for one year and then transition to their local IPS district. Classes are tailored to language
learning and the students needs. The program also supports families. The parent liaison, Susana
Colgana Martinez, helps families navigate their new and unfamiliar life in Indianapolis. Colgana
Martinez helps families with whatever they need which can include groceries, clothes, furniture,
cooking utensils, transportation, and/or health care services. She takes community donations to
provide for the families. The purpose of the program stems from Colgana Martinez’s belief that
“bed, heat, food on the table and a sense of stability can have a tremendous effect on students’
academic growth.” (IndyStar) Overall, her goal is to help new students and families find the
resources and things they need as they adjust in Indianapolis.

Gleaners Food Bank:  https://www.gleaners.org/indianapolis-public-schools-close/

https://www.wthr.com/article/news/community/huntington-hometowns/gleaners-attacks-child-
hunger-indiana-2-programs/531-70ed7cfc-14e5-4e03-9a76-c141afd2e230

Gleaner Food Bank is an organization with the mission to provide food for hungry
Hoosiers throughout Indiana. Gleaners is also partnered with IPS to make sure students and
families have access to food. The organization provides weekly “BackSacks” which are bags
filled with non-perishable food items that are sent home with students that need it each weekend.
About 7,500 students at 248 schools are provided with these BackSacks. Each bag is child
friendly and does not require any adult assistance. Each bag includes a pack of “snack crackers, a
squeezable tube of peanut butter, two protein bars, pudding cup, two cans of pasta and tomato
sauce, and a juice box.” (WTHR.)
Additionally, Gleaners also has 57 based pantries in 21 counties which provides families
“access to fresh produce, frozen meat, and other grocery items” (WTHR). About half of the
school-based pantries are open year-round and available to the neighborhood in addition to the
school families.