|
|
February 2010
|
Vol 1, Issue 5
|
|
|
|
 NJ Afterschool Action
News, Policy and Research
from NJSACC
|
|
|
|
Welcome to NJ Afterschool Action!
|
 Budget cuts at every level of government. High levels of
unemployment. Uncertainty. These are challenging times indeed and the
afterschool field is not immune. Despite the great difficulties we
face, I am hopeful that together we can move forward and continue to
provide high quality programs that support children and families. What
is required of us is hard work, creative thinking and that we all work
together. Last month, we asked you to take our "Taking the
Temperature" survey -- we were pleased at the high number of responses
we received and especially the thoughtful comments many of you wrote,
sharing your ideas on what is most needed to improve afterschool in
NJ. Our field is full of many talented and dedicated leaders -- we
need you now more than ever.
One quick, simple action you can take right now to support
one of the partners in our statewide Afterschool Network is to sign a petition supporting New Jersey After 3.
As many of you know, New Jersey After 3's funding was among many of the
cuts announced by Governor Christie last week. Without the expected
$5.2 million for this year's programming, many of their programs will
be forced to close in the coming weeks, leaving thousands of children
without a place to go afterschool. If you would like to ask Governor
Christie to reconsider the cut to New Jersey After 3, please click here to sign the petition.
Read. Learn. Get
involved. Together we can make a difference.
Diane Genco
|
NJSACC Welcomes Second Class of Afterschool Ambassadors
|
Thirteen afterschool leaders from throughout the state of New Jersey attended an Orientation training on January 22 led by NJSACC's Enrichment Support Specialist Sarah Cruz. The program now has 33 Afterschool Ambassadors total, representing 20 of our state's 21 counties. Our Afterschool Ambassadors are helping us bring NJSACC trainings to each of these counties, greatly expanding the the geographic area we serve. Trainings are scheduled for the following counties and dates:
Somerset,
March 10, 2010
Gloucester, March 16, 2010
Essex, March 27, 2010
Morris, March 9, 2010
Bergen, May 8, 2010
Ocean, April 12, 2010
Burlington, April 14, 2010
Camden, April 27, 2010
Cumberland, April 27, 2010
Atlantic, April 30, 2010
Please contact Sarah Cruz at 973-768-3351 or sarabcruz@njsacc.org for more information.
>>Click here to learn more.
|
Mini-Grants Available to Licensed Programs
|
NJSACC's Mini-Grants program is going back to the basics this year. There will be 10 grants of $2,500 available to school-age programs that are licensed through the Department of Children and Families Office of Licensing to help programs focus on licensing standards. Grant funding must be used to either correct
licensing issues or help to maintain licensing standards and should
improve health, safety, environment and/or physical facilities. Programs that submit a Mini-Grant Application will qualify to participate in the grant's competitive process.
Funding for these mini-grants was provided by the NJ Department of Human Services,
Division of Family Development as part of a Federal CCDF Block Grant
Earmark.
>>Click here to learn more and to download the application forms.
|
NJSACC to Offer Principals Institute
|
Workshop on Collaboration Strategies for Principals and Afterschool Program Directors
Hear from Paul G. Young, Ph. D., President & CEO of the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) and former Executive Director of West Afterschool Program in Lancaster, Ohio.
He has extensive experience as a school administrator and previously
held positions as an elementary school principal and President of the
NAESP (National Elementary and Principals Association www.naesp.org) Board of Directors.
Come and join principals across the state to develop a plan of action utilizing NAESP's Leading After-School Learning Communities: Standards for What Principals Should Know and Be Able To Do. This training is open to all schools and afterschool programs
statewide and will focus on quality and effective strategies for
implementation of afterschool programs.
Participants are requested to attend as a team of 2 or more.
Team should consist of :
- a school building principal
and one other agency representative, such as an afterschool director/coordinator, Board Member, Parent Liason, or Community Leader
When: Monday March 29, 2010
Time: 9:30 am-2pm
Where: New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Assoication @12 Centre Drive, Monroe Township, NJ 08831
Cost: $25 per person includes lunch and all material
Last day to Register is March 21st, 2010.
Click here to register
|
Afterschool In the News
|
A collection of local and national news articles of interest to the afterschool community.
New Jersey
N.J. Affordable After-school Centers are Threatened by Gov. Christie's Budget Cuts, The Star Ledger
Chris Christie Declares Fiscal 'State of Emergency,' Paving Way for N.J. Spending Cuts, The Star Ledger
Glassboro Teen Rallies Others for Volunteer Efforts, Gloucester County Times (via nj.com)
National
Teaming Up For Students: Programs Keep Kids Busy After School, Reno Gazette-Journal, Nevada
Groups See Disappointment, and Hope, in President's 2011 Budget, Afterschool Snacks (blog), The Afterschool Alliance
(Video) Chef Art Smith's Common Threads Afterschool Program, Fox News Power Player of the Week
|
|
 |
"Taking the Temperature" Survey Update
|
Throughout January 2010, NJSACC collected more than 900 responses to our "Taking the Temperature" survey -- far exceeding our original goal of 500 responses. We thank you all for helping us spread the word about our survey and we look forward to sharing the results with you in the coming weeks.
|
Afterschool Leaders Release Joint Statement Supporting "New Day for Learning"
|
The National Afterschool Association (NAA) and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) recently released a statement in support "A New Day for Learning", a C.S. Mott Foundation funded initiative that advocates innovative learning experiences for young people during and after the school day. According to the statement, the organizations seek to offer support and
assistance to principals and afterschool leaders as they "work collaboratively, side-by-side, to help all children by increasing their opportunities
and access to enriching learning experiences".
Click here to read the full statement on the NAA website. To learn more about "A New Day for Learning", please click here.
|
Take Action on Important Federal Funding for Afterschool
|
 On
February 1, 2010, the President's proposed FY2011 budget was released,
including proposed changes to the 21st Century Community Learning
Center program that would result in a cut of about $13 million to
before-school, afterschool and summer learning programs. Send an email
to the Administration and Department of Education today expressing
concern over the proposed changes and calling for an increase in
afterschool program funding. >>Click here to learn more and make your voice heard |
Join NJSACC on Facebook
|
If you are on Facebook, please join NJSACC's our Facebook group. We will be using Facebook to introduce our Afterschool Ambassadors, share information about trainings and events, and highlight important actions you can take to support afterschool. Simply click the Facebook icon below to visit and join!
|
|
|
Thank you so much for reading this edition of NJ Afterschool Action. We want to hear from you, so please send your questions, comments, and ideas to action@njsacc.org.
Sincerely,
Diane Genco
New Jersey School Age Care Coalition
|
|
This newsletter is a part
of the New Jersey Afterschool Network, the policy arm of NJSACC. The Network
builds lasting public support for quality afterschool programs across New Jersey. Led by a
public-private partnership, the network enhances public awareness and support;
offers guidance for parents, providers, and advocates; strengthens
relationships with policymakers, funders, practitioners, and parents, and
shares best practices in the field.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
