Wayne County Community Schools Coalition
The Wayne County Community Schools Coalition formed to bridge the Wayne Partnership (www.waynepartnership.org) and schools. Built from guidance from Drug Free Coalitions and the Every Student Succeeds Act, our Coalition is the funnel for countywide resources into specific school buildings.
Wayne County Community Schools Coalition (WCCS) Core Belief
Students thrive when placed at the center of decision-making and support
Stronger outcomes occur when schools and communities work in partnership
Every school functions as its own ecosystem with unique strengths, needs, and priorities
Foundation of the Work
Built on Trusting Relationships, Inclusive Decision Making, Actionable Data, and Shared Vision
Grounded in place-based support tailored to local context
Committed to being culturally responsive, equity-driven, and community-informed
What the Coalition Does
The WCCS Coalition serves as the infrastructure for cross-sector collaboration—connecting schools, agencies, youth, and community members to shared goals and aligned efforts.
Responsibilities include:
Supporting district advisory boards, mentoring programs, youth voice initiatives, and more
Coordinating professional development and cross-agency learning
Facilitating school-level strategic prevention planning
Helping partners braid and align resources to avoid duplication and increase impact
Utilizing data and evidence-based practices to guide systems-level decision-making
Creating spaces for collaboration across roles, sectors, and levels
Member Responsibilities
Coalition members play a critical role in sustaining and advancing this work. Member commitments include:
Representing sectors or organizations with intention and purpose
Building collaboration across and beyond existing partners
Ensuring consistent and transparent communication between sectors and the Coalition
Participating in bi-monthly meetings, task groups, and learning opportunities
Contributing to strategic prevention planning at the school and community levels
Supporting coalition initiatives by engaging actively and constructively
Remaining open to innovative practices that may improve outcomes
Guiding Questions
Work is shaped by continuous reflection and alignment:
Who needs to be at the table?
What tables should this conversation belong to?
How can support be strengthened across schools and agencies?
How can youth and family voice be engaged authentically?
Where are the natural intersections between efforts?
Are current strategies producing the desired impact - or is a new approach needed?