CAN Newsletter – Happy Holidays from CAN!
December 15, 2020
2020 has been an unprecedented year, but afterschool has been a grounding force through the uncertainty.
As we close out 2020, CAN would like to highlight the critical role afterschool plays for youth. It was evident in 2020 in terms of integration with K-12, as well as the very real response we played immediately to address shelter in place.
The pivotal role we play to advance the vision of the Aspen Institute’s National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development to network community resources with schools and Expanded Learning to advance Whole Child Health and Wellness.
The great strides we have made for Equity and Social Justice – we are a vehicle for equity, and now is the time to continue these real efforts in the system to increase equity-driven practices.
In your work this year, you have emphasized that This is Afterschool. Through our Fireside Chats, we’ve seen how you found the kids, you fed the families, you supported our highest need kids, homeless kids, and critical infrastructure workers, you also focused on the real needs of kids and families.
As we take the time to think of all of the successes of this year, CAN would like to say thank you! Thank you to the field and all of the work that is being done.
We wish you a much deserved peaceful and healthy holiday season.
-Jeff Davis and the CAN Team
In This Newsletter:
ASES Universal Program and ASES Frontier Transportation RFAs for 2021–22
Deadline: February 18, 2021, by 11:59 PM
The Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) of the California Department of Education (CDE) is pleased to announce the release of the After School Education and Safety (ASES) Universal Program Request for Applications (RFA) and the ASES Frontier Transportation RFA for funding beginning in the 2021–22 fiscal year. Both RFAs can be found on the CDE Funding Opportunities web page.
Updated ASES, 21st CCLC, and ASSETs FAQs
The California Department of Education (CDE), Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) is pleased to announce an updated version of the After School Education and Safety, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and the 21st Century High School After School Safety Enrichment for Teens Grant Programs Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). This revised document can found on the CDE website.
Final Chat of 2020: Looking Back in Service of Looking Forward
Fireside Chat: December 14, 2020
Join us for our 21st and final fireside chat of 2020. In this chat, Tiffany Gipson and Heather Williams from the California AfterSchool Network are joined by Michael Funk from the Expanded Learning Division at the California Department of Education to reflect back on 2020 in service of looking forward. 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us but has also presented many moments for learning, opportunity, and hope. Join us as we discuss this journey and how we might move forward differently in 2021.
Join the CAN Leadership Team!
Deadline Extended: Friday, February 19, 2021
CAN is Seeking New Leaders!
The California AfterSchool Network Leadership Team is a geographically, professionally, and culturally diverse group of out-of-school time stakeholders charting the course for CAN. As the primary governing body of CAN, the Leadership Team guides all aspects of CAN’s work including its strategy, procurement and use of resources, Leadership Team and Field Committee operations, as well as Executive Director support.
California Is a ‘Top 10 State for Afterschool, ’ Even as Unmet Demand Grows
Student participation that exceeds the national average and overwhelming parent satisfaction with afterschool programs make California a “Top 10 State for Afterschool,” again, according to a household survey commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance and released December 8, 2020. California is one of the few states that has consistently made it in the top 10 states for afterschool since evaluating and ranking states’ began.
Nevertheless, unmet demand for programs – the percentage of California parents who say they would enroll their child in an afterschool program if one were available to them – is high, especially among low-income families, who report cost as a significant barrier. Despite being in the Top 10, for every child in an afterschool program in California today, three more are waiting to get in.
To learn more access the full press release and CA Fact Sheet!
What a Biden-Harris Administration May Mean For Afterschool
As of this time, Biden has appointed his education transition team that will begin setting the stage for the new administration and its policy priorities. The team comes in combination with a Biden platform which already includes a number of stated education priorities, including some that would directly affect and support access to and quality for afterschool programs.
Youth Stories: Raising Student Voices During Difficult Times
Afterschool has long been a space for lifting up youth voices and providing young people with the confidence and tools they need to share their ideas and their stories. Afterschool Snack has begun to collect stories from youth to provide insight on how afterschool has helped students through the pandemic.
Webinar Series: A Three-Session Training for School Leaders and Staff
January - February 2021; 9:00-10:30 AM PST
Attendance Works is offering a three-part training series for educators to learn proven, evidence-based tiered strategies to engage students and promote attendance. Participants will get a chance to interact with their peers and the Attendance Works team in break out rooms.
