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USAGov and Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention teamed up to share some important tools to help guide those dealing with the challenging crisis of attempted suicide. Resources include links to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, guidance to assure caregivers take care of their own needs, advice on communicating with children during times of crisis, tools on resiliency and moving forward after a crisis.

Having a parent in prison can have an impact on a child’s mental health, social behavior, and educational opportunities. Youth.gov is a website representing 19 federal agencies that support youth-serving programs. The site includes links to information, tools, guides, and resources to assist educators, parents, and programs in supporting children who have an incarcerated parent. Topics include helping kids deal with trauma and exposure to violence, and child welfare services for children and families of prisoners.

A recent report published by Child Trends highlights growth in U.S. Latino students’ reading scores over the last decade. Researchers looked at national and state results as well as selected urban school districts. Among the key findings, Chicago was identified as a top performer over the decade, even though in the last four years state-level progress across the nation has slowed for the fourth- and eighth-grade populations studied. The report will help afterschool literacy program leaders stay informed about current school-day reading trends and efforts.

Positive behavior begins and ends with relationships-not with the rules. This staff development resource from National AfterSchool Association includes a brief article with tips for positive behavior, a discussion guide, and application activities. The author reminds us that the relationship-building process takes time, and offers tips afterschool practitioners can use alongside their behavior systems to deepen the relationships between staff and youth.

Not only do out-of-school suspensions cause students to miss valuable class time, they also disproportionately affect students of color. A recent blog post from American Youth Policy Forum highlights research on this trend and explores an emerging solution. Restorative justice, a new approach to school discipline, stresses relationships, community, and communication, and is starting to show promising results across the country.

Published by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network in 2008, this toolkit provides information and resources to help educators support students who have experienced trauma. The toolkit includes a fact sheet and strategies that educators can use with different age groups.

High-quality expanded learning programs can help youth in middle and high school avoid risky behavior and stay on track for graduation. Yet many cities struggle to provide sufficient afterschool and summer learning opportunities for older youth that are accessible and relevant to their interests. To address these challenges, the National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families has published City Strategies to Engage Older Youth in Afterschool Programs. The guide identifies four strategies that city leaders can use to increase afterschool program participation among older youth: coordinate systems to support effective service delivery; ensure programs are of high quality; offer a wide variety of relevant program options; and promote college attendance and workplace readiness.

The National Dropout Prevention Center/Network has focused on how youth programs, including afterschool, help at-risk students stay engaged in their education and prepare for future opportunities. The organization has resources, links to model programs, and related webcasts for afterschool practitioners.

“A Proven Solution for Dropout Prevention: Expanded Learning Opportunities,” one of the chapters in the compendium Expanding Minds and Opportunities: The Power for Afterschool and Summer Learning for Student Success, addresses ways that afterschool practitioners can help support dropout prevention efforts. The author looks at recommended dropout prevention strategies and predictive factors of dropping out of school matched against the impact of quality afterschool and 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

This blog post from the Afterschool Alliance is the first in a series that explores the challenges students face in transitioning to high school and how afterschool programs can help. The author notes that a disproportionate number of students who fail the ninth grade subsequently drop out but also finds that afterschool and summer learning programs can provide important academic, social, and emotional supports that make the shift easier and help students succeed in high school.