This is your weekly newsletter featuring program spotlights, innovative resources, and training opportunities for the out-of-school-time industry in Florida. Together, we can ensure all children and youth in Florida have access to affordable, available, high-quality expanded learning opportunities to foster their success in school and beyond. | |
Youth Entrepreneurship (YE) Mini Grant Opportunity: Request for Applications | Florida Afterschool is focused on expanding the entrepreneurial mindset of Florida's youth. We are now seeking out-of-school time programs looking to empower young people by expanding or launching entrepreneurship opportunities during their summer learning programs. Ten programs will be selected to receive a mini-grant of $500 that can be used to support the implementation of a program. | | | |
If you have an idea for an afterschool spotlight or would like to be featured, email Holly to help share your story! | |
Afterschool STEM Hub hosts Capitol Hill briefing on impact of afterschool STEM programs on older youth | Taking place during the National STEM Festival, this event—in partnership with the office of Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)—featured attendees and participants from industry, business leaders of STEM talent, congressional offices, non-profit STEM and afterschool organizations, and STEM funders, among others. Anita discussed the importance of STEM education and highlighted how afterschool opportunities can give youth additional mentorship support and a career perspective that is not always able to be provided during regular school hours. | | | |  |
Students from YMCA After School Programs Join the Florida Panthers and Fort Lauderdale Mayor for a Day on the Ice | A group of 25 students from the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center’s after school programs were among the first to visit and experience the facilities at the new Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale. Members of the Florida Panthers organization were on hand to teach students basic ice-skating techniques. Both groups were joined by City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis... | | | | |
Boys and Girls Club of Miami-Dade hold 13th annual Claws for Kids event at Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach | The fundraiser supports the many programs provided by the Boys and Girls Club, which serves over 2,000 students on a daily basis. “They support the general operation of the organization, which includes our after school educational programs from homework assistance, to computers, to art, social skills, support, fitness,” said Alex Rodriguez-Roig, president of the Boys and Girls Club of Miami-Dade. | | | | |
New survey: Afterschool programs advance learning recovery efforts but face staffing and cost challenges | Based on a new national survey of 1,116 afterschool program providers, programs are supporting students’ academic development, strengthening peer-to-peer connections, and creating opportunities where they can practice life skills. At the same time, providers report grappling with issues such as staffing and program costs, making it challenging to meet the demand for their programs. | | | | |
Emerging Afterschool Leaders Can to Earn $1,500 to Take Part in Transformational Leadership Training Series | Applications due May 15, 2024! The Elevating OST Leadership Initiative invites first to third-year OST directors or assistant directors to apply to be a part of this hybrid leadership training series that combines in-person and virtual training sessions. The Initiative will take practitioners through a journey of leadership skill development and practice, self-awareness, harnessing one’s passions, learning to communicate with fierce compassion, visioning and creating actionable goals for the future. | | | | |
Teen Science Café Network- More than 15 years of connecting
STEM experts and teens
to explore our world together
| TSCs are free out of school time programs where teens and STEM experts collaborate on presentations and hands-on activities which explore science topics in-depth. Cafés are as unique as the communities they serve, and are led by teens for teens with sponsorship of an adult leader. Cafés are easy to start and no prior experience with STEM is needed. | | | | |
New resource: Designing State Child Care Systems with Intentional Supports for Children and Youth 5-13 | The State Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) planning process is in full swing, and states are envisioning how to best provide quality support and access to care for eligible children and youth aged 0-13. | | | | |
LEARNING FROM OTHERS: Cities and schools see new opportunities to partner on child care with state grants | Across South Dakota, 13 communities are receiving $3.7 million from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to increase access to quality, affordable child care. | | | | |
2024 Florida Youth Space Art Contest | |
Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez encourages students in grades
K–5 to create an art piece inspired by the theme: Suit Up! Florida’s Space Suit of the Future. Finalists will win two tickets to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Two lucky grand prize winners, one selected from each group, will have their artwork launched into space on an upcoming mission!
Submissions are due Friday, May 24.
