May 2019
Funding Options for OST
In the absence of a state funding stream for afterschool and summer in Iowa, programs are often financed through many different sources. We know you are always looking for ways to fund exciting new ideas and programming. The Iowa Women's Foundation and the Iowa Afterschool Alliance have compiled several different lists of funding options at the national, state, regional, and local levels. Check out our leads today!

Child Care/Afterschool Funding Options Document 1
Child Care/Afterschool Funding Options Document 2
Child Care Solutions Fund Opens June 15
The Iowa Women's Foundation (IWF) has established the Child Care Solutions Fund (CCSF). The CCSF is a "field of interest" fund for grant making and action hosted by the Iowa Women's Foundation. In particular, the CCSF is designated to improve the lives of Iowa's women and girls through economic self-sufficiency and specifically by improving the availability of, and access to, quality affordable child care in Iowa. The funds in the CCSF are invested in organizations and institutions focused on innovative and sustainable strategies/solutions ensuring access to affordable quality child care that decreases the work force gap and ultimately increases women's economic security across Iowa.
 
Letters of Interest (LOI) for the Child Care Solutions Fund will be accepted from June 15, 2019 - August 1, 2019.

For more information and instructions for submitting your letter of interest, please visit the IWF website.
Complete Your Afterschool Advocate Profile
Iowa is making it into political news a lot lately. Iowa always factors prominently on presidential hopefuls' schedules as they reach out to voters and test their messages with Iowans.

We want to make afterschool a key message in policy discussions across the state and nationally. Working closely with the Afterschool Alliance, the Iowa Afterschool Alliance is building a corps of advocates across the state to show up at events, share news over social media and traditional media, and reach out to others with the message that Afterschool Works!

We are regularly tracking candidate events, legislative forums and coffees, and media to connect you with opportunities to share this message. Please complete your profile online so that we can better reach you with chances in your community to be an advocate for afterschool.

Please complete your profile online today!
Thematic Curriculum in OST
A recent article in Youth Today highlighted the value of thematic curriculum in out-of-school time. The article, Summer Learning Should Be Nothing Like School: Use Thematic Curriculum, lays out the benefit of such a structure and provides examples of how it works in practice.

The Iowa Afterschool Alliance has used theme planning in the past to help frontline program leaders design their school year and summer curricula. Below are several resources you can adapt for your own use.
 
National Geographic Certification
National Geographic Educator Certification seeks to inspire afterschool educators to teach youth about the world in innovative and interdisciplinary ways. Throughout this experience, participants will have the opportunity to connect to inspiring educators, develop skills that will add depth and meaning to their programs, and create a final project to showcase their growth and impact. Achieving certification will provide participants with professional recognition and development; lifelong community with like-minded educators; and relationships, resources, perks, and opportunities with National Geographic Society. The course will run May 20 through August 30.

Go online today to enroll in this great opportunity for afterschool educators!
OST Best Practices Survey
The Iowa 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program Support Committee has developed a brief survey in order to begin collecting data on key policies for operations in your programs. The committee's goal is to use this information to create a repository of best practices and templates for policies and procedures. We hope that you will take the time to complete this survey in the next few weeks. We thank you in advance for your time!
 
Please complete the survey online here.
Follow IAA on Facebook for Latest Updates
Facebook Follow the Iowa Afterschool Alliance on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iowaafterschoolalliance for the latest updates on the Every Student Succeeds Act (formerly No Child Left Behind), PD opportunities, IAA activities, and grant opportunities. Expect an update on an issue of interest every day! You can also follow us on Twitter by following @iowaafterschool.
Professional Development Opportunities
Out of School Time Professional Development Center
The Out of School Time Professional Development Center provides Out of School Time training to OST professionals. The classes provide in-depth curriculum and certificates.  If you or your staff are interested in signing up for courses visit the  Out-of-School Time  website . Check out the entire course catalog here . 
 
