Education
Education

Fulton opens center to help students in need of wrap-around services

The S.A.F.E. Center at North Springs High School contains produce for students who may not have enough food at home. Photo Credit: Fulton County Schools.

Credit: Contributed

Credit: Contributed

The S.A.F.E. Center at North Springs High School contains produce for students who may not have enough food at home. Photo Credit: Fulton County Schools.
By
Feb 23, 2023

Fulton County’s school system on Wednesday opened a community resource center at North Springs High School for students and families in need of clothing, food, mental health counseling and other services.

The Student and Family Engagement (S.A.F.E.) Center at North Springs is the third such facility in the school district. The other two are at Banneker and Tri-Cities high schools.

Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney (second from right) joins others in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open a S.A.F.E. Center at North Springs High School. Photo Credit: Fulton County Schools.

Credit: Contributed

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Credit: Contributed

All food is stocked by Goodr. Other sponsors include Chris 180, the Community Assistance Center, Los Niños Primero, Metro RESA, North Point Community Church, Sandy Springs Education Force, Sandy Springs Mission and St. Vincent DePaul Society.

ExploreFeds see poverty rising in Atlanta’s suburban school districts

Educators say they’ve seen students suffer academically when worried about meals or shelter.

In recent years, schools throughout metro Atlanta have opened similar facilities to help financially-struggling students and families. The youth poverty rate in Fulton County is 14.6%, according to a recent U.S. Census report.

About the Author

Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He is the newsroom's education editor. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.

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