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Help us help you! Take the Florida Afterschool Tools & Resources Survey | Make time to answer this brief survey (estimated time to complete is less than five minutes). The information you provide will allow us to make adjustments to the tools and resources we provide to help you be more informed and effective as afterschool educators. Respond and be entered into the raffle to win a $50 Amazon gift card. | | | |
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Office of Early Childhood Development (ECD) Webcast: Strategies to Promote the Mental Health and Well-being of Children, Families, and the Early Care and Education Workforce
Webinar: Thursday, May 9 at 3PM
Healthy social and emotional development in early childhood helps form the foundation for lifelong mental health. There are several mental health supports that can be integrated into early care and education programs to build skills and knowledge in the workforce, support children’s healthy development, strengthen nurturing caregiver-child relationships, and alleviate some of the stress and burnout experienced by providers. We hope that you will join us during Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day 2024, to learn about strategies that can support grant recipients to strengthen mental health supports in child- and family-serving programs. Discover how states and tribal communities are leveraging partnerships, implementing innovative practices, and leading efforts to promote child, family, and workforce wellness.
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Get BookSmart: Summer Camp Strategies to Engage Young Children
Webinar: Thursday, May 16 from 1PM-2PM
We’ll discuss the free digital book platform ‘BookSmart’, and share how to incorporate this useful literacy tool in implementing book clubs, staff read-alouds, story extenders, weekend reading incentives and more. This helpful family engagement tool offers hundreds of book choices with recommended literacy-based activities designed for families with children ages 3 – 12.
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Project Brainy - Summer Application Due
Online Submission due: Friday, May 17
Does your out-of-school time (OST) program want to build belonging and engagement in interactive science learning? Project BRAINY is open to all OST programs that regularly provide learning opportunities to middle-school youth. Project Brainy is a six-session, neuroscience-based curriculum designed for OST programs. The curriculum enables middle-school students to build social-emotional skills, engage in interactive STEM learning, and increase literacy. Up to 20 youth-serving OST programs from across the U.S. will receive $1,500, training, and continuous support to implement Project BRAINY, a neuroscience, literacy, and SED-focused curriculum.
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Teen Science Cafe Fellows Information Session
Information Session: Thursday, May 23 from 4:30PM-5:30PM
The Teen Science Cafe (TSC) Fellows initiative is a ten-month training program designed to help informal educators implement Teen Science Cafes in their community. Teen Science Cafe Fellows receive one-on-one support from TSC Guides to launch a cafe program and host three cafe events during the year. Fellows receive a $2,500 stipend to support their work.
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Discover Engineering's "Chats with Change Makers" - Fredy Barrera Aguilar, Product Development Engineer at TE Connectivity
Webinar: Thursday, May 30 at 1PM
Does your out-of-school time (OST) program want to build belonging and engagement in interactive science learning? Project BRAINY is open to all OST programs that regularly provide learning opportunities to middle-school youth. Project Brainy is a six-session, neuroscience-based curriculum designed for OST programs. The curriculum enables middle-school students to build social-emotional skills, engage in interactive STEM learning, and increase literacy. Up to 20 youth-serving OST programs from across the U.S. will receive $1,500, training, and continuous support to implement Project BRAINY, a neuroscience, literacy, and SED-focused curriculum.
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REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! We are a recognized leader for providing high-quality professional learning experiences that are timely, relevant, and engaging. Join us in October for our annual conference as we convene at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Get ready for fresh ideas for youth engagement, strategies for business and staff development, and tools for local advocacy. Learn more about what to expect here. | |
Now Accepting Nominations for the 2024 Afterschool Professional of the Year!
Out-of-school time professionals play an important role in the lives of the children and youth they serve and they deserve recognition and support! Who from your afterschool program is a super star and deserves to be recognized? Help us find the "2024 Florida Afterschool Professional of the Year." Nominate your local afterschool super star today!
Nominations are due Monday, June 17, 2024.
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Florida After School, Inc. | FLafterschool.com
For more information about Florida After School, Inc. and its many partners, connect with us on social media.
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