CAN Newsletter – Celebrating National Summer Learning Week!
July 9, 2024
“Let the summer begin with adventures that never end.”
The National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) has transformed the annual National Awareness Day into a week-long celebration, now known as National Summer Learning Week, July 15 – 19, 2024! This week-long celebration dedicates and elevates the importance of summer learning, working together to keep kids safe and healthy, and ensuring they return to school ready to succeed! Summer is a time to level the playing field through high-quality programs that produce measurable benefits for math, reading, and social-emotional learning. Support Summer Learning by focusing on this year’s five themes: Literacy & Learning, the Arts, Wellness, Health & Sports, STEM, and Community & Leadership.
What do you have planned? Let’s support children and youth in exploring new interests and skills and foster continuous learning. We encourage OST Programs and families to participate by visiting DiscoverSummer.org where they can learn about summer programs and new summer learning resources. Also, although a few years old, NSLA’s Voices of Summer webinar series might be helpful for practitioners.
“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity” – Kay Redfield Jamison.
Lastly, CAN excitedly kicked off National Summer Learning Week a little early by joining youth and Community Partners throughout the state to celebrate National Play Day Week of Awareness, June 25 – 29, 2024, in Chula Vista, Garden Grove, Riverbank, and Sacramento.
As part of our Physical Health and Wellness Initiative, which redefines and creates a different paradigm for coaching, youth, and family engagement through place-based activities in the communities where families live. This initiative provides opportunities to convene communities throughout CA to provide resources and support to recreation leaders, site coordinators, community partners, and community members to come together and gain knowledge and skills to support their work with youth in sports and play. Learn more.
In This Newsletter:
Congratulations Troy!
White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellowship
Troy Selvey, CAN’s Manager for Equity & Quality joins a cohort of emerging policy leaders as a graduate of the White-Riley-Peterson (WRP) Policy Fellowship. Hosted by Furman University’s Riley Institute in partnership with the Charles S. Mott Foundation, this ten-month learning experience equipped Troy with a real-world understanding of the art, science, possibilities, and realities of policymaking around afterschool and expanded learning.
As part of the program, Troy developed a project to explore the connections between coaching, sports, play, and movement with policies and frameworks that support the whole child in OST spaces. We look forward to seeing this project develop and witnessing Troy’s application of all his insights and strategies gained from the fellowship. Congratulations, Troy!
Save the Date for the 2025 Site Coordinator Symposium!
February 5, 7 & 8, 2025
The Site Coordinator Network is excited to announce the 8th Annual 2025 Site Coordinator Symposium!
Presented by the Site Coordinator Network and supported by the California AfterSchool Network, California Department of Education Expanded Learning Division, and the System of Support for Expanded Learning. This hybrid conference will provide learning opportunities and lots of fun, virtually and In-Person.
Dates:
- Virtual (Via Zoom): February 5, 2025
- In-Person: February 7-8, 2025
Join ASAPconnect, CDE, & CAN at California MTSS PLI!
July 16-18, 2024; Anaheim, CA
Join us at the
2024 California Multi-Tiered System of Support Professional
Learning Institute in Anaheim, in partnership with ASAPconnect and the California Department of
Education, Expanded Learning Division! Throughout the
conference, we will be hosting a pre-conference and multiple
workshops.
This event brings together classroom educators, administrators, school counselors, school psychologists, school-based mental health clinicians, district leaders, county offices of education leaders, higher education faculty, and community-based organizations to support the creation of inclusive and equitable learning environments.
We hope you can join us!
ELO-P Office Hours – Summer 2024
Register Today!
The California AfterSchool Network (CAN), in partnership with the California Department of Education (CDE) Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) and other members of the System of Support for Expanded Learning, is excited to co-host Summer ELO-P Office Hours!
Registration is Open for the Fall 2024 ELO-P Academy!
September 11, 12, 17 & 18, 2024
Register today for
the Fall 2024 Expanded Learning Opportunities Program
(ELO-P) Academy: Building Quality Expanded Learning
Programs!
Hosted by the California AfterSchool Network, in partnership with the CA Dept. of Education’s Expanded Learning Division and the System of Support for Expanded Learning.
Schedule & Workshop Topics
Each workshop will be offered daily via Zoom from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM.
- Wednesday, September 11: From Policy to Practice: Supporting Quality in Expanded Learning Programs
- Thursday, September 12: Inclusive Expanded Learning Environments
- Tuesday, September 17: Leveraging Multiple Funding Streams to Build Quality Expanded Learning Programs
- Wednesday, September 18: Supporting Our Youngest Learners with Quality Expanded Learning Programs
Extreme Heat: Stay Safe this Summer!
As the planet’s climate changes, California is seeing hotter and longer heat waves each year. While we’re all used to warm summer months, we should expect to see multiple record-high days and record temperatures continue in the future.
Since heat is deadlier than any other weather hazard, the state of California wants you to be prepared for extreme heat events and provide resources to help you stay safe.
Explore these resources from the California Department of Public Health and the Heat Ready CA Campaign on how you and your loved ones can be prepared this summer:
Self-Care for Youth Workers
Briefing Paper
Temescal Associates and the How Kids Learn Foundation has recently released a new briefing paper entitled Self-Care for Youth Workers. This paper examines the role of self-care in the promotion of well-being among youth worker practitioners and specific domains of self-care practice, including awareness, work/life balance, flexibility, physical health, social support, and spirituality. It underscores the importance of taking a proactive approach to self-care.
July is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month!
July 2024
July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to highlight the unique strengths and challenges faced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in relation to mental health. Named in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, a journalist, teacher, author, and mental health advocate, this month is dedicated to continuing her legacy by focusing on the mental health needs and experiences of BIPOC communities.
July is Disability Pride Month
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990. Every July we celebrate Disability Pride Month to commemorate the passage of this landmark civil rights law.
Explore these resources to educate yourself on the history of the Disability Rights movement as well as how you can be an ally to the disabled community:
We Have a Job Board!
FREE Job Postings
Did you know that CAN has a job board? Explore after school job postings that have been submitted from the field, for the field.
If you would like to have a job posting shared on the job board, please submit through our Google Form.
*Please allow 3-4 weeks from the time of submission for the post to be added onto the website.
Check Out Our Other Newsletters!
Access the CAN newsletter archives to view past newsletters today! You may be interested in some of our other newsletters as well:
CAN Health and Wellness Newsletters
- Get informed on the connections between afterschool and Whole Child Health and Wellness.
- Subscribe today!
CAN STEAM Newsletters
- Get informed about the Million Girl Moonshot project and access other STEAM resources.
- Subscribe today!
CAN Policy Newsletter
- Get informed about policy-related content, including national, state, and local updates, that supports our Expanded Learning programs.
- Subscribe today!