TheConnector

TheCONNECTOR is Youth Community Connections’ (YCC) communication tool for sharing updates and for seeking action from its partners. TheCONNECTOR contains the following highlights:

RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS
Youth Community Connections is MOVING!
Call for Papers: Afterschool Matters

NEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE
New Study: Investments in Building Citywide Out-of-School-Time Systems: A Six-City Study
New York State After School Network (NYASN) Releases Policy Brief on Systems Supporting Children and Youth From “Cradle to Career”
Neighborhood Partnership Initiative Grant Opportunity

POLICY AND ADVOCACY UPDATES
Policy and Advocacy Committee to Meet January 8, 2010
ASPIRE ACT Introduced in the Senate

FUTURE EVENTS
Juvenile Justice Coalition to Hold Forums in Northeastern Minnesota, December 16, 2009
Promoting Youth Development: A Community Approach
Minnesota Center for Professional Development School-Age Care Worker Two-Day Training, January 30 & 31

RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS

We’re Moving!
Youth Community Connections will be moving office locations on January 5, 2010.  If all goes as planned, we will be operational by the end of the day.  Our new contact information is listed below.

Youth Community Connections
200 Oak Street SE, Suite 270B
Minneapolis, MN 55455
PH: 612-627-0160
FAX: 612-624-6905
Website: www.youthcommunityconnections.org

Staff Contact Information
Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn
PH: 612-627-0161
Email: laura@youthcommunityconnections.org

Ceil Meade
PH: 612-627-0160
Email: ceil@youthcommunityconnections.org

Abou Amara, Jr.
PH: 612-627-0157
Email: abou@youthcommunityconnections.org

Please update your database accordingly. If you have any questions about YCC’s move please contact Ceil Meade at ceil@youthcommunityconnections.org.

Call for Papers: Afterschool Matters
Afterschool Matters, a journal published by the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) at Wellesley College, with funding support from the Robert Bowne Foundation, has issued a call for papers.

Previous issues can be viewed at www.niost.org. Manuscripts due Jan. 17, 2010. 

Check out some of the latest research on after school, youth engagement and quality improvement on YCC’s website under latest research.

NEW STUDY: Investments in Building Citywide Out-of-School-Time Systems: A Six-City Study
The report examines the development of OST systems in six cities across the country and summarizes the strategies and activities commonly pursued, their associated investments, and options for financing such system-building efforts.  The report was funded by the Wallace Foundation and prepared by The Finance Project and Public Private Ventures.

Click HERE to view the full report.

New York State Afterschool Network (NYSAN) Releases Policy Brief Focused on Aligning Early Childhood, Out-of-School Time and Education Systems
New York State Afterschool Network has released a new policy brief that outlines the need to build a system of support for the “whole” child in which all children and youth have full and equitable opportunities to be healthy, safe, engaged, and prepared from “cradle to career.”

Click HERE to read the brief.

Neighborhood Partnership Initiative Grant Opportunity
GOALS: The Neighborhood Partnership Initiative (NPI) program supports innovative and effective partnerships that involve new constituencies to solve problems, and improve the community for everybody.  Grants up to $10,000 will be awarded to successful applicants.
ELIGIBILITY: Partnerships applying to NPI must include at least one nonprofit organization with a defined neighborhood service area in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area whose governance body is elected by all residents of the neighborhood served; and at least one organization with nonprofit status focused on youth, immigrants, people of color, or the arts. The neighborhood-based organization should be the lead partner.
Successful applications will:

1. Clearly define the collaboration and the respective roles of the partners; 
2. Strengthen resident connections to increase the social capital of the neighborhood;
3. Lead to the engagement of  underrepresented community members in the life and leadership of the neighborhood; and
4. Contribute to the achievement of goals for the betterment of the neighborhood.

Note: Initiatives that involve two or more underrepresented constituencies will be given greater priority. APPLICATION PROCESS: The deadline for applications is January 15, 2010. To apply:

1. Complete the Neighborhood Partnership Initiative Application Form.
2. Submit applications via e-mail to: curacbr@umn.edu.
3. Your application will be reviewed by a committee. You will be notified within one month of the deadline of the committee’s decision regarding your application. Word documents only please, no PDFs.

If you have questions or would like more information, contact:
Kris Nelson, 612-625-1020, ksn@umn.edu   
Margaret Kaplan, 612-624-2300, mkaplan@umn.edu
Jeff Corn, 612-625-0744, jcorn@umn.edu   

POLICY AND ADVOCACY UPDATES

Policy and Advocacy Committee to meet January 8, 2010
Youth Community Connections’ Policy and Advocacy Committee will meet next on January 8th, 2010 from 9:00-11:00 AM at the Oxford Community Center, 270 Lexington Pkwy N, Saint Paul, MN

We will discuss the following:

• State budget deficit and its impact on policy and advocacy efforts related to children and youth
• Partners and collaborators will have the chance to share their legislative goals for 2010
• Purpose and timeline of YCC’s policy task force

Please register with Abou Amara, Jr by email: abou@youthcommunityconnections.org or phone: 612-627-0157.

