Network News - July 24, 2008

In This Issue

Policy Update

Potential Legislative Changes to Proposition 49 (ASES) Funding Would Allow Legislators to Reduce ASES Funding
The State Legislature’s Budget Conference Committee composed of members of the California State Senate and Assembly, adopted language for a budget trailer bill that attempts to repeal the guaranteed funding allocation in Proposition 49, the After School Education and Safety  (ASES) program, which currently funds over 3,800 after school programs statewide. This language goes further than originally proposed by either house of the Legislature. It would submit an initiative to the voters that would give the Legislature the authority to substantially reduce after school funding or eliminate the state’s after school programs altogether, although the committee stated this was not the intent of the initiative. If placed on the November Ballot and passed by California voters, the initiative would end the guaranteed continuous appropriation for ASES programs, and funding levels would be set annually by the Legislature. In order to move any further, this measure would have to be part of a budget passed by a two-thirds vote of the full Legislature, and be signed by the Governor, before moving to the ballot.  If passed by voters in November, this initiative could impact 2009-2010 after-school funding.

To view a 3-minute video of the legislative session in which this language was adopted, click here.

For more information including a fact sheet, local data on after school funding, and potential actions being urged by after school advocates, click here.

2:00p.m. Monday July 28: Call-in To Learn More About Current After School Policy 
The Network Policy Committee has been following after school funding and other relevant after school policy issues closely.  The committee will host an educational telephone conference to inform the field about current after school policy, including the funding issues outlined above.  The telephone conference is open to all and will occur on Monday July 28, 2008 at 2:00p.m.  The call will feature a statewide after school policy update and an opportunity to address questions from the field. For details on this call, click here.

Register Today to Inform Federal Nutrition Funding Programs at a USDA Listening Session
In 2009, Congress will review the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. This legislation, which is set to expire on September 30, 2009, includes all the Federal child nutrition programs, including the School Breakfast and the National School Lunch Programs, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).  In order to inform a potential reauthorization of these programs, the USDA will be hosting listening sessions throughout the country and gathering written feedback from the field.  If you are interested in attending the Western Region Listening Session to inform and advocate for nutrition programs you must register by Friday July 25, 2008 for the session to be held on August 6, 2008 in San Francisco, California.  For more information, to register for this listening session, and to provide written comment to the USDA regarding Federal Nutrition Programs, click here.

Network News

Thank you for Peer-to-Peer Mentor Submissions! Mentee Slots Still Available!
The California Afterschool Network would like to thank statewide after school site directors who have submitted applications to become Network Peer to Peer Mentors.  Mentor site directors will work with mentee site directors in their region to help improve program quality and create an avenue to share ideas and resources regionally.  The Network is currently reviewing mentor applications and will inform applicants regarding next steps within the next two weeks.

The Network is Still Accepting Peer to Peer Mentee Applications!
The Network is still accepting a limited number of applications on a first come first served basis for Mentees in its peer-to-peer mentoring project.  To learn more about the project, and to apply to be a mentee, click here.

California Department of Education Nutrition Funding Opportunities

CA Dept of Education Funding: Child and Adult Care Food
Eligible Applicants: institutions of higher education, local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, other organizations or agencies
Required Eligibility Criteria: Public, private nonprofit, and private for-profit agencies; agencies licensed or approved to provide non-residential day care to children or chronically impaired adults. Public or private nonprofit emergency shelters may also be eligible for subsidy.
Funding Description: The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a State and federally funded program that provides funding to licensed child care centers, adult day care centers, and organizations that sponsor day care homes to ensure participants receive nutritionally adequate meals and snacks while in care. Funding is also available for meals and snacks at emergency shelters and after-school programs.
Applications or other data may be submitted at any time during the fiscal year.

View at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/profile.asp?id=1377

CA Dept of Education Funding: Summer Food Service
Eligible Applicants: institutions of higher education, local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, other organizations or agencies
Required Eligibility Criteria: Summer sites must be established to serve all children in the community while on school vacation and not enrolled for day care. Meals must be served to all children at the same time and in the same eating area. Sponsoring agencies serving snacks after school, must serve meals during summer vacation. Application results are provided within 30 days.
Funding Description: Funding provides reimbursement for meals served to children who are on school vacation in areas where 50 percent of the children qualify for free or reduced-priced school meals. Camp sites may receive reimbursement for serving meals to children who are income eligible. Non-school agencies may be reimbursed for snacks in after-school settings.
The Application Deadline for this Program is April 15, 2009

View at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/profile.asp?id=1379

CA Dept of Education Funding: School Nutrition
Eligible Applicants: local educational agencies
Required Eligibility Criteria: Public and private nonprofit schools (including public charter schools) are eligible to participate. Also eligible are public and private nonprofit licensed residential child care institutions (e.g., group homes, juvenile halls, orphanages).
Funding Description: Funding supports five school meal and milk programs to assist schools, districts, and other non-profit agencies in providing nutritious meals and milk to children at reasonable prices or free to qualified applicants. The five programs are: the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Seamless Summer Feeding Option (SSFO), Special Milk Program (SMP), and State Meal Program (STMP). Applications or other data may be submitted at any time during the fiscal year.

