Become an
Active Afterschool Advocate
If you want to lend your voice to our afterschool advocacy efforts, consider joining the Afterschool Advocacy Committee: please contact Rhonda Rogers, Prime Time Palm Beach County's Director of Community Engagement & Supports for further information: 561-732-8066 ext. 106 or rrogers@primetimepbc.org.
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Welcome Prime Time's New
Advocacy Committee Member
The Prime Time Advocacy Committee is pleased to welcome and introduce its newest member, Kristen M. Cytacki. Kristen is the Director of Education for the Palm Beach Zoo where she is responsible for all aspects of educational programming, including curriculum development, program implementation and evaluation, and educational staff management. Kristin is also the editor of the Palm Beach Zoo Magazine.
As a graduate of the University of South Carolina, with a bachelor's degree in biology and marine science, Kristen offers many advisory boards, research studies, continuing education programs and professional membership councils the enhancement of her expertise.
Kristen believes youth can learn so much through opportunities offered in afterschool programs. The Palm Beach Zoo, in partnership with Prime Time, is willing to lend its support and pave the way. |
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Prime Time Palm Beach County, Inc.
2300 High Ridge Road, Suite 330
Boynton Beach, FL 33426
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Prime Time receives significant funding
from the Children's Services Council
of Palm Beach County.
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Advocacy Committee Shines the Spotlight on
Dedicated Afterschool Advocate
Tabitha Bartley, an outstanding student volunteer and enthusiastic afterschool advocate, has served as a youth mentor to young people in afterschool and summer programs at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts over the past few years. This young lady joined the Kravis Center's Spring Break Residency* program as a participant when she was in the 6th grade.
Tabitha naturally became an exceptional role model for the youth in the Residency program, with her uplifting smile, encouraging words and helpful attitude. She truly shares her talent and love for dance with all; she is one of those special people one never forgets.
Tabitha is very passionate about the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and the Residency program. She is a loyal advocate for the positive impact such programs have on the lives of all of the children and youth they serve.
This year, Tabitha graduated from Dreyfoos School of the Arts as a dance major. Over the past six years, Tabitha has grown into a talented, fearless, committed and determined young lady and dancer. There is no doubt that she will be back on the Kravis Center stage, on tour as a professional dancer, while continuing to advocate for and be a role model to young people.
Ali Rehm, Education Associate/Afterschool Program Coordinator recently honored Tabitha with an Outstanding Student Volunteer Award, "Over the past six years, Tabitha has grown into a talented, fearless, committed and determined young lady and dancer. There is no doubt that she will be back on the Kravis Center stage, on tour as a professional dancer, while continuing to advocate for and be a role model to young people."
*The Residency program is a performing and visual arts expanded learning opportunity (ELO) funded by Prime Time Palm Beach County, made possible by its funder, the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County.
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Prime Time Advocacy Committee
Meets and Greets Legislators
Prime Time Palm Beach County and its Afterschool Advocacy Committee hosted its inaugural Meet 'n Greet meeting with legislators on May 15, 2013, at the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County. Its purpose was to provide local, state and national legislators with information on trends in afterschool in our community, as well as to discuss the critical role afterschool plays in the lives of our children and youth.
The Advocacy Committee discussed and explored ways in which legislators and afterschool advocates could all work together for the children and youth of our community. This meeting was closely aligned with the Advocacy Committee's mission, which is to promote and develop an increased awareness of the need and value of afterschool programs for children and youth in Palm Beach County. It was also an important step toward fostering the continued success and growth of quality afterschool programs.
Prime Time and the Advocacy Committee extend their great appreciation to Dan Liftman, Staff Assistant to Congressman Alcee L. Hastings; Loren Londner, District Aide to Representative Lori Berman, District 90; Tradrick McCoy, Legislative Aide to Representative Bobby Powell Jr., District 88; Allyssa McDaniel, District Aide to Representative Mark Pafford, District 86 and Michelle Oyola McGovern, Regional Director to Senator Bill Nelson, for attending this meeting and for their interest in and support of afterschool.
Now it's your turn to join in our advocacy efforts by hosting a site visit at your afterschool program for a legislator. During her closing remarks at the meeting, Rhonda Rogers, Director of Community Engagement & Supports, included an invitation for legislators to visit afterschool programs to experience first-hand the daily challenges and triumphs of afterschool. Rhonda requested the opportunity to contact the legislators during the summer with the hopes of scheduling afterschool program site visits at their convenience for the new school year.
So, don't be surprised if you hear from Rhonda asking you to be a host. And don't hesitate to contact Rhonda directly at rrogers@primetimepbc.org, if you would like to participate . . . this is a great opportunity for you to showcase your afterschool program and advocate for afterschool in our community!
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Palm Beach County Captures the
True Spirit of Pink Shirt Day
Palm Beach County celebrated Pink Shirt Day, an international anti-bully initiative, in style . . . and of course, in pink shirts!
In the morning, Prime Time hosted its Afterschool Consortium event, featuring the Turning Bullies into Buddies program, for more than 100 afterschool and summer professionals. In the afternoon, The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County welcomed more than 500 guests, including children and staff from afterschool programs throughout Palm Beach County, to the Meyer Amphitheatre in observance of Pink Shirt Day.
Special guest presenter, Trudy Ludwig, a nationally acclaimed, award-winning children's author, lent her support to both of these events, sharing positive social coping skills (along with literacy skills!) and insightful bullying prevention strategies.
Dedicated bullying prevention advocates, including talented youth performers, accomplished youth presenters, inspiring sports personalities and committed community and business leaders joined in the afternoon's festivities. They not only expressed that bullying is not to be tolerated, but also clearly communicated to the children and youth in attendance that the adults of our community are there to support them when bullying issues arise.
Both of these events stemmed from the partnership between Prime Time Palm Beach County and The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County in the creation of the Turning Bullies into Buddies program, which is funded by Prime Time through the generous support of the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County. Additional community partners for Pink Shirt Day festivities included the School District of Palm Beach County and the Center for Creative Education.
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Update on the Summer Camp Bill
In March 2012, the Palm Beach Post published a series of articles spotlighting harm that has occurred to children as a result of attending unlicensed summer camps where employees were either not screened or improperly screened. Among other items, the paper reported that summer camps are unregulated, it is unclear how many camps operate in the state, and that Florida is only one of six states that do not license summer camps.
Bill SB 630 would have required the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to license summer day camps and summer 24 hour camps. Costs to providers for implementing the bill were substantial, but indeterminable, and DCF estimates its costs would be approximately $22 million to implement it. The bill did not pass this legislative session.
(Source - United Way of Florida Legislative Link Issue #1)
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Early Learning Bill clears the Florida Legislature
A proposal imposing new accountability measures on early learning coalitions has passed the Florida Legislature. An amendment to exempt Afterschool Meal Program (AMP) sites from childcare licensing is also attached to this bill. The bill awaits the governor's signature.
(Source - Florida Impact www.floridaimpact.org )
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