School Liaison Best Practices Training Strenthens School Partnerships
On Tuesday, January 14, 2026, The Neighborhood Bridge convened school partners for a School Liaison Best Practices Training at the Bridge Center. The session, held from 9:30–10:30 a.m., brought together liaisons and staff to strengthen alignment, clarify processes, and reinforce best practices for implementing The Neighborhood Bridge’s programs within school communities .
Purpose and Participation
The training was designed to ensure school liaisons are equipped with shared expectations, clear communication protocols, and a strong understanding of how to connect families to The Neighborhood Bridge’s services with dignity and accuracy .
Participants represented several of The Neighborhood Bridge’s partner schools, including:
Chicago Jesuit Academy: Rebecca Hoesterey and Dave Zalesky
Catalyst School Circle Rock Charter School: Kimberly Walton
St. Catherine–St. Lucy School: Kelly Archambault and Staunton Peck
Also in attendance were Christine Wedekind, Essentials Pantry Volunteer Coordinator; Mary Catherine Wygonik, School Liaison Coordinator; Jackie Benson, Business Manager and Essentials Pantry Program Manager; and Prentice Butler, Executive Director of The Neighborhood Bridge.
Building a Strong Liaison Support System
Mary Catherine Wygonik provided an overview of the liaison support structure, outlining expectations, administrative reminders, and next steps. Key reminders included the importance of submitting signed MOUs, sharing school calendars, participating in monthly liaison meetings, and responding promptly to information requests to support coordination and planning across schools .
Christine Wedekind was reintroduced as the primary point of contact for volunteer coordination within the Essentials Pantry, reinforcing the collaborative nature of the program and the importance of clear communication between schools and The Neighborhood Bridge team.
Essentials Pantry: Process and Expectations
Jackie Benson led a detailed walkthrough of the Essentials Pantry program, including how pantry orders are submitted through Salesforce, how inventory is tracked, and what schools can expect regarding timelines, availability, and fulfillment communication. Liaisons were reminded that typical pantry requests require 5–7 business days for processing and fulfillment, depending on inventory and demand .
Best Practices for Supporting Families
Kimberly Walton, Board Member and School Liaison at Catalyst School Circle Rock Charter School, shared best practices grounded in real-world experience. Her presentation emphasized:
A clear understanding of what The Neighborhood Bridge is—and is not, including firm boundaries around emergency services, eviction intervention, and financial assistance
Thoughtful, respectful ways to introduce services to families that center dignity, strengths, and trust
Practical strategies for marketing programs within schools and setting realistic expectations for families about timelines and outcomes
The training highlighted that advocacy support is a relationship-based process, often unfolding over 30–90 days, and focused on helping families navigate systems, meet deadlines, and identify next steps rather than providing one-time solutions .
Learning From Experience
The session concluded with reflections on lessons learned from past cases, led by Executive Director Prentice Butler. This discussion reinforced the importance of managing urgency, capacity, and follow-up while maintaining trust with families and school partners.
Moving Forward Together
The School Liaison Best Practices Training reaffirmed The Neighborhood Bridge’s commitment to partnership, clarity, and shared responsibility. By aligning expectations and strengthening communication across schools, The Neighborhood Bridge and its partners are better positioned to support families in accessing resources, navigating challenges, and building pathways toward stability.
To learn more about our Advocate Program, check out these blog posts:
For more information about the Essentials Pantry, check out The Neighborhood Bridge Opens the Essentials Pantry in August.
To learn about volunteer opportunities or to volunteer, go to our Volunteer page.