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March 2020
2020 Impact After School Conference Postponed
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As you may have already heard, we have made the decision to postpone our 2020 Impact After School Conference until further notice. Upon recent discussions, the conference will not be rescheduled until fall. Due to this new date occurring outside of the current fiscal year, all registration fee refunds are being processed at this time.

We will inform you of the new dates for the conference as soon as they are chosen.

For more information on Impact 2020, contact Crystal Hall at  chall@sppg.com . 
You for Youth has more virtual Professional Development Opportunities coming up! These trainings are a great way to keep staff engaged and growing over the break. To see what webinars are available, click the button below.
A Few Slots Left for Summer AmeriCorps

There are only a few slots left for the Summer Ladders AmeriCorps program. Apply to be a host site today!

The Iowa Afterschool Alliance has received a grant from Volunteer Iowa to support a large portion of the cost of hosting an AmeriCorps Member or team of Members in summer 2020.

What the Summer Ladders AmeriCorps Member Will Do: The AmeriCorps Members will focus on developing high-quality lesson plans for the host program utilizing the Dimensions of Success (DOS) framework . The AmeriCorps Member will also be responsible for implementing activities they have developed with high-need youth in your program. The Member is expected to serve a total of 300 hours over the summer.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, members may have more flexibility in duties assigned so that they may participate in more disaster relief centered activities.

Cost to Host a Summer Ladders AmeriCorps Member: The cost share to host a Member (the amount you will be responsible for as a host site) is $2,504 for the entire 2020 summer (300 hours of service). This calculates to a cost to the program of about $8 an hour!

Each Member will receive a living allowance of $3,000 over the summer. The remainder of the cost per Member is covered by the Volunteer Iowa grant.

What We’re Looking for in Host Sites:
  • Ability to supervise the AmeriCorps Member, including coaching and mentoring to meet program goals; approving time sheets; discipline; and role modeling good collaboration, communication, and leadership.
  • Provision of strong staff orientation to the program, as well as on-going professional development throughout the service period.
  • Commitment to evaluation.
  • Commitment to ensuring a good Member experience.

To gauge interest in hosting an AmeriCorps Member or team of Members, the IAA asks interested programs to complete a short online survey at  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SummerLadders2020 .  An answer of "No" on any question is not necessarily disqualifying. Please answer according to your best knowledge at this time. If your program hosted AmeriCorps Members last summer, you are welcome to apply again this year.

For questions regarding this opportunity, please contact Britney Samuelson at bsamuelson@sppg.com .
Coaches Corner
Coaches Corner is about providing OST Programs community connections, best practices, and high-quality activities. Find a collection of state and federal guidance as well as resources for these unprecedented times at the Iowa Afterschool Alliance website. 211 is a great place to head for resources to support your community, and if you are looking for a unique opportunity to connect virtually, True Reloveution is hosting weekly conversations on Wednesdays at 3PM EST.

Coaches Corner is a monthly spotlight of Out-of-School Time best practices. These resources are compiled by the Central Iowa Enrichment Coaches: Hannah Morz , Mallory Riesberg , and Theresa Slaughter . Learn more about the Central Iowa Out-of-School Time Initiative here: ciostinitiative.org .
April : National Poetry Month!

Established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, April is National Poetry Month! Continued focus on reading and writing while children spend their day at home is a great way to keep their brains engaged.

The Academy of American Poets has complied a list of 30 ways to celebrate National Poetry Month in the virtual classroom. Click the button below to find more ways to engage with youth through poetry over the next month!

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 .   
BOOST Conference
October 26 - October 29, 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.

Registration opens April 1!
 
For more information and to register,  visit the conference's website .
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