SEARCH FOR RESOURCES
This series of briefs provides an overview of national guidelines and examples of state requirements for meeting CCDF health and safety training basic requirements as well as best practices. Topics addressed include infectious diseases, medication administration, allergies, facilities safety, transportation, emergency preparedness, transportation, and more. While the focus is on early childhood, there are relevant resources for school-age as well, including examples of licensed and license-exempt requirements and direct links to resources that can help states develop their basic health and safety training.
This report draws on data from the California’s Healthy Kids Survey to examine the extent to which afterschool programs may help foster school-based protective factors to mitigate the negative effects of childhood trauma, adversity, and other stressors. It compares youth in afterschool programs with those not enrolled. Findings indicate positive effects on student perceptions of, and experiences with, school related to caring adult relationships, high expectations, and opportunities for meaningful participation, school connectedness, and academic motivation. This resource supports resiliency. This resource supports equity.
This brief by the Californa AfterSchool Network provides an overview of California's Expanded Learning workforce and the opportunity to strengthen it through multi-agency, multi-sector partnerships. It explores challenges in recruitment and retention due to inadequate wages, unprecedented demand, and data gaps. It shares the history of collaborative planning efforts over the past 4 years to come up with strategies to help with recruitment and retention. This resource supports equity.
This toolkit, developed by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, is a guide for helping OST practitioners address childhood obesity and health by improving physical activity. The companion second guide focuses on improving healthy eating and nutrition environments. Each guide includes a self-assessment tool, quality improvement planning template, and concrete suggestions for action steps and evaluating progress toward change.
The North Carolina CCR+R School Age Initiative created this two-part resource to equip school-age staff who are supporting children experiencing homelessness. Part I, Understanding School Age Homelessness, explores the types of homelessness and its effects, and how to enter into conversations about this with children and families. Part 2, Helping Students and Families Thrive, explores ways to provide safe OST spaces, and how to provide academic and social-emotional support. It also includes information on McKinney-Vento supports and information on eligibility for subsidized child care assistance. While this toolkit was designed for NC providers, it can be a helpful tool for other states. This resource supports equity. This resource supports resiliency.
These panelists from Harvard's Center on the Developing Child bring the latest research to explore how racism impacts children's development and contributes to unequal access to opportunity. They share strategies that promote child development and dismantle system barriers. While this is focused on early childhood, there are implications for OST. The panel shared the link to the Child Opportunity Index that measures and maps the quality of resources that matter for children, like quality early childhood education and schools, safe housing, access to healthy food, parks, and clean air. It can be found here. This resource supports equity.
This webinar features Shawn Ginwright from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and leaders from Philadelphia on healing-centered engagement. They explore how healing-centered engagement focuses on caring relationships and is asset-based so we approach youth in ways that recognize their resiliency. Philadelphia is training all school staff, and also reaching out to community and faith-based organizations, on how to implement healing-centered engagement for youth, as well as the adults who work with them. This resource supports resiliency. This resource supports equity.
This study used data collected in fall 2022 from 9,210 youth who attended one of 80 overnight Jewish camps in U.S. and Canada, as well as 3,524 staff. The study found a correlation between staff well-being and youth well-being: in camps where staff felt they received adequate training to support youth social-emotional development and mental health, and they felt supported and listened to, were the camps where parents felt their children were well supported. This resource supports resiliency.