Community Problem Solving is problem solving in action.
It offers challenges to learning that are seldom realized utilizing traditional "book learning" by providing a vehicle for students to take hands-on action as they apply their problem solving skills to real community problems.

 
CmPS bridges the gap between school and the real world.  During the school year, teams use the problem solving process to identify a significant need area in the school, local, state, national, or global community.
After researching the problem area, students brainstorm ways to overcome the problem and create a plan of action.
Projects can be submitted for preliminary evaluation in the January and for final evaluation and scoring in March to the Florida Future Problem Solving State Office.

 
As teams begin to implement their plan, students develop talents and abilities that they may never have uncovered prior to working on their community service project.

Valuable life skills are learned such as public speaking, decision making, time management, how to work interdependently within a group, and how to participate effectively in society.

CmPS provides opportunities for the development of a lasting partnership between the school and community as it encourages students to become a generation of caring citizens.   Students develop a positive self-image and a sense of belonging as they gain confidence in their abilities

 
Community Problem Solving Program goals are to provide students with the opportunity to:

1. develop their creative thinking abilities
2. increase their awareness of situations around them
3. learn and utilize problem solving strategies
4. learn and utilize decision making skills
5. understand relationships between problem solving strategies and decision making
6. increase communication skills
7. develop and expand research techniques
8. develop goal setting and fulfillment
9. develop and use teamwork skills

It has been discovered by coaches utilizing CmPS that it is easier for students to understand, focus on, and commit to a "real" concern.

In Community Problem Solving there is something for everyone: research, writing, working, making contacts, designing, etc.  Coaches have enjoyed working with whole classrooms on a single project as well as dividing students into smaller groups and working on several problems.

 
There are five essential elements included in a CmPS project:

1. The Area of Concern:
A description of the situation stating its significance to the community and the team.
2. Challenges Identified:
A clear description of the many challenges the community is facing.  Students should look at issues that caused the concern as well as those that are a result of the situation.
3. Underlying Problem:
Shows direct relevance to the area of concern.  Teams should clearly communicate the goals or desired outcomes of the project.
4. Alternative Solution Ideas:
Should directly relate to the Underlying Problem and be clearly explained.
5. Description of the Plan of Action:
A thorough description of the plan before implementation has begun, communicating the plan of action.

 
In Community Problem Solving, three divisions based on grade level are identified:
Junior Division:  Grades 4, 5 & 6
Intermediate Division: Grades 7, 8 & 9
Senior Division:  Grades 10, 11 & 12

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Teams are evaluated with other teams of the same division with projects from the same category (Civic/Cultural Issues, Environmental Concerns, Health Concerns, Human Services or Education).

Projects are reviewed by trained evaluators multiple criteria examining the description of the problem and proposed solution(s), implementation and results of the action plan and the supporting information provided with the project.