DC Together

Douglas County Together aspires to be a collaborative for collective learning and action—created to better understand our shared challenges, identify gaps in support, and explore how we can learn together to more effectively serve families in Douglas County. DC Together is a collective impact effort that focuses on reducing the impacts of K12 chronic absenteeism in Douglas County. This is a cross-sector collaboration between community-based organizations, non-profits, education service district, early childhood education, local government agencies, businesses, and K-12 schools to align efforts that reduce risk factors for chronic absenteeism. The main priority of the collaborative is to create a learning community that engages in resource sharing, shared learning, alignment of activities, and data-driven community decision making. DC Together is stewarded by an advisory committee that is made of local stakeholders that are deeply invested and knowledgeable of K12 absenteeism. The entire network meets twice a year to promote a strong connection between community partners and connect with local school districts. Along with the DC Together network, there are also several workgroups that dedicate more energy to specific areas or solutions for chronic absenteeism–i.e. the kindergarten readiness and high school readiness workgroups. DC Together also hosts community meetings with local school district superintendents to learn about the local need and receive feedback from school leadership.