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After School State of the Union Address
by John Soja
Fiscal
Due to the current fiscal situation, NYSED has made difficult cuts twice and does not anticipate further cuts for the current fiscal year. NYSED's 2008-2009 budget is dependent on the upcoming New York State budget.
21st CCLC
A round 5 competition is anticipated to be announced and posted to the NYSED website in January 2009. Available funding is dependent on the federal budget. If federal funding remains level, sufficient funds will be available for a round 5 competition. The peer review process will be done differently than in the past by using electronic means.
Grant Applications Approved
The Northwest Buffalo Community Center was awarded $1.3 million for a 3-year period to support Supplemental Educational Services (SES) and afterschool joint programming. Larry Pernick, Northwest Buffalo Community Center, Sean McCrossan, Northwest Buffalo Community Center and Gary Ciurczak, Ciurczak & Company were directly responsible for obtaining the federal grant (Click here for press release).
Best Practices
Bob James, Student Voices, successfully applied for best practices status and is currently certified as a best practices program in New York State. If you are interested in applying for best practices status, contact Elizabeth Keefe at Sharing Success, keefe@sharingsuccess.org, and/or visit www.sharingsuccess.org. Sharing Success, a project of Transferring Success, is publicly funded by the New York State Legislature and the Governor's Office to identify and disseminate successful educational programs and practices statewide. The Sharing Success Technical Assistance Center seeks candidates for participation from within New York State and nationwide. These programs must meet rigorous evaluation standards in order to be replicated by other school districts, adult education sites, or non-profit organizations.
NYC Student Support Services Network
NYSED was not able to provide regional student support services to community-based organizations (CBO's) and local education agencies (LEA's) in NYC as it does throughout the rest of the state. Congratulations to Danielle DiMare who was instrumental in obtaining the NYC Student Support Services contract. NYC now has its own Regional Student Support Services Network which will provide 21st CCLC technical assistance to NYC grantees.
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Funding Opportunities
MetLife Afterschool Innovator Awards
The Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with the MetLife Foundation, will honor afterschool programs serving middle and high school youth with the Metlife Afterschool Innovator Awards. Top programs will be featured in upcoming issue briefs being developed. The awards carry a $5,000 stipend. To nominate afterschool programs that are excelling in serving older youth in these ways or encourage represenatatives of these programs to nominate themselves, visit Afterschool Alliance.
Deadline: December 31
International competition for young designers and e-Content creators to create e-Contents that address the United Nation's Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) in an inspiring manner, and use internet and mobile contents to create awareness of the MDGs. Please note that the online platforms need not be youth-led so long as the specific project is youth-led. Apply online.
Deadline: December 31
One $50,000 grant is available to fund a volunteer project to build or improve a playground, skate park, basketball court, sports field or similar playspace for schools or youth organizations.
Deadline: December 31
UnitedHealth and Youth Service America are excited to offer the UnitedHealth HEROES service-learning grant program for youth-led community education projects in Long Island, New York City and Syracuse, New York (among other cities and states). These grants of up to $1,000 support teachers, service-learning coordinators and students in the health professions to implement service-learning projects around childhood obesity and engage children and youth ages 5 to 25 as volunteers.
Deadline: January 15, 2009
YouthBuild participants receive a combination of academic and job skills development through on-site training in construction. YouthBuild provides funding to public and private non-profit organizations that include community-based organizations, community action agencies, state or local housing agencies, community development corporations, and any other entity including states and units of general local government eligible to provide education and employment training. Grants are expected to rage from $15,000 to $18,000.
Deadline: January 15, 2009
The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, Coming Up Taller Awards recognize and award outstanding after-school and out-of-school arts and humanities programs for underserved children and youth. Maximum award is $10,000. Eligibility: programs initiated by museums, libraries, performing arts organizations, universities, colleges, arts centers, community service organizations, schools, businesses, and eligible government entities.
Deadline: January 30, 2009
The Big Read offers support for community reading projects. Grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded to nonprofits and government agencies to conduct month-long, community-wide readings of fiction and poetry between September 2009 and June 2010. Click here for eligibility guidelines.
Deadline: February 3, 2009
The annual Intel Schools of Distinction Awards recognize U.S. schools that implement innovative, replicable programs that inspire their students and lead to positive educational outcomes in the areas of math and science. In order to be considered as an Intel School of Distinction, schools must develop an environment and curricula that meet or exceed benchmarks, including national mathematics and science content standard. The awards program is open to K-12 public, private, charter, and parochial schools.
