'System of Care' partnerships unite Utica schools with community agencies

By Mike Jaquays | Staff writer | MJaquays@RNYmedia.com

Sep 6, 2023

UTICA — Representatives of several area agencies offered an overview of their services Tuesday at John F. Kennedy Middle School, as the brand-new System of Care collaboration between those agencies and the Utica City School District was unveiled.

To enhance social-emotional supports for its students, the Utica City School District has established partnerships with area community agencies for the 2023-2024 school year under a collaborative System of Care model. Those agency partners include Integrated Community Alternatives Network (ICAN), Safe Schools Mohawk Valley, HMJ Consulting, Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, Young Scholars and On Point for College. They will now work in conjunction with district personnel to provide school-based programming, wrap-around support, mentoring, graduation readiness and an array of other targeted support services.

The official kickoff for the System of Care was Tuesday in the middle school auditorium, with the agency partners each giving presentations to district staff, including counselors, psychologists and social workers, about the programs and services they will provide throughout the upcoming school year.

Jesenia Wright, ICAN’s director of school-based mental health, said she is especially enthusiastic about working with System of Care as she is a 2008 graduate of Proctor High School herself. She sees the union of services as a boon not only to the students of the Utica district but also as a help to district personnel as well.

“This project is all about giving back to our youth, as well as our teachers and staff,” Wright said. “I think this collaboration will really help elevate some of the work they’ve been doing alone. I am super excited about this collaboration and partnership.”

Hilda Jordan, founder and CEO of HMJ Consulting, said she wants to share her own example of success with the students of the Utica district. An alumna of the Proctor High School class of 2015, she then graduated from Harvard University to return to her hometown and offer her social equity consulting services to inspire the area students of today.

With the help of the support services during her own high school days, including On Point for College, she was able to apply to and attend Harvard and pay for the additional educational expenses that entailed, Jordan explained. Now, she wants students throughout the Mohawk Valley and especially at her alma mater to be inspired by what she accomplished and know that they, too, can do the same.

“It feels so great to be able to give back to the Raider community,” Jordan said. “I want them all to see how I and other alumni have made it to great heights. This is what success can look like in Utica.”

On Point for College Utica Director Kevin Marken said his agency has already helped more than 1,500 Utica district students over the last decade find their own pathways to higher education. The System of Care collaboration will now enable them to expand that outreach.

“This will provide even more services to even more students,” Marken said.

The district includes 10 elementary schools, two middle schools and Proctor High School and offers a comprehensive education to nearly 10,000 students in grades K-12. For more information about the Utica City School District and its community partners, visit www.uticaschools.org.

 

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