Impact Community Supports was created with a simple but hopeful aim: to help neighborhoods feel safer, healthier, and more financially steady by guiding people toward the tools that already exist around them. Founded by former school principal Michael McCline, the organization works to empower individuals and families through job readiness, financial literacy, education, and supportive services that encourage positive growth for young people. What began as one person trying to fill gaps during a difficult moment in education has become a growing community effort built on collaboration and trust.
McCline describes himself as a connector at heart, someone who brings schools, nonprofits, and community partners together so families can receive the help they need. His coalition model brings together multiple sectors of the community, from youth-serving organizations to mental wellness providers, creating a shared network with schools at the center. Most referrals come directly from teachers and administrators who recognize when a student may benefit from extra support. Once a school reaches out, McCline's role is to make the introductions, build comfort on all sides, and ensure families are involved and fully consenting before services begin.
Many of the needs that come through these referrals reflect pressures many young people may be facing today. "Schools often seek help for students experiencing emotional strain, experimenting with unsafe habits, or struggling with repeated discipline issues," McCline says. "A student may be referred after showing patterns of behavior that suggest they would benefit from guidance." McCline then connects families with trusted providers who can offer mental wellness support, substance-use awareness education, or other age-appropriate services. "The goal is not punishment but positive direction, helping students feel steady, supported, and ready to move forward," he says.
Parents and caregivers play an important role in this process. Because students are under 18, families must approve any referral, which opens the door for them to take part in the resources as well. Through surveys and conversations, McCline learns where families might welcome financial literacy training, job readiness coaching, or community programming. By engaging the entire household, the support extends far beyond the classroom.
The coalition model is central to why this works. Volunteers contribute to neighborhood activities, youth programs, and educational efforts that strengthen character and build resilience. The model draws on evidence-based practices and social determinants of health to help communities address their own needs with the resources already present.
McCline's path into this work is rooted in his years as a school principal in a high-poverty area. During the pandemic, while helping students obtain tablets to complete testing, he felt the moment called for a different kind of support. "Students were carrying heavy emotional and social burdens, and I believed they needed encouragement, skill-building, and stability more than standardized assessments," he recalls. That experience inspired him to found Impact Community Supports in 2020, starting with small acts of service such as coat drives, neighborhood assistance, and character-building programming. With no funding at first, he worked alongside volunteers and local groups to serve families however he could.
Today, McCline leads a small but committed team of five, including program coordination, operations, development, financial management, and communications. While the team handles essential functions behind the scenes, McCline steers the relationships, speaking with schools and guiding the coalition day to day. His long-term vision is clear. He hopes to expand into more zip codes and more counties, bringing the community-of-solutions model to places that could benefit from the same collaborative support. He hopes every county in the country could one day have a coalition working this way.
Even as the organization has grown, the guiding philosophy remains the same. Impact Community Supports wants to help communities become self-sufficient, using what they already have around them to build stronger futures. McCline often stresses that safety and well-being matter deeply, but financial stability matters too. "When people have the tools to find work, manage their finances, and contribute to the local economy, families can flourish, schools can thrive, and neighborhoods can become more resilient," he says.
To continue expanding his work, the organization is seeking greater visibility and support from foundations and partners who share this belief in community-centered solutions. Increased funding would allow the team to not only connect families with providers but also to deliver more services directly, especially in prevention education, job readiness, and financial literacy.
"Impact Community Supports helps people and families feel seen, supported, and guided toward brighter possibilities," McCline says. "Community leaders and potential partners are invited to learn more and join the mission to build communities where everyone has the chance to grow, contribute, and thrive."
