Can you feel it? With summer coming to an end, in-person afterschool is in the air! The transition from summer to fall programming can bring forth a surplus of emotions, as well as new physical and mental challenges to tackle. With the return to school coming soon, it is still important to remain COVID cautious and conscious due to the increase in cases with the Delta Variant. Please be aware, on July 27th, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released updated guidance in response to a large jump in cases and hospitalizations and new national guidance. Due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, it recommends universal mask use (both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals) in public indoor settings throughout the state to protect Oregonians from COVID-19. Things change quickly, so make sure to stay updated from the source; learn more HERE. On July 29th, Governor Kate Brown directed the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education to create a rule to require masks indoors for K-12 schools statewide for the 2021-22 school year, in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recently updated guidance, please take precautions accordingly.

Partnership is important for improving the quality of afterschool and summer programming. By networking and building relationships, the internal and external structure of programs can be vastly improved. There are different types of partnership that can take shape. Whether it be working directly with another program, a fiscal relationship, or even informal conversations--partnership makes up a crucial and dynamic part of the flourishing system that is the field of afterschool. We define partners as the agencies, organizations, and other community members who work together to provide financial support and other resources that work towards a common goal. For further vocabulary surrounding expanded learning opportunities, check out our webpage: ABC's of ELO's.

We look forward to hearing from Partners about your busy summer and looking ahead together! RVSP HERE to let us know you'll be attending the meeting from 9-10:30am.

In partnership with Woodburn School District, Farmworker Housing Development Corporation (FHDC) provides afterschool and summer programs designed to give every kid the opportunity to thrive. This summer, OregonASK is excited to continue our partnership with FHDC by supporting the implementation of Cerebro at two housing sites in Marion County. Check out this great video about the work they do to support their community and read more about Cerebro HERE.

Last Spring, OregonASK partnered with the National Girls Collaborative and OSMO to distribute OSMO Creative Kits that include a stand, pouch, markers, and games to download on personal device.

STEM Academy was able to integrate the use of OSMO kits into several of their summer camps, including some done with virtual attendees. What a great mix of hands-on arts and technology for youth to engage with this summer!

So far this summer, we have been busy collecting information about all the great work camps, community organizations, schools, agencies, and others are doing to offer summer learning opportunities around the state. We have responses from over 100 programs so far, but we know there are many more out there! If your organization is working with kids this summer, or you know programs that are, please take a look at our survey and pass it on!  Every organization that completes the survey will receive one free registration to our fall conference (limited to one per organization).

Survey questions are most appropriate for program directors, multi-site coordinators, or site coordinators. Set aside about 15 minutes to complete the survey. Make sure you have site location information, planned dates and hours of operation, and anticipated enrollment information handy before you start. Find out more about the survey here.

Get prepared for a return to fall programming by staying up to date on trainings. Check out our Training Calendar for local opportunities or book a training for your program from our Training Request page that has a full list of Trainings- check back soon for Fall 2021 Update. Additionally, Leap into Science will be coming back to virtual in September.

October 14th at 12:00pm Sign Up Here

Designed for 6th through 10th grade students, Possible Futures helps students set the stage for career connected exploration and discovery to come. Students chart a path to success by building employability skills and identifying personal strengths. Join this series to learn how to use JFF’s free Possible Futures (PF) Engineering and Design curriculum unit to introduce students to careers that require an engineering mindset.

November 3rd at 12:00pm Sign Up Here

With schools and programs re-opening to meet the needs of families, we know this fall will be another one for the books. We hope you take the time to join us this October for a renewal and rejuvenation as we get back to afterschool. You may be looking for behavior management or mental health supports, or perhaps you are in need of school age training for your licensed child care. Whatever the reason, we hope to see you at the Fall 2021 Oregon Afterschool Conference! All sessions will be virtual, including 2 days of multi-state sessions and keynotes during Open Minds, Open Spaces. Speaker and session details will be released in the coming weeks. Set 1 and Set 2 will be available. Please reach out with questions to general@oregonask.org. Visit here for updates.

This year, the keynote presenters will be Kū Kahakalau and Dr. David Parker, sharing their expertise and experience as we are join in to Elevate Afterschool. Virtual sessions will take place between 10am and 2pm, including keynotes and youth panels. More information coming soon!

Register HERE.

Don't forget that as part of Million Girls Moonshot, partners such as National Girls Collaborative and Mizzen by Mott are providing access to hundreds of quality STEM resources you can access HERE.

Until further notice, masking will be required for all attendees in our indoor space. A portion of the event does take place outdoors. We strongly encourage all people to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before attending. Please RSVP tina@trackersearth.com or sign up HERE as an employer to host a table.

Check out the eventbrite link to RSVP.

After just one month of reopening, on July 27th, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released updated guidance in response to a large jump in cases and hospitalizations and new national guidance. Due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, it recommends universal mask use (both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals) in public indoor settings throughout the state to protect Oregonians from COVID-19. Things change quickly, so make sure to stay updated from the source; Learn more HERE.

Child Care Stabilization Grant: Funding is expected to start coming out in September for licensed programs who have been operating since the time applied. According to the Oregon Department of Early Learning Division, "Providers can expect to apply for additional funding in mid-September from the Child Care Stabilization Fund. Grant applications will be posted on the Early Learning Division website. All applicants who meet the requirements will receive funding." Frequently asked questions can be answered HERE.

However, one challenge that seems to cause many programs is difficulty in hiring, the Central Background Registry. CBR is the system used by all licensed child care programs, including many school age providers who serve elementary age youth. We hear from some that it is nearly impossible to find staff who are already in the Central Background Registry, and are nervous about the 4-6 weeks it can take for new employees to make it through the process. 

And although HB 50 that required all recorded programs to also have staff in the CBR did not pass, many programs agree the importance of having qualified, safe staff hires would help improve the quality of programs for youth and families. 

As we enter into summer full throttle we want to remind you, as employers and employees, you are able to take advantage of OregonASK's new Jobs Board to help connect in preparation for this summer. As an organization, our goal is to enhance, support, and expand the fluidity of the work of our partners. We hope this addition to our website assists your hiring process. See the Listings page, plus more, HERE.

Check out our brand new LinkedIn page HERE.

August 20th: OregonASK Partner Meeting RSVP HERE

October 21st-23rd: Oregon Afterschool Conference & Open Minds, Open Spaces Fall Virtual Conference