Deadline: February 17, 2009 |
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Upcoming Events
The 23rd Annual San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment
Chadwick Center for Children and Families
San Diego, CA
Washington, DC
February 23-25, 2009
Through this year's conference theme, "Bridging the Gap for Our Children, Our Legacy" we are more committed than ever to present the very best workshops presenters have to offer. While our workshops have always been outstanding, it is our goal to raise the bar even higher in 2009.
April 16-17, 2009
Mark your calendar and join us at the only national conference dedicated to summer learning, and learn how to build, strengthen and expand summer programs.
April 2-4, 2009
May 26-29
The conference theme is "Global Warming" and Dr. Andrew Munoz, Ph.D., Vice President and Center Director of the Academy for Educational Development's Center for Youth Development, wil speak about innovative after-school initiatives around the world that serve to meet youth challenges.
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Message from Our Director
 Greetings Wonderful Colleagues:
As we come to the close of a calendar year, the excitement of a new year, 2009, and a new presidential administration, I encourage the after school community to utilize what I call the vowel strategy now, more than ever...Advocate, Educate, Inform, Organize and Unify.
The implications of the current economic crisis are far reaching and undoubtedly affect city and county budgets throughout the nation. During the "New Grantee Orientation" at The After School Experience (TASE) Conference in November, a director of a community-based program noted cuts in school budgets will adversely impact the provision of after school programming in his district even without a current cut in after school funded dollars. As we navigate our way through these times of uncertainty one thing is certain, we need more quality after school programs, not fewer, and we need local, state and federal policy makers to continue supporting the after school movement.
Jodi Grant, Executive Director of the Afterschool Alliance, informed me that the Alliance has been working with President-Elect Barack Obama to support his proposal to double after school funding and create a new funding stream for summer learning programs (to take action go to www.afterschoolalliance.org/policyTakeAction.cfm). As we know, President-Elect Obama has been a strong supporter of comprehensive after school programs, however, we must ensure that ALL legislators are educated to the benefits and needs of after school programming.
Following are a few points specific to New York State as you implement your VOWEL Strategy:
- Ninety-four percent of New York State voters agree that quality after school programs are important to supporting academic and social development of children.
- New York State and City serve more than 400,000 children in after school programs, however, it is estimated that an additional 600,000 slots are needed.
- We know that the hours between 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. are the peak periods of youth experimentation with sex, drugs, alcohol and participation in anti-social behavior. We also know that this can be countered by providing quality after school programs.
- Demand for after school programs is great. The parents of thirty percent of children not currently participating in after school say they would enroll their child in a program if one were available.
We must continue to make the case for after school programming - from local community centers to the Capitol Rotunda - the movement must continue. Collectively, we must Advocate, Educate, Inform, Organize and Unify. Then, and only then, will we see the support we need so that after school programming is available to every child in America who needs it.
May your holidays be as special as you are,
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The After School Experience
(TASE)
12th Bi-Annual Training Conference
"Dream, Believe, Dare, Do!
On November 17-19, The After School Experience (TASE) convened over 600 afterschool professionals at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, NY. Here's what some participants had to say:
"It was the best conference yet!"
"As expected, TASE continues to get better and better."
"I never received this level of support with other grants, I feel I'm part of a big family...an afterschool family." (from a new grantee)
"Keep up the great work, looking forward to TASE in May 2009."
