Challenge

Schools across Onondaga County were facing classroom disruptions, increasing student needs, and staffing vacancies that left gaps in support. Promise Zone, a CCSI-managed program that supports social-emotional learning in schools, needed consistent training, stronger onboarding, and enough skilled staff to help students stay engaged and connected to learning.

Solution

CCSI stepped in with a focused approach to stabilize and strengthen the program. After completing a county-wide needs assessment, CCSI created a staff training curriculum and delivered evidence‑based learning rooted in Collaborative Problem Solving. Training completion rose from less than 7% to 96%. CCSI also accelerated hiring–reducing vacancies from 17 to just 1 in under 60 days–and introduced new supervision tools and leadership opportunities that elevated practices across schools.

Impact

Promise Zone is now a fully staffed, fully trained program delivering stronger outcomes for students. Classrooms are calmer, students are more connected to learning, and districts have clearer data to drive improvement. With stronger infrastructure and consistent support, Promise Zone is helping more students stay in school, feel supported, and thrive.