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NEMSCA outlines school-success services and early childhood expansion serving Oscoda County
Summary
Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency described the School Success Partnership and local early childhood services, reporting local improvements in academics and parental involvement and noting a change in food distribution partners for the county.
Frances Ommani, Strategy & Development Director at Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency (NEMSCA), presented the agency's 2023 annual report at the Aug. 13 Oscoda County Board of Commissioners meeting, describing services that cover 11 Northeast Michigan counties and recent program developments affecting Oscoda County residents.
Ommani said NEMSCA operates a School Success Partnership (SSP) that places staff in schools to identify and support students at risk of academic failure. She introduced Liz Skiba, SSP area manager, and said the SSP runs in nine of the 11 core counties with 47 school success staff members; one staff member splits time between Mio and Fairview schools. Ommani described the program as accessible without eligibility restrictions and said local outcomes cited in the presentation included about 60 students served informally, 42 groups run, 100% overall academic improvement, and 81% improved reading and math skills; she also cited increased parental involvement and reductions in social and emotional skill gaps.
Commissioner Jackie Bondar raised a separate service transition, saying the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan will take over food distribution services previously handled by NEMSCA; Bondar noted a local concern that the Council on Aging reported difficulty receiving callbacks from the new food-bank partner.
Ommani also highlighted NEMSCA's new Early Childhood Center in Tawas and said the agency was recognized with the 2023 Governor’s Service Award for its School Success Partnership work. The presentation concluded with questions from commissioners about local service coverage and collaboration with county staff.
