Our United Way’s Community Partnership Schools Foster Environments Where Students and Families Can Thrive
by Megan Beddow-Peters, MPA, MA, Community Partnership School Director at Gulfstream Academy of Hallandale Beach K-8 with Gulfstream Early Learning Center, Hallandale Magnet High School, and Family Stability Program at United Way Broward
A Community Partnership School (CPS) is an innovative educational model integrating academics, healthcare, social services, and community engagement — bringing a range of long-term support to students and families. Unlike traditional schools, CPS institutions collaborate with local organizations, businesses, and government agencies to provide wraparound services for addressing challenges beyond the classroom.
Services at CPS sites can include on-site health and wellness programs, tutoring services, leadership development, academic enrichment, and family support systems. The goal is to create a community hub where students and families access resources in order to promote long-term successes — educationally, socially, and economically.
United Way Broward’s Gulfstream Academy of Hallandale Beach K–8 (Gulfstream Academy) is a Community Partnership School meeting the academic and social needs of hundreds of students and families. Launched in 2019, Gulfstream Academy is a collaboration between our United Way and five core partners: Broward County Public Schools, Broward College, Memorial Healthcare System, Hispanic Unity of Florida, and the Early Learning Coalition of Broward.
The parent resource centers at each CPS site serve as a neighborhood anchor by providing a range of essential resources, such as adult education programs, food and clothing pantries, mental health services, and community engagement events.
United Way Broward’s Family Stability Program, offered at CPS, is built on this principle: The success of all children is deeply connected to their home environments. By offering a variety of supports, this program is helping families create a foundational and nurturing environment for their children — and when families receive the support they need, children are more likely to succeed in school and develop strong social skills.
Here are some of the specific initiatives within our United Way’s CPS sites:
Extended Learning and After-School Programs
Gulfstream Academy provides after-school enrichment programs, including tutoring services, STEM activities, arts education, sports, and childcare services. These programs are essential for working parents, ensuring their children have safe spaces outside of school hours and giving parents flexibility in related to their employment or educational pursuits.
Housing Assistance and Stability Support
One of United Way Broward’s onsite initiatives at Gulfstream CPS is bringing support to families facing homelessness or unstable living conditions with financial case management. Families may receive rental assistance, access to emergency housing, and credit counseling. Through these services, parents receive the guidance needed to secure stable homes for their children. Workshops for financial literacy also equip families with budgeting strategies, debt management techniques, and pathways to long-term financial security.
Healthcare and Mental Health Services
Gulfstream Academy often partners with healthcare providers to make sure students and their families have access to basic medical services without needing external transportation. These services include:
- routine check-ups and vaccinations
- vision and dental screenings
- mental health support and counseling
Mental health resources are especially critical for families dealing with stress, trauma, or generational cycles of poverty and instability.
Employment Assistance
Gulfstream Academy’s programs provide workshops related to job training and employment assistance to help parents secure stable income sources. Economic security is integral to family stability, and these programs provide vocational training, resume-building workshops, and job placement services. Additionally, GED preparation courses and adult education programs help parents expand their qualifications and improve job prospects.
Parenting Workshops and Family Counseling
Parenting workshops teach effective skills for communication and conflict resolution, and family counseling helps address underlying issues affecting a child’s development. Strengthening relationships within families is a priority at Gulfstream Academy, and its programs offer free parenting workshops for topics such as:
- effective communication with children
- conflict resolution and discipline strategies
- navigating adolescent challenges
- creating supportive home learning environments
United Way Broward’s team at CPS sites fully recognizes how having a secure home environment has a profound impact on learning and personal development. The benefits of Gulfstream Community Partnership School programs are far-reaching. Research indicates that when families receive housing, healthcare, financial, and emotional support, students demonstrate:
- improved academic performance due to reduced stress at home
- higher attendance rates as families become more secure
- enhanced social and emotional development through counseling services
- greater likelihood of graduating and pursuing higher education
Community Partnership Schools like Gulfstream Academy and Hallandale Magnet High School are transforming education by prioritizing family stability alongside academics. Its programs ensure students receive resources for building lifelong success, help families overcome cycles of poverty, improve mental health, and shape future generations and our broader community.
CPS programs rely on multiple funding sources, including government grants, local partnerships, and contributions from individual donors and corporate donors. Maintaining consistent financial support often is challenging. You can deliver essential support to Gulfstream Academy and all of our United Way’s programs by making a donation. When you do, please know you are investing in strong, healthy, and resilient communities for all.
United Way Broward’s CPS sites also have ample events related to community engagement. In addition to making a donation, you can be a force for good by volunteering with one of our programs or at one of our ongoing events.
To get involved with Gulfstream Academy as a mentor, volunteer, or event sponsor, please contact Megan Beddow-Peters at [email protected].