View at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/profile.asp?id=1378

After School Events

National Events

National Conference on Science and Technology in Out of School Time
The National Conference on Science and Technology in Out-of-School Time will take place September 17-19, 2008 at Navy Pier in Chicago. This first-ever conference will bring together a national cross-section of program providers, researchers and policy-makers in the growing movement for science and technology in out-of-school time. Sessions will include research-based best practices, curriculum development, and evaluation, with a particular focus on equity and access issues for underrepresented populations. This conference is targeted at national and local leaders, researchers, program service providers, policymakers, executive directors and presidents of informal science institutions, leaders of community based organizations, and researchers and policy-makers tracking national trends in innovation and workforce development. For more information and to register, click here.

Foundations Inc. Beyond School Hours Conference
Foundations National Beyond School Hours Conference is intended to promote the expansion of quality after school programs. The conference will feature professional development, funding, and programming strategies, site visits, exhibits, networking opportunities, as well as workshops and institutes on subjects such as research, curriculum, evaluation, and program improvement. This conference will take place February 11 – 14, 2009 in Burlingame, CA. For more information and to register, click here.

Regional Events

Still time to Register for After School: Stepping Up to the Plate Conference

Region 2 Learning Support, Butte County Office of Education and CSU Chico will be hosting the After School: Stepping Up to the Plate Conference from July 28 – August 1, 2008 on the CSU Chico Campus. This session will feature workshops intended to enhance the practice of after school program staff and coordinators, paraprofessionals, Teachers, and other after school stakeholders. Workshops will be held on technology, visual and performing arts, science, math, and leadership management. The conference will also feature performances from the CREW, a percussion performance to promote healthy lifestyles, and David Giribaldi’s Rhythm and Hue performance providing an inspirational message using painting and music. For more information and to register, click here.

Region 1 Road to Success Professional Development Conference Save the Date and Call for Presenters
Healthy Start & After School Partnerships Road to Success Conference will take place November 7-8, 2008 in Santa Rosa, CA. The conference will offer a wide variety of relevant workshops and topics affecting today’s After School and Healthy Start programs including, but not limited to the following content areas: Academic Alignment/Curriculum Implementation, Diversity, Equity, Cultural Competency, Educational Enrichment (art, music, etc.), Leadership, Nutrition and Physical Activity, Program Management, Youth Development. Workshop proposals are currently being accepted. Proposals must be submitted by August 15, 2008. For more information and to view the RFP, click here.

California Middle and High School Events

Region 4 High School Institute
Region 4 and Bay Area Partnership are hosting a High School ASSETs Institute in Berkeley, CA on August 11th and 12th featuring workshops for Site Coordinators, High After School Staff, teachers, and community-based organizations. For more information and to register, click here

Middle School University (Los Angeles Area)
This 3 day professional development event will take place August 12-14, 2008 in Rosemead, CA (region 11). It is designed for new and experienced middle school program leaders, site coordinators, and site directors. Offerings for program/club leaders include: ABCs of After School/Basic Framework, Youth Development 101, Lesson plans, Homework Assistance, Conflict Resolution and many more. Offerings for Site Directors include: School Culture, Youth Development, Scheduling and Structure, Building Your Team, Recruitment and Retention, School Involvement and more. For more information, click here.

Region 9 and 11 High School Institute
This event cosponsored by the Los Angeles County Office of Education/Region 11 and Region 9 will be hosted August 19-20, 2008 in Long Beach, CA. The institute will feature tracks for new and emerging/mature programs and was designed for High School After School Staff, Administrators, and others involved in High School After School Programs. Workshop offerings will include Understanding High School Culture, Start-up/How-to’s, WASC Basics, Branding/Marketing, 9th Grade Drop out, School Partnerships, Best Practices /Models, Leveraging Resources to Build Capacity, Youth Voices, and Youth Involvement. For more information and to register, click here.

BOOST·er High School Summit
ASSETs grantees and high school after school programs are strongly encouraged to attend the 1st Annual High School BOOST-er Summit intended to bring together national leaders to learn about topics affecting today's high school programs including academic achievement, promotions, risk behavior prevention, program models, youth culture, career development, college readiness, youth development, and participation retention. The conference will feature workshops on the subjects above and opportunities to visit successful high school programs. This conference will take place November 5 – 6, 2008 in San Diego, CA. For more information click here

Save November 6th for CDE Cohort 5 ASSETs Orientation
The California Department of Education (CDE) will host its High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) Orientation on November 6, 2008 directly following the high school BOOST-er Summit in San Diego, CA. All ASSETs grantees are strongly encouraged to attend, and attendance is mandatory for new Cohort 5 grantees. Details and registration coming soon.

Professional Development Opportunity

BOOST-er High School Summit Request For Presenters
The BOOST-er High School Summit is seeking qualified high school out-of-school time professionals to facilitate workshops for a national audience. The Summit is being held November 5-6, 2008 at the Bahia Resort Hotel on Mission Bay in San Diego, CA. Topic areas include but are not limited to: Academic Achievement, Career Development, College Readiness, Participation Retention, Program Models, Promotions, Risk Behavior Prevention, Youth Culture, and Youth Development. The deadline to submit an RFP is August 8, 2008. For more information and to access the RFP, click here.