AFTERZONE  

Late Spring 2014   
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National Summer Learning Day is Friday, June 20, 2014!

"Summer Learning Day is a national advocacy day recognized to spread awareness about the importance of summer learning for our nation's youth in helping close the achievement gap and support healthy development in communities all across the country.

Here are some ideas, from the NSLA website, that you can celebrate:

  • Whether you have a physical event or a virtual event, you can celebrate Summer Learning Day any time during the summer--not just on June 20! Download a list of event ideas.  
  • Put your event on the Summer Learning Day Map to connect your work with the national field of summer learning.   
  • Post the Summer Learning Day webpage summerlearning.org/SLD on Facebook, or share it on Twitter using #SLD2014.
  • Share our Achievement Gap infographic on social media, or print it out and distribute it at your event to make the case for why summer learning is important.   
  • Post pictures and video of your Summer Learning Day event on the NSLA Facebook page, or share them with us on Twitter using #SLD2014.   
SAVE THE DATE!
 November 7 & 8, 2014
Chemeketa Community College

Registration Opens August 1st!

For up to date information - keep an eye on our website at www.oregonask.org/OAC. Click here to download the flyer - pass it it around to anyone you think would be interested in this conference!
STEM VISTA Update

Since her start with OregonASK on April 28th, Katie has spent her first month becoming familiar with her projects and orientating herself to the field of afterschool in Oregon. Katie met the Oregon Girls Collaborative Project Leadership Team at our April 29th meeting, and had the opportunity to  attend the national Mott convening in Washington DC on May 19th-23rd, where she connected with other VISTAs and afterschool networks from other states. She also enjoyed her first OregonASK Steering Committee meeting on May 30th. In the office, she has been contacting STEM programs registered with the National Girls Collaborative Project and making preliminary contact for the statewide survey of out-of-school time STEM opportunities OregonASK will be starting later in June. Additionally, she's spent time at the Woodburn Afterschool Club working with their STEM curriculum, and will help other OregonASK staff assess and enhance the curriculum over the upcoming summer months.  
Learning In Afterschool: Judy Willis
Judy Willis and the Relevance of the LIAS Principles, Part 1
Judy Willis and the Relevance of the LIAS Principles, Part 1

Judy Willis, Neurologist from the University of California, Santa Barbara Graduate School of Education, discussing the connection between brain research and the LIAS Learning Principles. Part 1 of 2.

 
This video is an excellent training tool and was conducted by youth videographers at New York's Reelistic Media Group and was produced by Temescal Associates.  

ERDC Updates 

The purpose of the Employment Related Day Care program (ERDC) is to assist low-income, working families to become self-sufficient by providing access and payment assistance for quality child care. The program is intended to support parental choice by paying providers at a rate that gives parents access to a variety of child care options.

Parents apply for child care assistance at local DHS field offices. The DHS portion of the child care payment is paid directly to the child care provider on behalf of the parent.

 

Child Care Provider Rate Increases

In October of 2013 the DHS maximum child care rates for licensed family homes (Registered Family and Certified Family) increased to the 75th percentile of the 2012 Market Rate Study to align with federal recommendations. This helps families have access to quality child care and parents are better able to maintain employment and become self- sufficient when they know their children are in safe, healthy child care settings.

 

Infant Age Increases

The infant age also increased for all licensed providers (Registered Family, Certified Family and Certified Center). The infant age category is  from 18 months up to two years (24 months) to more closely align with the Office of Child Care regulations. The toddler age was adjusted to reflect this change. Toddlers are two to three years, instead of 18 months up to three years (36 months).

Special Session Update
Following the special session, ERDC received additional funding which has allowed the case load cap to be increased to 8,500. All names on the reservation list were selected in March and those families were given the opportunity to apply for April 1st benefits. On May 1st the  reservation list was deactivated.

Starting May 1, 2014, families no longer need to meet the requirements to receive ERDC benefits:
 - TANF transition policy
 - Receipt of ERDC in the last two (2) calendar months
 - Eligibility for a current open slot with a Head Start or 
    OPQ contracted program
 - Child Welfare exemption referral

For more information about ERDC click here.  
Resources & Opportunities
Oregon Statewide Scholarship - Race to the Top Supplemental Forms
Your AA/AAS Degree is waiting!
The Race to the Top Supplemental Scholarship (RTT) is available until December 2016 to enhance the quality of childhood care and education in Oregon by supporting Early Childhood Educators to obtain an Associates of Arts or Applied Sciences degree. Scholarship funds are available for students working toward their AA or AAS degree at an Oregon Community College with a focus in Early Childhood Care & Education. Act now! The RTT funding will end December 2016. Click here for more information and here for application. Visit the Oregon Statewide Scholarship Program website for more information about scholarship programs available for afterschool professionals.   
FUEL UP to Play 60 - Grants Available!
Fuel Up to Play 60, the in-school nutrition and physical activity program from National Dairy Council, local Dairy Councils and the National Football League, in
collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is helping to make
wellness part of the game plan in nearly 73,000 schools across the country.

Funding Opportunities for Fuel Up to Play 60 Are Available to Help Schools and Kids Make Healthy Changes! Click here to see flyer. To learn more about FUEL UP to Play 60, visit FuelUpToPlay60.com.
 
Funding Opportunities
Funding for programs in Oregon that strengthen or lift the level of student achievement and success submitted by eligible K-12 organizations. The Foundation favors organizations whose basic mission is in arts or education, not projects that are related to arts or education from organizations whose primary mission is in other fields.
Due July 21