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This two-day webinar series in March 2024 was designed to equip providers and state system planners with tools, ideas, and best practices to elevate summer programs. Guided by dynamic experts and leaders, Day 1 sessions were: (1) Summer Learning Landscape: Research and Policy, (2) Supporting the Mental and Physical Well-being of Youth, and (3) Community Summer Programs: Time for Exploration and Innovation. Day 2 sessions were: (1) Elevating Academic Supports in Summer Learning, (2) Promoting Young People's Curiosity and Creativity Over Summer, and (3) Building Powerful Partnerships Through Summer Programs.
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 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.
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 updated policy statement from DHHS and the U.S. Department of Education underscores the urgency in improving services for children with disabilities. It includes the science-based benefits and the legal foundation for inclusion, recommendations for state policies to strengthen inclusion, as well as state examples of promising practices. This resource supports resiliency. This resource supports equity.
Today's youth are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety. One way that schools and other youth organizations can provide support is by implementing a wellness room for kids who need space to sort out their emotions. This issue brief outlines benefits and offers tips for creating and using wellness rooms. This resource supports resiliency.
This Better Kid Care site from Penn State Extension offers research-based online training modules on a range of topics relevant to working with school-age children such as positive youth development and guidance, career preparation for youth, financial planning, and cultural competency and responsiveness. The modules include a combination of slides, video clips, research summaries, practical tips, and worksheets. Most are geared to practitioners. The trainings are free; a professional development certification of completion is $5-10. Some modules are available in Spanish.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization of 2016 includes requirements for health and safety training. This resource from Better Kid Care at Penn State Extension provides information on health and safety professional training for Out-of-School Time (OST) providers, as required by states. Topics covered are: (1) safe spaces, (2) transportation safety, (3) handling and storage of hazardous materials, (4) emergency preparedness, (5) prevention and control of infectious disease, (6) food and allergic reactions and how to respond, (7) administration of medication, (8) shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma, and (9) safe sleep and SUIDS prevention. The course is 6 hours long and is free; $15 if you need a professional development certification of completion. This resource is available in Spanish.
This webinar explored how to better meet the needs of Native American and Indigenous youth and families in OST programs. Panelists representing national, state, and local organizations explored topics such as the goals of OST programs from family and caregiver perspectives. The barriers identified included lack of access to programs, transportation challenges, cost, and culturally insensitive funding streams. Also discussed was the importance of family engagement, the importance of preserving cultural traditions, and strategies to improve programs for indigenous youth. A related resource is the Afterschool Alliance survey results, America After 3 pm for Native American Families. This resource support equity.
Child care programs are an essential component of strong communities, yet in rural America families are challenged in being able to access and afford care. The Bipartisan Policy Center worked with Save the Children to create this framework to explore the economic impact of child care gaps and provide innovative strategies and policy recommendations. There is a related webinar on How Affordable Child Care in Rural Areas Can Unlock Economic Potential. This resource supports equity.