 New Grantee Orientation Panel:
Moderator: Mary Grenz Jalloh, NYS Center for School Safety
Panelists: John Soja, NYSED, Lorraine Lopez, NY 21st CCLC Statewide TAC, Elizabeth Whipple, Research Works, Jennifer Siaca, NYSAN, Sara Espinosa, AfterschoolWorks! New York, Fred Jones, New York City DOE (right to left)
New Grantee Orientation Participants
Interactive Workshop
Workshop for Rural Programs
Panel on Sustainability
Moderator: Mary Grenz Jalloh, NYS Center for School Safety
Panelists: Dr. Pat Laino, Womens Business Center, Susan Ross, Niagara Falls CSD, Katha Cato & Greg Rideout, Henry Street Settlement and Paul Forbes, New York City DOE Integrated Services Center (l to r)
 TASE Excellence Awards Honorees:
Katha Cato, Henry Street Settlement, Monique McDowell, Highbridge Community Life Center, Tom Wojcikowski, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Lauria Williams, Peaceful Solutions for Living, Bill Tingling, School News Nationwide, Inc., Robert Kazeangin, Board of Education at Niagara Falls CSD, Hidy Ochiai, Educational Karate Program Institute, Sara Espinosa, AfterSchool Works! New York, Sean McCrossan, Northwest Buffalo Community Center (l to r) and Ann Margaret Guitierrez, YMCA of Greater New York (not pictured)
Student Performers - Syracuse City School District
Myer Levine P.S. 285 Steel Band at the Excellence Awards Reception
John Soja, NYSED, Sean McCrossan, Northwest Buffalo Community Center, Linda Woodward, NYSED and Betsy Morcom-Kenney, NYSED
Sean Stephenson, Keynoter at TASE and Felicia Watson, Director of the New York 21st Statewide Technical Assistance Center
Dancing and 'Grown Folks' Networking
Cindy Soja (John's wife) and Felicia Watson as John Soja gets honored at TASE
Kevin Soja (John's son) honors dad
John Soja and Cindy Soja
John Soja, The Rock Star Dancing! |
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Resources
After-School Programs That Implement the Guidelines Should Apply for Governor's Recognition Program
The Healthy Kids, Healthy New York After-School Initiative asks after-school programs to model easy-to-follow guidelines for nutrition, physical activity and screen time. Programs that implement the guidelines may apply for the Governor's Recognition Program. To view the guidelines, toolkit and Governor's Recognition Program application, please visit NYSHEPA. To view the press release visit the NYS Governor's Website.
The relationship between schools and communities has been one of evolving expectations and parameters of authority. In many cases, schools have operated as distinct entities, linked to their communities through an elected board of education representing the constituent population. The responsibility for what occurs in schools is considered to be at the discretion of school leadership. School leaders, however, are increasingly recognizing that the issues they are confronting in school are ones that are not unique to the institution of the school, but are issues of the community. As such, there is growing recognition that links need to be strengthened between those working with youth in our schools, and those providing needed services in the community. Changing education policy from the federal level also highlights the need for schools to rethink strategy to ensure the optimal intellectual growth of all students.
This article appeared in the Fall 2008 issue of the SAANYS, Vanguard & Journal magazine, a membership publication of the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS).
Partners and Peers: Sexual and Dating Violence Among NYC YouthA Research Report by the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault and the Columbia Center for Youth Violence Prevention, Columbia University
by Deborah A. Fry, Leslie L. Davidson, Vaughn I. Richert, and Harriet Lessel
June 2008
 This study was carried out in 2006-2007 by the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault (the Alliance) and the Columbia University Center for Youth Violence Prevention (CCYVP) at the Mailman School of Public Health with funding from the New York City Council and the Centers for Disease Control. The study included surveying 1,312 youth in four public high schools in New York City on the topics of sexual and dating violence. NYS School-Age Care Credential Competency Standards for Afterschool Professionals
AfterSchool Works! New York administers the most successful School-Age Care Credential program in the nation. Developed in collaboration with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services Bureau of Early Childhood Services and Cornell University, the New York State School-Age Care Credential is designed to promote quality services to children and families by providing specific standards, training and evaluation of afterschool practitioners.
 NYU scholars calculated how much the city, state and federal governments spent on after-school programs in New York City from 1998 to 2008. They found that funding per youth participant increased 30 percent during that time (from $1,386 to almost $1,800), while the number of participants increased eight-fold (from less than 20,000 in 1998 to approximately 160,000 today). The dramatic gains came as the result of a public funding increase from approximately $23 million in 1998 to almost $300 million in 2008.
May 2008
 This commentary highlights the work of the Collaborative for Building After-School Systems (CBASS), a collaborative of mature, city and county-wide nonprofit OST intermediaries, to develop and adopt common youth-, program- and system-level measures that are easy and cost-effective for local systems to implement. By agreeing to adopt and publicly report against a common set of outcomes, CBASS hopes to spark more efforts to use common measures to assess program productivity and success, hold providers accountable to quality, demonstrate after-school's contribution to the successful development of children and youth and contribute to system-building and sustainability.
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