FFCSD continues to serve highest need students through shut down

FAIRFIELD - Even with schools shut down until at least April 14, the Fairfield Community School District still is finding ways to serve its highest need students.

Matt Smith, the social worker for the district, said in an effort to limit the amount of contact between people, he has been delivering food boxes to families who have asked for assistance from the food pantry. Additionally, instead of weekly boxes, Smith has begun packing enough food to last families up to four weeks.

In his most recent delivery last week, the district served 23 families. Andy family in the district with a student in Pre-K to 12th grade can access the food pantry.

'In a normal month, we're right around 20. I anticipate it to go up. The need os going to be increased. Some people are off work and kids are at home, and might mean they're eating more, which is kind of a recipe for disaster. We want to alleviate that as much as possible,” Smith said.

The social worker added that he's seen a shift in the families that use the service.

'The numbers are pretty much the same, the interesting thing is it's different families, ones that have never accessed our services before. It may be because of layoffs related to the outbreak,” Smith said.

Other services Smith helps coordinate such as counseling with a therapist from River Hills has unfortunately slowed down.

'Usually they go into buildings to see students there but that's not an option right now,” Smith said. The social worker added he can still set up appointments with the therapist at the district's central office, where students can come in and speak with the counselor if they feel comfortable doing so.

Smith, who also works with students facing homelessness, said he usually finds out about cases through counselors and teachers a student has confided in. With classes not in session, that is not an option for identifying students who need access to resources.

'We would have to rely on families contacting us directly, calling and asking for assistance. That hasn't happened since we've closed down, but it still could,” he said.

But even with the current hurdles, Smith said he and the district are committed to serving students.

'We have to make sure we meet students basic needs before everything else. Food and shelter are the most basic of the needs. Obviously needs have remained, if not worsened, in light of the situation,” Smith said.