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Annual Performance Report (APR)
APR SUBMISSION DEADLINE
IS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
For APR Assistance Contact:
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Nov 27-29, 2007
Westchester Marriott
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May 27-29, 2008
The Desmond Hotel
Albany, NY
Who Should Attend:
~21st CCLC Coordinators ~ Extended School Day/School Violence Prevention Coordinators ~ Advantage-Funded Coordinators ~ Out-of-School Time Coordinators ~ Politicians ~ School Principals ~ Community-Based Organization Directors ~ Youth ~ Superintendents ~ Program Evaluators ~ Those interested in the after school movement |
Marathon Golf To Help Cystic Fibrosis Research
Sean McCrossan
On Monday, September 24, 2007, I will be playing 100 holes during a Golf Marathon to help raise money to find a cure for cystic fibrosis. It's not just that I'll be attempting to play the 100 holes all in one day. More importantly, with the money raised through my 100 Holes of Golf Marathon, we'll be inching ever closer to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis, that dreaded disease that literally steals the breath from its victims; primarily our children. As a member of the board of directors of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, I know how close we are to discovering a vaccine. That's why my appeal to you for your help is so great. To find out how you can help, contact me:
Sean McCrossan,
Director of 21st Century Afterschool Program,
Northwest Buffalo Community Center
155 Lawn Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14207
(716)876-8108, ext 18 (w)
(716)510-5155 (c) |
Sarah Espinosa,
New Executive Director for the New York State School-Age Care (NYSSAC) Coalition
With extensive experience serving children, youth and families in both the public and private sectors, Sara Espinosa takes with her a wealth of expertise, knowledge and most importantly, passion for school-age care as NYSSACC's new Executive Director.
Join us in congratulating Sarah on her exciting, new position as Executive Director of NYSSAC!
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Message from Our Director
Greetings Colleagues:
Move over summer - energy and excitement buzz in the air as we hear the loud acceleration of big yellow school buses and see students in pressed new clothes toting overloaded back packs symbolizing that a new school year is finally here.
The onset of a school year brings new opportunities to advocate and educate policy-makers about the importance of afterschool programming. With Congress still considering the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) appropriation for next year, following are four facts from the Afterschool Alliance to help persuade your representatives why afterschool programs deserves support
1. Afterschool programs are too few and far between. More than 14 million school age children (25%) in the United States are unsupervised after school. Among them are more than 40,000 kindergartners. Only 6.5 million K-12 children (11%) participate in afterschool programs. Parents say another additional 15 million would participate if a quality program were available in their community.
2. The afternoon hours can be dangerous for unsupervised children. The time between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. are peak hours for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex.
3. Afterschool programs work. Long-term studies of afterschool programs large and small - including evaluations of LA's Best, The After-School Corporation, the Boys & Girls Clubs' Project Learn, California's After School Education and Safety Program, and dozens of others - demonstrate that afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families.
4. Voters want their elected representatives to increase funding for afterschool. A 2006 election poll found that 72 percent of voters agree that "our newly elected public officials in Congress should increase funding for afterschool programs." In addition, the poll commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance found that support for afterschool crosses all demographic and party lines.
Additionally, as we begin a new school year ensuring the safety and well-being of all afterschool students is paramount. Following are tips from Joakim Lartey, Director of Crisis Response at the New York State Center for School Safety:
1. Review all Safety Response Plans to make sure that all information is updated. (i.e., telephone numbers and all contacts)
2. Make sure that all agreements and memorandums of understanding with firstresponders are up-to-date.
3. Review and practice drills, especially evacuation and sheltering drills.
4. Examine all communication equipment ensuring that all is properly working (i.e., batteries in walkie-talkies, antennas and all phone lines are working).
5. Ensure that all student contact information is updated and accessible.
This is going to be a great school year. Stay focused, keep up the great work and know that the work you are doing in this afterschool movement is priceless.
For the youth,
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Parental Involvement
Many teachers have written to me over the years, frustrated with how unprepared their students are-and they don't mean academically. Chris, a kindergarten teacher, wrote what many teachers have expressed, "I would love it if you could write a 10 tips for parents to help us teachers do our increasingly demanding job. Many parents of children I teach have left the job of spiritual, character, and social/emotional education to me. I can't do it all in addition to teaching academic skills. I'm getting burned out and pretty soon won't have the energy left to nourish one child let alone 25."
