Program Quality 

The California After School Resource Center (CASRC) is accepting applications for their 2008-2009 Material Review Board (MRB). MRB members evaluate K-12 instructional materials to help CASRC select the best resources for California schools and after school programs. Teachers, after school program staff, health educators, school health providers, and university faculty are encouraged to apply. The deadline is October 10, 2008.  To learn more about the MRB and to apply, click here.

The Center for Afterschool Education at Foundations Inc. launches free “Use That Book!” webnairs. The webnair is designed to help staff access afterschool style guides. The first webnair is a 45 minute interactive presentation on GraffitiWall. This presentation will be held on October 16, 2008. Participants will receive a tour of the book and participate in a question and answer session. The Center offers additional free webnairs throughout the 2008-2009 calendar year.

Coach for America is a concept project interested in supplying after school programs in California with highly qualified part- and full-time coaches. The hope is to extend the project nationwide. To that end, the team is interested in surveying programs across three states to gain a better understanding of the need and interest in the project. This information will then be used to solicit donors and formalize the Coach for America concept as a non-profit program. If you are interested in finding out more about the project or completing the survey, click here.

The Center for Collaborative Solutions (CCS) introduces a new publication guide for afterschool programs. The Developing Exemplary Practices in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Food Security in Afterschool Programs is designed to assist afterschool program leaders and their partners in combating the youth obesity epidemic. The guide includes exemplary practices and indicator rubrics designed for afterschool programs to assess their progress in addressing youth obesity. The CCS also provides free Growing Healthy Children Regional Trainings.

Great Opportunity For Front-Line Child Nutrition Employees

Have fun learning culinary skills, food preparation techniques, nutrition and safe food handling!

Healthy Cuisine for Kids Course will be offered at Northwood High School in Irvine October 4, 11, and 18, 2008 (Saturdays)

Earn ½ unit college credit or Continuing Education Units for SNA certification or credentialing

Instructors will be Wanda Grant, Yvonne Ortega and Chef Roberto Najera.

See attached application for details.

The Freechild Project recently released the Guide to Social Change Led By and With Young People. This guide provides an overview of youth led social change, a step-by-step cyclical model for mobilizing youth, overview of many of the issues facing youth, and potential actions youth can take.

The Road of Life cancer prevention for kids program has free after school and summer health education curriculum geared toward third through fifth grade learners. To access this curriculum, click here.

The Secondary School Redesign Project website at the Council for Chief State School Officers includes the Adolescent Literacy Toolkit. The toolkit was developed by the Council and its partners. It contains resources for states and teachers related to developing state-level professional development activities and integrating literacy strategies and best practices in core content areas. To access this resource, click here.

Connect for Kids (CFK) now offers a comprehensive collection of resources to help Americans understand and take action on healthy nutrition and obesity. Included in this toolkit are informational resources and resources for children, teens, parents and educators. To learn more, click here.