Session #1:
Whole School Engagement Strategies for Reducing Student
Absenteeism
Wednesday, January 13
Webinar Series: Cannabis, Equity, and Social Justice
January 12- February 9, 2021; 10:00 AM
Join California organizers and advocates for a series of 8 virtual convenings (60-90 min each) to learn about Prop. 64 implementation and build our movement to repair the harm caused by the War on Drugs by centering racial justice, equity, and healing.
Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty & Stress
The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence is hosting a Coursera course entitled Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty & Stress that will provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to understand and manage their emotions and those of their students. The 10-hour online course is designed for school staff, including teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, principals, and non-teaching staff in preK-12 schools.
Family Wellness Resources
The 2020 holiday season will be uniquely stressful for families that are in the midst of navigating a global pandemic, social distancing, distance learning, and for some, the trauma from caring for loved ones who have become ill or passed away. Please share these curated resources from the California School-Based Health Alliance with your programs and families to help them cope with stresses they are facing.
COVID-19 and Food Accessibility
Many school cafeteria workers have been working every single day since the pandemic caused the closures of schools. While some schools have previously not been able to hand out food for free due to large costs, Coronavirus has opened an opportunity for many schools and districts to provide school food free for children. After months of uncertainty, the USDA announced last month that the expansion would last until the end of the school year.
Afterschool Suppers & Programs Key Part of COVID-19 Recovery
As communities continue to respond to COVID-19, one thing is increasingly clear: the hours that children are “out of school” have been increasing, and afterschool suppers and snacks alongside afterschool programs are becoming more essential than ever.
The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)’s latest report “Afterschool Suppers: A Snapshot of Participation”, finds that over 1.4 million children received a supper through the Afterschool Nutrition Programs in October 2019, an increase of 6.5 percent, or 86,900 children, from October 2018.
HouseED: Resources for Housing and Food Accessibility
Check out these resources from HouseED, an initiative of Partnership for Children & Youth!
Understanding Gaps in Food Insecurity for Children in Housing
HousED is collecting information from staff and residents with children living in public and affordable housing to gauge what gaps in food insecurity and meal assistance their children and young people are facing. Take a quick 2 minute survey to make sure everyone is able to eat and be healthy during the pandemic.
Key Findings from Afterschool Providers Survey
Edge Research and Afterschool Alliance conducted a series of surveys of afterschool providers during the pandemic.
- Many more afterschool programs are operating now than were in the spring and summer.
- Programs are able to serve only about half as many students as they supported before the pandemic.
- The children being left behind are disproportionately those from low-income families.
#StartWithStudents Roadmap
Student Voice has launched “A Roadmap to Authentically Engage Youth Voice in the U.S. Department of Education”, an entirely-student drafted report about how the Department of Education can meaningfully engage young people as partners in decision-making. They call on all youth-serving groups to sign onto a letter of support to the Biden-Harris transition team regarding the report.
STEAM Learning: Together at Home
Check out these great engineering activities for STEAM learning in programs or at home with families.
Student Activity: Materials and Manufacturing
In this activity based on the story of the three little pigs,
students examine the properties, limitations, and durability of a
variety of materials, then evaluate which of the materials would
be best for building a model house.
Student Activity: Engineering Solutions to Freshwater
Problems
In this activity, students are introduced to six freshwater
supply problems in various locations around the world. Students
brainstorm their own ideas for solving each problem and then
learn about the specific solutions that engineers have proposed.
Opt-Out Notification Regarding Mizzen by Mott
December 15, 2021
CAN Subscribers - It is important that you know that CAN deeply respects and will continue to protect the privacy of all our subscribers, our network, and our partners.
With this in mind, please be aware that CAN’s current content privacy policy is as follows: We will never share, sell, or rent our contact lists to anyone without your permission. Please note that CAN’s funders may ask for access to our contact lists. If such a request is made CAN will inform all subscribers at least fourteen (14) days ahead of time and will give each subscriber the opportunity to opt-out.
Having indicated this: please be aware that one of our primary funders, the Mott Foundation, has requested access to our CAN contact list which includes your email address. They have requested this information to share access to Mizzen by Mott, a new app built with and for afterschool professionals to provide free high-quality, engaging learning content to the afterschool field.
Check out CAN’s 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 Policy Newsletters
- Get informed about state and federal afterschool updates!
- Subscribe today!
CAN Health and Wellness Newsletters
- Get informed on the connections between afterschool and Whole Child Health and Wellness newsletter!
- Sign up to receive the newsletter today!