So here goes my 10 tips:
1. Create a smooth takeoff each day. Give your child a hug before she ventures out the door and you head to work. Look her in the eye, and tell her how proud you are of her. Your child's self-confidence and security will help her do well both in school and in life.
2. Prepare for a happy landing at the end of the day when you reconvene. Create a predictable ritual such as 10-20 minutes listening to your child talk about his day-before you check phone messages, read the mail, or begin dinner. That way you are fully present to listen, and your child has a touchstone he can count on between school and home.
3. Fill your child's lunchbox with healthy snacks and lunches. Have dinner at a reasonable hour and a healthy breakfast. A well-balanced diet maximizes your child's learning potential.
4. Include calm, peaceful times in your children's afternoons and evenings. Maintain a schedule that allows them to go to school rested, and if they are sick, have a system in place so they are able to stay home.
5. Remember it's your children's homework, not yours. Create a specific homework space that's clutter-free and quiet. Encourage editing and double-checking work, but allow your kids to make mistakes, as it's the only way teachers can gauge if they understand the material. It's also how children learn responsibility for the quality of their work.
6. Fill your child's life with a love for learning by showing him your own curiosity, respecting his questions, and encouraging his efforts.
7. Fill your home with books to read, books simply to look at, and books that provide answers to life's many questions. The public or school library is an excellent resource.
8. Be a partner with your child's teacher. When you need to speak to him or her in reference to a specific issue with your child, do it privately, not in front of your child. Make a point never to criticize your child's teacher in front of your child.
9. Set up a system where routine items are easily located-such as backpacks, shoes, signed notices. Create a central calendar for upcoming events to avoid the unexpected.
10. Tuck a "love note" in your child's lunch bag to let her know how special she is. Knowing they are loved makes it easier for children to be kind to others.
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Resources
- Why Ethnic Minority Youth Do or Do Not Participate in Youth Programs -Previous research has shown that involvement in structured youth programs is associated with positive developmental outcomes. However, it has also been noted that youth from ethnic minorities - especially those from economically disadvantaged communities - do not participate equally in such programs. This study sought to better understand the reasons why diverse youth do or do not participate in structured programs.
- Underage Drinking Starts Before Adolescence -
 A new study titled "Really Underage Drinkers: The Epidemiology of Children's Alcohol Use in the United States," documents the drinking rates of 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-graders based on available national and State surveys conducted over the past 15 years. Among the author's findings are that 10 percent of 4th-graders had had more than a sip of alcohol and 7 percent had drunk alcohol in the past year. The percentage of children who used alcohol increased with age and doubled between grades 4 and 6. The largest increase occurred between grades 5 and 6. Author John Donovan, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, says in a press release that although there are many published national surveys of teen alcohol use, surveys of alcohol use in younger children are often unpublished.
- New York State HIV Prevention Planning Group (PPG) - The NYS Department of Health is particularly interested in receiving nominations from young people between the ages of 18 to 24. If you know of young people who may be interested in serving on the PPG, encourage them to submit a nomination form. This is a wonderful opportunity for a young person associated with your program to have an impact on the HIV prevention efforts in New York State. For further information contact: Desiree Voorhies, NY State Student Support Services Center HIV/AIDS Coordinator, at dvoorhies@gvboces.org.
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The Quality of School-Age Child Care in After-School Settings - Growing evidence tells us that quality after school programs can make a difference in children's lives. But what defines quality in after school settings? This brief by Harvard Family Research Project's (HFRP) Priscilla Little offers an overview of the features of high-quality after school settings, including an examination of key research on links between program quality and developmental outcomes. The brief, published by Child Care & Early Education Research Connections, also reviews current practice in program quality assessment, and a set of quality-related considerations for policymakers.
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Strengthening Afterschool for Older Youth through Policy and Practice: A Policy Brief - This policy brief from American Youth Policy Forum discusses the value of after-school programs, policy changes to strengthen after-school programs, capacity and quality development, access, evaluation, and connecting after school to the broader school reform discussion.
