There's a day care for students' children. A child therapist works with kids at six elementaries feeding into Jackson. Family liaisons visit homes and try to resolve problems that might prevent students from going to school. In addition, applications for financial help and food stamps are taken at Project Horizon by a state case worker who's based there. Legal Aid workers can help with legal problems.
Case managers serve as problem solvers for students and community members.
That includes bolstering the communities around the schools. A lot of times children seek help from a teacher or counselor. The Full Service Schools program, mandated by a 1990 state law, has received national attention. Other school systems are trying similar approaches. In a New York City neighborhood, the school system and the Children's Aid Society feed kids three meals a day and offer job-training for parents.