Great Content on Y4Y!
You 4 Youth is a free  online professional development site that is designed to support 21CCLC program staff, but is a valuable tool for any afterschool professional looking to build their skills! Recently, Y4Y has rolled out a whole module on literacy. Click here to register.

Afterschool Alliance Webinars
The Afterschool Alliance offers webinars on a wide range of topics, from policy and the new Every Student Succeeds Act, to STEM and Social-Emotional Learning. Find out more on their webinars website.

Iowa Child Care Training Registry
Find professional development for school-age programming on the State of Iowa Child Care Training Registry on topics ranging from health and safety to developmentally appropriate programming. Find out more online

National AfterSchool Association PD Resources
NAA provides afterschool professionals with resources to stay up-to-date on the latest topics in afterschool and summer learning.

Find out more on their website here.  
 
Resources for STEM Programming
The Center for the Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE) provides background information that is useful for the development of STEM programming. Find out more on their website. 
 
The Afterschool Tech Toolkit aims to empower afterschool professionals and educators with strategies and training so they can provide students with access to technology outside of classroom hours. It includes training modules on getting started, training staff, accessing technology and devices, and more. Take a look at the toolkit here.   
 
21CCLC Summer Institute
August 9, 2019; Council Bluffs, Iowa
Attend this day-long professional development event designed for all afterschool and summer programs. Free to attend. Child care credit available. Workshop details will be shared as they become available on the Iowa 21CCLC website at https://www.iowa21cclc.com/institutes. 
 
Conscious Discipline Basics
August 12-13, 2019; Burlington, Iowa
For more information, please contact Cassie Gerst with Burlington Schools.
 
 
Emotional Mayhem & Feelings
August 14, 2019; Burlington, Iowa
For more information, please contact Cassie Gerst with Burlington Schools.  
 
 
21CCLC Fall Institute
September 26, 2019; Dubuque, Iowa
Attend this day-long professional development event designed for all afterschool and summer programs. Workshop details will be shared as they become available on the Iowa 21CCLC website at https://www.iowa21cclc.com/institutes. Free to attend. Child care credit available.  
 
Early Learning Fall Institute
October 4-5, 2019; Altoona, Iowa
Hosted by the Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children.  
 
For information as it becomes available, please visit the Institute webpage.  
 
The Boundless Potential of Every Student 
October 11, 2019; Burlington, Iowa
What if ninety seconds could change the way you see your students forever? What if a simple shift in perspective could turn your quintessential "problem" students into your most passionate learners? What if one moment is the key to unlocking an infinite realm of life-changing possibilities for each student you encounter? This event will include a keynote presentation from Donna Porter and DJ Baptiste, and afternoon workshops by Porter and Baptiste on reaching older youth and Velda McKenzie on Conscious Discipline.
 
For information on this opportunity, please contact Cassie Gerst with Burlington Schools.   
 
Beyond School Hours Conference
February 26-29, 2020; Orlando, FL
The nation's premiere conference for educators and leaders serving K-12 students in school, afterschool, summertime and beyond.
 
For more information, please visit the conference's website. 
 
National AfterSchool Association Convention
March 15-18, 2020; Washington, DC
Please join the 2,300 members of our community at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center for four days of networking, learning and inspiration: special events, workshops, daily keynotes and an interactive Learning Expo all designed to meet the needs of the developing professionals and emerging and current leaders of afterschool. Come to NAA convention and leave saying, "I've found my people!" 
 
For more information about the convention, visit the event's website.  
 
BOOST Conference
April 28 - May 1, 2020; Palms Springs, CA
Join the largest, most recognized and comprehensive global convening for after school, expanded learning, and out-of-school time professionals. Set in a retreat-like atmosphere, this annual, extraordinary event will rejuvenate your passion, boost your direction for quality programming and provide tools and resources that will inspire you to create change.
 
For more information and to register, visit the conference's website. 
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