CareSource and Communities In Schools Announce Early Success of Being Present Matters as Ohio Students Return to School

Being Present Matters pilot helped 82% of participating students improve attendance, with plans to expand the program this school year.

DAYTON, Ohio – (Sept. 21, 2026) — CareSource, a nationally recognized nonprofit managed care organization, today announced strong early results from the Being Present Matters initiative in Ohio as students across the state return to classrooms for the new school year. Developed in partnership Communities In Schools® (CIS®) of Ohio, the program is designed to combat chronic absenteeism and support student well-being statewide.

According to recent research published by The Ohio State University, one in four students in Ohio is “chronically absent,” a term that means a student is missing 10% of the school year – or about two to three days per month. This issue is especially evident in some of Ohio’s largest urban districts, which are participating in Being Present Matters, including Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. In some schools in these districts, 40% of students are chronically absent.

Early results from the Being Present Matters initiative indicated that 82% of participating students improved their attendance during the 2025-26 school year, underscoring the importance of sustained school engagement for both academic success and overall well-being.

Being Present Matters, which reached about 25,000 students in 46 Ohio schools in 2025-26, is coordinated by Communities In Schools, a national dropout prevention organization that places support teams in schools. It was funded by CareSource Foundation with a donation of $300,000 to Communities In Schools for the 2025-26 school year, which was a pilot year.

Building on the results from the 2025-26 pilot year, Communities In Schools of Ohio and CareSource are planning to expand the program in 2026-27, bringing the initiative into the new school year with a continued focus on improving student attendance and engagement.

"Schools are an important part of our social support system and they can steer students toward a healthier life during high school and into adulthood, which is why CareSource is committed to supporting students and families," said David Thomas, Ohio Market President at CareSource. "But it all starts with attendance. That's why we are partnering with Communities In Schools to remove barriers that can stand in the way of students being engaged and ready to learn."

"Communities In Schools of Ohio is thrilled to partner with CareSource and the Being Present Matters campaign,” said Adero Robinson, CEO of Communities In Schools of Ohio. “This initiative not only brings powerful visibility to the challenges students face but also helps us provide the caring connections and resources that directly impact their success in school and beyond.”

Being Present Matters kicked off in Ohio in late 2025 with high-energy pep rallies at Maple Leaf Elementary School (Garfield Heights School District), Johnson Park Middle School (Columbus City School District), and Alliance Academy (Cincinnati School District).

The pep rallies featured special appearances by former Ohio State and NFL quarterback Cardale Jones, Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown, and the Bengals mascot, Who Dey. With over 823 attendees across the three schools, the events offered students a unique opportunity to engage with athletes and make a personal pledge to prioritize their education. Students who demonstrated improved attendance and engagement in 2025-26 were recognized through pep rallies, certificates and an end-of-semester field trip.

Communities In Schools works at all levels in a school, through training with teachers and staff, through small group services, and through intensive, one-on-one coaching with individual students. All of these efforts depend on a site coordinator, who works in the school full-time.

About Communities In Schools of Ohio

Communities In Schools of Ohio (CIS of Ohio) is part of the national CIS network, dedicated to surrounding students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. CIS of Ohio works inside forty-six K-12 schools to connect 25,000 students to caring adults, community resources, and the support they need to overcome barriers to success. Learn more at www.ciskids.org.