More than a million people work in after-school programs throughout the U.S, including many for whom it’s their first job. In a recent policy brief, The After-School Corporation proposes ways to establish clear systems of professional development and easily navigable career pathways that link training and education with job advancement.
Good for programs and good for staff, creating a navigable career path for after-school educators is also a great job development strategy for related fields, including teaching. After-school educators are a highly diverse, motivated group of citizens who acquire valuable on-the-job training and experience in working with kids. Their participation in formal and informal training should build toward attainment of college degrees.
Promising approaches are documented in this brief, which is available at: http://www.tascorp.org/content/document/detail/2818/.
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The Sonoran Alliance for Youth is hosting its annual conference in Tucson, Arizona for out-of-school time professionals on Saturday, January 30, 2010.
New Year Know How – SAY It With Science
Choose from a variety of training workshops: integrating science in afterschool, behavior guidance, active games, collaborating with principals and much more.
Cost: $20 per person
Location: Empire High School, Vail School District, Tucson AZ
Registration forms available here: SAY Registration Brochure
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Join The Wallace Foundation for a Webinar on Monday, December 7, 2009
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/892489265
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/892489265
Join researchers and local leaders to explore Investments in Building Citywide Out-of-School-Time Systems, a study of the investments six cities-Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, New York City and Seattle-made in building OST systems. The study, commissioned by The Wallace Foundation from The Finance Project and Public/Private Ventures, can inform OST system-building efforts across the country-by helping stakeholders understand the potential roles and functions of OST systems and the range of resources needed to build a solid infrastructure. The webinar will present lessons for the OST field and highlight the work of local initiatives focused on quality, data and access, and financing.
Title: Investments in Building Citywide Out-of-School-Time Systems
Date: Monday, December 7, 2009
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.
System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer
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School-Age Notes, long-time resource for afterschool programs, publishes a daily “note” – short, quick resources, ideas, inspirations and other information pertinent to out-of-school time professionals and programs. You can sign up to receive the daily email at http://www.schoolagenotes.com/
Children often arrive at their after-school programs with homework. If it is not done there, it will need to be completed at home.
Deciding whether to offer the time, space and resources for children to work on their homework is a unique decision that each program must make, according to the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST).
In Homework Assistance & Out-of-School Time: Filling the Need, Finding a Balance by Susan O’Connor and Kate McGuire, NIOST offers the following guidelines for making this decision.
The most effective homework policy will be developed when the opinions and needs of children, families and staff members are taken into consideration. Discussions should focus on balancing the research findings, the resources available to the program and the needs of those served.
Homework assistance and enrichment activities are especially important for children who are at risk of school failure. Some families cannot provide children with the quiet space, resources and assistance that they need to successfully complete homework. Without help from the program, homework may become yet another place where students with fewer resources fall behind.
Homework is only one way to support academic achievement. Programs can also offer tutoring, enrichment activities and recreational reading programs to help students develop skills and build self-confidence.
Children’s academic needs must be balanced with their physical, emotional and social needs. Children need time to blow off steam and have snacks, play with friends, build relationships with caring adults and develop their own talents and hobbies.
To order Homework Assistance and other proven and practical resources, please visit our Web site at www.schoolagenotes.com.
School-Age NOTES
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In an article in today’s Arizona Daily Star, Director Humble of the AZ Dept. of Health Services outlines a new fee structure for centers that implement a 10 point health plan. It seems that the Dept. can utilize federal dollars for childhood obesity and tobacco prevention programs to discount licensing fees for centers who agree to provide structured physical activity for one hour each day, serve low-fat milk to children over two, and completely ban smoking on the premises 24 hours per day, in addition to other requirements.
Read the whole story from the AZ Daily Star here: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/dailystar/317858.php
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Webinar from Center for Afterschool Education @ Foundations, Inc.
Thursday, Nov. 12th at 1:00 PM EST
Corral your resources, set up your space, and organize the time to build study skills, positive work habits, teamwork, creativity, independent learning-and get things moving!
Event: Designing Effective Homework Time
Date: Thursday, Nov. 12th
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 EST
Duration: 1-hour
Small fee
To register:
http://www.foundationsinc.org/online-store/products/419
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New Resource from the Afterschool Investments Project
The Afterschool Investments Project (AIP), a service of the Child Care Bureau, provides technical assistance to Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) grantees and other state and local leaders to support afterschool efforts. AIP is pleased to announce the following new resource is available on the project website:
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/afterschool/
Using the Child Care and Development Fund to Support a System of Quality Improvement for School-Age Programs
This strategy brief provides ideas and considerations for state leaders looking to build a coordinated system of quality improvement for school-age programs. Based on a review of the literature and interviews with state decision makers, this brief describes promising approaches for investing the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and other resources in six system components:
- Governance and coordination;
- Regulations;
- Program and practitioner standards;
- Program and practitioner supports;
- Financing; and
- Accountability
An accompanying self-assessment tool is available to help state leaders identify the strengths, opportunities, and gaps in their current system of quality supports for school-age programs. The tool will soon be posted on the Afterschool Investments website; in the meantime, please contact AIP via e-mail at afterschool@financeproject.orgto request a copy of the tool.
The Afterschool Investments Project,
A Service of the Child Care Bureau
Phone: 202-587-1000
E-mail: afterschool@financeproject.org
Web: http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/afterschool/
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As part of the Next Generation for Youth Organization, the National Institute on Out-of-School Time has co-authored this Youth Work Core Competencies Review.
http://www.niost.org/pdf/Core_Competencies_Review_October_2009.pdf
National Institute on Out-of-School time at the Wellesley Centers for Women
www.niost.org
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Edible Indian Corn and Foliage Friends, click on the pictures to get the instructions at FamilyFun.com:
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Let’s keep the pressure on our Governor, Legislators, and DHS Director Humble to set reasonable fees and implementation schedule. New suggestions are to use the Governor’s discretionary federal stimulous dollars to fill in the gaps.
Arizona Republic, 10/28 300 protest child-care fee hike.
Arizona Daily Star, 10/28 http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/dailystar/315118.php
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Innovative Learning Solutions 