Program areas at Student Advocacy Center of Michigan
Education Advocacy and support: sac provides no-cost Advocacy and support for families in educational crisis (expulsion, suspension, school failure, enrollment denial, discrimination). We assess needs, explore rights and options, build self-advocacy skills, coordinate with the schools and co- create plans that result in improved attendance, behavior and grades. We have a statewide helpline and in-person support in wayne, washtenaw and jackson counties.
Community organizing/policy: sac seeks to learn from our individual cases and work with our families, students and communities to spark systems changes. We seek to build the power of our youth and families, while working towards more healthy and healing schools. This work includes an after-school youth leadership program called youth action Michigan and collaboration with organizations around the state.
Check & connect is an intensive, structured, long-term, and evidence-based mentoring program for students who are disconnected from school and learning. The program, started in the 1990s from the university of Minnesota, has been proven to increase school completion. Sac first piloted check & connect in 2012 in ypsilanti and now provides the program in ypsilanti and detroit. We work with low- and no-income students impacted by trauma, racism, and barriers such as harsh school discipline, truancy, and school failure. Mentors and mentees work together for a minimum of two years. Continued in schedule o
Client support services