ASPIRE ACT introduced in the Senate
On November 17, 2009, Senators Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Franken (D-Minn.) introduced the Afterschool Partnerships Improve Results in Education (ASPIRE) Act. S. 2785 would provide dedicated grant funding for quality afterschool programs that serve older youth at the middle and high school levels. As the nation struggles to improve high school achievement and prepare the next generation for college and the 21st century workforce, it is clear that a focus on older students during these transition years is critical for long-term success. Quality afterschool programs designed specifically for older youth can make a difference in keeping students engaged in the learning process.  Unfortunately, communities across the country have been forced to make difficult choices with limited funding for afterschool programs, leaving older youth with fewer options. The bill addresses the challenges in a comprehensive way:

• Authorizes a national demonstration project to create multi-state, multi-site afterschool programs for older youth. These programs would serve to expand the knowledge base for other afterschool interdisciplinary education programs and to disseminate best practices.
• Awards competitive grants to expand or establish afterschool programs for older youth that increase student engagement in learning. Grants are provided for terms of 3 to 5 years, and can be renewed for one additional term, based on performance. Grantees must match the grant amount with private funding on an equal basis.
• Supports the expansion and development of afterschool programs that demonstrate how academic content relates to career opportunities, provide opportunities for civic engagement and service learning, and equip students with marketable skills. Programs best suited for ASPIRE grants improve academic achievement by reinforcing core curriculum while also providing opportunities for older students to broaden their curriculum through learning outside of the traditional classroom.
• Gives priority to programs that target services to older students who are struggling in school, come from low-income families, or attend schools in rural areas.

 A companion bill in the House is expected to be introduced shortly. More information on afterschool and older youth can be found at http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/policyOlderYouth.cfm

FUTURE EVENTS

Juvenile Justice Coalition of Minnesota
In partnership with local planning committees, Juvenile Justice Coalition of Minnesota is sponsoring a Juvenile Justice Forum this December in northeastern Minnesota.  Through surveys with key stakeholders, the northeastern Minnesota forum is tailored to the unique needs and interests of that part of the state.  

Judges, corrections staff, human services, community-based providers, parents, youth, county attorneys, public defender, educators, law enforcement and others are invited to network, learn about successful local models and discuss how Minnesota can move forward to improve our juvenile justice system.  

"Doing Juveniles Justice in Northeastern Minnesota"
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
The Inn on Lake Superior
350 Canal Park Drive
Duluth, MN 55802
(888) 668-4352 for further questions or directions
Cost: $20, Scholarships Available
Registration:            8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Conference:             9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The day begins with networking and opportunities to learn about the different systems involved with juvenile justice.  Morning break-out sessions cover the following topics: the role of the schools and collaborative efforts to address truancy, how to coordinate multiple systems to produce positive outcomes for youth, and how to work effectively with youth and families with multiple issues.  The afternoon will provide an opportunity for networking and small group discussions to share successful models and brainstorm how to work together in the region around common challenges.

For event details and to register on-line, click HERE. Register TODAY! Registration Deadline: December 11, 2009

Promoting Youth Development: A Community Approach
Youth Work Institute Extension Educator Kari Robideau and North Dakota State University 4-H Youth Development Specialist Sharon Query are partnering to lead a for-credit course for youth development professionals. The seminar is a comprehensive, 30-hour class that will meet five times during the 2010 spring semester on the NDSU campus in the Distance and Continuing Education Building.  Participants read and discuss research, participate in experiential sessions, engage in small group discussions, and gain information and strategies from youth organizations.  There are a variety of for-credit and non-credit options.  Three Minnesota 4-H program coordinators completed the course spring semester 2009.

The class is $100 (plus tuition with for-credit option).  Scholarships are available.  For more information contact Kari Robideau at robideau@umn.edu.

The Minnesota Center for Professional Development (MNCPD) Invites School-Age Care Trainers to Attend a Two-Day Training of Trainers
When: January 30 10:00-4:30 and January 31 9:00-3:30

Trainers who attend this training will be able to provide the updated approved training to school-age care participants on the following components of the School-Age Curriculum:

• Effective Practices in School-Age (SA)/Out-of-School Time (OST)
• Child Guidance I - Nurture and Growth
• Child Guidance II - Puzzles and Patterns
• Choices: Key to Quality
• Effective Environments: Blueprint for Success
• Parents as Partners
• Safety and Supervision
• Weaving Communities

This training is open to trainers who have provided training using the School-Age Curriculum, those who have experience in school-age care and have trained on or taken the Effective Practices training. MNSACA Certified Trainers are encouraged to attend.  Trainers must be approved trainers or be in the process of becoming an approved trainer by the time of the training event.  If you are not an approved trainer, please visit www.mncpd.org and read the trainer approval process guide to get started.

For more information see:
http://mncpd.mncpd.org/RegistryApp/EventDetail.aspx?EVID=18761

Register by sending an email to Antonio Nava at Antonio.Nava@metrostate.edu. There is a limit of 25 participants for this training (13 Metro, 12 Greater MN). Registration Deadline: January 15, 2010.

Information about the Minnesota Center for Professional Development:
The Minnesota Center for Professional Development  has created a Registry, a voluntary statewide program to document and recognize the professional achievements of people who work in the early childhood education and school-age care professions.

The Registry will provide continued support and recognition to those who are dedicated to on-going professional development in the field. The Center supports the building of a network of trainers to deliver quality adult learning experiences in the field. You will also find training opportunities that are being offered throughout the state. The Center offers career guidance to meet your professional development needs and career advancement.

Youth Community Connections
1313 - 5th Street SE, Suite 321 ~ Minneapolis, MN 55414
PH: 612.627.0160
WEB: www.youthcommunityconnections.org