CAN Newsletter – Show up with Pride!
June 14, 2023
Join us in celebrating Pride Month and the end of another school year!
California AfterSchool Network stands
alongside our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer
(LGBTQ+) community, celebrating their identity and whom they
love. Pride Month serves as a beautiful reminder
of the invaluable gift that the LGBTQ+ community adds to the
diversity of our country, which strengthens us as we pursue
equity, justice, and freedom for all.
The LGBTQ+ community has fought relentlessly to be treated with the dignity and respect that every individual deserves. However, their battle is far from over. Across our country and in our California communities, LGBTQ+ youth, students, and individuals face ongoing discrimination and violence fueled by hatred. This fight is not for the LGBTQ+ community alone. We ALL must confront this growing wave of oppression and intolerance as allies to ensure the safety and inclusion of all members of our communities.
This month, and every month, we celebrate the unwavering resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. We hope you join us in creating systems change that creates justice for all. Learn more.
Resources to Support Pride Month from Youth.gov:
- The White House is holding an LGBT Pride Month Champions of Change Video Challenge to explore the stories of unsung heroes and local leaders who are leading our march towards a perfect union. In early June, you will have a chance to weigh in and help identify finalists featured as Champions of Change at an event at the White House!
- Take a look at resources from the Administration on Children and Families’ National Clearinghouse on Youth and Families. These resources are geared at helping youth-serving organizations understand and more effectively support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning young people: Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth With Open Arms.
- Pride events occur throughout the month. Find an LGBT Pride event in your area.
Lastly, we celebrate our field of Community Educators; folks who work and dedicate their work and love to youth and families in CA’s Expanded Learning and Out of School Time (OST) Programs. As we celebrate the closing of a (traditional) school year, we hope and encourage folks to take the time to reflect on the year, and celebrate glows and growth opportunities. Thank you for all you do for children, youth, and families in our communities. Happy kickoff to Summer Programming!
In This Newsletter:
Spanish Quality Standards Now Available!
We have translated the Quality Standards into Spanish! We would like to give special thanks to Suzanne Hill and the Orange County Office of Education for translating the language for the Quality Standards.
The purpose of the Quality Standards is to describe high levels of “Quality” of a program at the programmatic, staff, and participant levels. The quality standards are not intended to serve as a compliance tool, but as the following:
- A framework of clear expectations for all stakeholders.
- A guide to inform the After School Division’s decision-making, e.g., technical assistance decisions, language in requests for application, and policy development.
- A guide for program providers to assess their own programs in order to help determine what they are doing well and what needs improvement.
Physical Health and Wellness Initiative Clinic
May 20, 2023
The Physical Health and Wellness Initiative achieved a significant milestone as we hosted our second clinic in May. This initiative consists of amazing organizations that want to emphasize vital aspects of positive youth development, mentorship, and collaboration. We want to extend our thanks to all of our partners for joining us in this work: Mentor California, Positive Coaching Alliance, Jr. Kings, The City of Sacramento, Sacramento County Office of Education, The Center, and ASAPconnect!
School of Leadership and Facilitation Commencement
June 8, 2023
On June 8, 2023, the 2022-2023 cohort for ASAPconnect’s School of Leadership and Facilitation had their commencement. This year’s cohort consisted of 22 amazing individuals across the state. Nat Rosales, CAN’s Coordinator for Policy & Outreach participated in this year’s cohort and was given the opportunity to give a speech on their experience during the commencement ceremony.
As part of their leadership development, fellows learned 3 foundational facilitation methods: focused conversations, consensus workshops, and action planning. To learn more about the School of Leadership and Facilitation, you can visit the school’s website.
Congratulations to all of this year’s fellows!
Happy 3rd CANniversary to Nat Rosales!
June 29, 2023
June 29th is Nat’s CANniversary! Nat joined the CAN team in 2020 as a Student Assistant and is now Coordinator for the Policy and Outreach team. Nat is known as the design genius on the team and teaches us all how we can be more inclusive. Nat supports social media, newsletters, and design projects.
Thank you for all of the amazing work you do, Nat! You make us all better human beings and we look forward to seeing you continue to grow and flourish!
California’s Governor Proposed Budget for 2023-24
May Revision
May Revision Budget Process
The May Revision budget process is crucial for California’s fiscal planning and governance and aims to maintain a balanced and equitable budget. It allows for adjustments based on updated economic conditions and revenue projections. The process involves reviewing the initial budget proposal and considering the latest economic data and revenue forecasts. It helps policymakers assess the state’s financial health, address emerging priorities, and allocate resources wisely.
PCY’s VIP Summer Resource Hub
Summer is coming. Are you ready for the first day and week of summer? Preparing for summer learning programs happens quickly. As it gets closer, focusing on what is needed NOW is crucial. The VIP Summer Resource Hub is designed to ensure you have access to high-quality templates, checklists, and more.
Password: PCY summer
Evidence of Impact of Partnerships to Bolster Impacts of the Protective Factors
February 2023
A new brief entitled Evidence of Impact of Partnerships to Bolster Impacts of Protective Factors (By Heather Williams, of the California AfterSchool Network and Ken Anthony, Ed.D., Associate Executive Director at the Connecticut After School Network) explores how protective factors identified through resilience research play a crucial role in positive child and youth development, mitigating negative experiences.
Partnerships are essential for supporting whole child recovery. Afterschool programs, acting as community hubs, can unite stakeholders to foster resilience and reduce the impact of trauma on children and youth. Emphasizing protective factors and positive youth development can support children’s social and emotional skills post-pandemic.
This blog post from Afterschool Alliance explores the brief further, also sharing a logic model helps unpack some of the potential impacts and implications community-wide partnerships can have on the success of children and youth.
STEAM Symposium Early Bird Registration!
February 9-10, 2024
The Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation, in collaboration with the California Department of Education and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, are pleased to invite STEAM enthusiasts to attend the 11th annual California STEAM Symposium. The symposium will feature breakout and keynote sessions that will focus on nurturing student agency, identity, and inclusion and strengthening the educator workforce, emphasizing the importance of promoting equity in STEAM education.
- Date: February 9-10, 2024
- Location: Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center
LIAS Resources
Check out these resources from the Learning in Afterschool and Summer blog:
LIAS Blogs:
June is Pride Month!
June is Pride Month! In June 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, LGBTQ+ individuals fought back against police oppression, sparking a movement for equality. Today, Pride Month honors their bravery and the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights. Join us in embracing diversity, fostering inclusivity, and spreading love this month and all year long.
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!