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Afterschool Focus: Afterschool as a Critical Connection Between Schools and Communities >
Afterschool Focus: Afterschool as a Critical Connection Between Schools and CommunitiesStrong partnerships between schools and families and communities are essential elements of high-performing schools. Afterschool programs can play a critical role in strengthening these ties. Program Profile: Gary Comer Youth Center Connects Families, Communities, and SchoolsThe Gary Comer Youth Center 21st CCLC is at the intersection of schools, families, and communities. The 21st CCLC uses its space, programming, and communication to cultivate a sense of community among these different partners. News from the Field: Belle Brainiacs Learn Life Lessons Through Lemonade StandThis summer, the Belle Brainiacs, a K–1 site of the Henry Bureau Stark Regional Office of Education 21st CCLC, planned and hosted a lemonade stand to raise money for pediatric cancer research. The fundraiser was in memory of Ty Sanford, a student at Belle Alexander who died of brain cancer when he was 5 years old. Recommended ResourcesCampaign for Grade-Level ReadingThe Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a collaborative effort by foundations, nonprofit partners, business leaders, government agencies, states and communities across the nation to ensure that more children in low-income families succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, a career, and active citizenship. The Campaign focuses on an important predictor of school success and high school graduation—grade-level reading by the end of third grade. Engaged communities mobilized to remove barriers, expand opportunities, and assist parents in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities to serve as full partners in the success of their children are needed to assure student success. For more information on the Campaign, contact Ron Fairchild. College Changes Everything ConferenceRegister now to attend the sixth annual College Changes Everything conference, the state’s premier college access and success event. Scheduled for July 21, this 1-day conference focuses on effective practices and showcases resources available to help with increasing college access and college completion for students in support of the state’s Goal 2025: to increase the proportion of adults in Illinois with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60% by the year 2025. Quality Afterschool Standards for IllinoisACT Now is excited to announce the launch of its Illinois Statewide Quality Standards. These Quality Standards capture practices that have been demonstrated, through research, to lead to quality programs and positive outcomes for children. The Quality Standards provide afterschool programs with a common language for describing quality, as well as a high bar for individual programs to hold themselves accountable. Supporting Grieving Children in Afterschool & Summer Learning ProgramsWhether involving a personal loss or one that impacts the entire community, bereavement can have a profound and long-term impact on children’s psychological adjustment, academic achievement, and personal development. Youth development professionals can play a vital role in providing important support to children, yet most have had limited to no professional training in how to support grieving students. Hosted by the Afterschool Alliance, this webinar helps out-of-school professionals learn basic skills in how to talk with and support students as they struggle to understand and cope with a loss in their lives. Information for GranteesImportant Dates and Events
Grants and Other OpportunitiesKids Run the Nation. Since 2007, the Road Runners Club of America and Kids Run the Nation have assisted running clubs, schools, and community nonprofits interested in implementing or currently hosting youth running programs. Running clubs, events, or other organizations with the IRS 501(c)(3) designation are eligible to apply. Elementary and middle schools that provide an organized after-school running program are eligible as well. The Kids Run the Nation grant application period will open August 1, 2016, and close October 1, 2016. Learn more on the Kids Run the Nation website. Home Depot Community Impact Grants. The Home Depot Foundation offers grants up to $5,000 to IRS-registered 501c designated organizations and tax-exempt public service agencies that are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community. Grants are given in the form of The Home Depot gift cards for the purchase of tools, materials, or services. The primary goal is to provide grants and volunteer opportunities to support the renovation, refurbishment, retrofitting, accessibility modifications, and/or weatherization of existing homes, centers, schools and similar facilities. Learn more on the Home Depot website. Join Us OnlineDo you have a question for your afterschool colleagues? Would you like to know what’s going on in other Illinois 21st CCLC programs? Join the Illinois Quality Afterschool Facebook Group. Would you like to receive the Illinois Quality Afterschool newsletter and resource brief? Fill out our online subscription form. |
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