CCTAN - The Child Care Technical Assistance Network, a service of the Office of Child Care

This issue brief provides a review of best practice strategies for creating inclusive early learning settings. It also identifies system-level reforms that can reduce disproportionate suspensions and expulsions for Black children. It is part of the National Black Child Development Institute's campaign, Eliminating Exclusionary Discipline and Concentrating on Inclusion. Although the data are focused on ages birth to five, the strategies included are relevant for school-age.

The National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment (NCASE) is pleased to share a practice brief on Aligning Out-of-School Time Services for Children Experiencing Homelessness. This brief is the fifth in a periodic series published by NCASE to build awareness of promising practices in the field of school-age child care.

This issue brief is an interview with researcher Jessica Manta-Myer about an evaluation of the Summer Science Project in 10 elementary school sites in CA. The programs were provided with hands-on curriculum, training, and coaching in STEM. Evaluation showed increased knowledge, skills, and confidence for students, and staff confidence in leading STEM, as well as staff retention. This support model is relevant for both afterschool and summer learning. 

This guidebook provides a definition of access and how to measure access across different types of settings. It also describes indicators of access, how to measure the indicators, and what data sources exist. While it is primarily designed for birth to age 5, the model can be adapted for use in studying access for school-age care.  

This issue brief highlights the ways afterschool and summer learning programs help youth with workforce development. It includes five city examples of workforce development programs, including mentoring, apprenticeships, and job placement activities.

This issue brief highlights the ways afterschool and summer learning programs help develop youth college and career readiness by increasing attendance rates and academic achievement, and by building college and career opportunities. This topic is an important focus area for out-of-school time, given that lack of awareness, experience, and exposure to current college and career options can lead to delayed employment or unemployment. It includes six city examples. 

This issue brief identifies four things to keep in mind to support the five percent of children in our care who are--or will grow up to become--gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning. It also provides a link to an online module about this topic and to other positive youth development modules by Better Kids Care. This resource supports resiliency.

This issue brief identifies four things to keep in mind to support the five percent of children in our care who are--or will grow up to become--gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning. It also provides a link to an online module about this topic and to other positive youth development modules by Better Kids Care. This resource supports resiliency.

This issue brief outlines a policy agenda for federal, state, and local efforts that can increase participation in summer STEM learning, with a special focus on girls and students of color who have been under-represented in higher education and in careers. It identifies state and federal pieces of legislation designed to expand STEM learning beyond the school classroom, as well as mentoring and workforce training programs, to create a pipeline into higher education and careers.

This issue brief describes Extended Day Treatment (EDT) or therapeutic afterschool programs. This is an intermediate-level service that allows children to receive intensive behavioral health services in a structured therapeutic milieu while remaining at home and in school. It outlines the 11 service components that include assessment, treatment plan, therapy for individuals, groups, and families and activities with a therapeutic focus.  This resource supports resiliency.