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Adolescent Bullying Involvement and Perceived Family, Peer and School Relations: Commonalities and Differences Across Race/Ethnicity - "Bullying perpetration was associated with more family, peer and school factors than were victimization or bully-victimization," state the authors of an article published in the September 2007 issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health. Research has supported the influential role of three factors in the development of bullying behaviors: family, peers, and schools. Although some studies have explored racial and ethnic differences in bullying prevalence, no study to date has explored whether correlates of bullying behavior vary by race and ethnicity. The authors examine the relevance of perceived family, peer, and school relations to bullying behaviors for white, black, and Hispanic adolescents using nationally representative data. | |
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Funding Opportunities
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Education Week - See the grants section for regular updates on grants available for educators, administrators, policymakers, and researchers. Deadline: Varies
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YouthPower Grants - Grants and awards support and motivate youth, teachers, service-learning coordinators, and youth-serving organizations to plan and implement projects for National Youth Service Day and on-going service throughout the year. Deadline: Varies
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The Finance Project introduces a new series of audio conferences for program leaders, intermediaries, policymakers and funders to share their valuable ideas and experiences on financing and sustaining youth initiatives. The dates and topics are listed below. Please SAVE THE DATE and plan to join The Finance Project for these important information sharing sessions. Register early as slots fill up fast. A recording and transcription of the calls become available on The Finance Project's website shortly after the call.
November 2007 - Community Fundraising for Expanded and Sustaining Youth Programs
This resource is designed to help you learn about exciting programs, practices, and initiatives across the country that aim to improve the futures of children, families and communities. This catalog will help you learn what is happening elsewhere and develop innovative ideas for implementing, financing, and sustaining effective programs.
This easy-to-search online collection includes 1048 promising practices profiled by The Finance Project in their main areas of work:
· Children & Family Services
· Children & Youth At Risk · Economic Success for Families and Communities
· Education Reform
· Financing Strategies
· Sustainability Strategies
· Service Delivery and Management Strategies |
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Mark Your Calendar
National Human Service Leaders Summit - September 19 - One of the best networking, content-rich professional development events is fast approaching. It is the only program of its kind expressly for and by national leaders of nonprofit human and community development organizations. Register today!
Advancing Youth Development (AYD) - The Advancing Youth Development (AYD) Partnership offers professional development for youth workers in New York State. Trainings are designed for front line youth workers, program managers, administrators and others with responsibility to support effective youth development. The partnership involves the NYS Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS), Association of NYS Youth Bureaus, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the ACT for Youth Center of Excellence, Cornell University. The NYS AYD Partnership would like to invite the 21 Century Afterschool Providers to take advantage of these free professional development opportunities.
October 2 - Building Partnerships Across Differences ( Working with Diverse Youth)
For further information, contact Jutta Dotterweich at 607-255-4108 or jd81@cornell.edu.
8th National Conference on Preventing Crime: Helping Build Safer Communities - October 3-5 - The conference will feature three keynote addresses and more than 65 training sessions in the topical areas of crime prevention for businesses, partnering with government and law enforcement, promoting crime prevention and personal safety basics, protecting children and youth, leadership
The Association of New York State Youth Bureaus (ANYSYB) - October 17-19 - The 37th  Annual Conference of the Association of New York State Youth Bureaus will take place at the Brooklyn Marriott in Brooklyn, New York. ANYSYB is especially thrilled to hold this year's Conference in New York City to coincide with the 60th Anniversary of New York City's Youth Bureau, the Department of Youth and Community Development.
Afterschool for All by 2010 - Lights on Afterschool - October 18 - Celebrated nationwide to call attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families and communities. Visit the Afterschool Alliance website for an Event Planning Kit.
The After School Experience (TASE) - October 17-19 - Westchester Marriott, Tarrytown, NY Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready... For Registration visit NYS21stCCLC.org
and the Hamilton Fish Institute on School and Community Violence at George Washington University. The national conference features tracks and workshop sessions focusing on effective programs and strategies relating to school and community safety. Confirmed plenary speakers include USDOJ Assistant Attorney General Regina Schofield and USDOE Deputy Undersecretary Deborah Price. Registration is limited to only 400 participants!
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