|
|
|
Regional Networks
Our Network MAP has established statewide and regional networks of afterschool stakeholders to share best practices among regions and communities and to mobilize the afterschool community to achieve its goals.
MAP continues to drive this network to convene hundreds of afterschool supporters annually for its State House Advocacy Day to raise awareness of the importance of creating more opportunities for children and youth. The 2008 Afterschool and Youth Program Advocacy Day brought over 300 supporters to the State House and hosted several key legislators. MAP utilizes its network as an avenue for providing resources for programs and families statewide, including technical assistance, advocacy support and networking opportunities. MAP and its allies work to develop campaigns which create positive social change and support successful models of child and youth development. Beginning in the Fall of 2008, MAP will be conducting regional meetings across the state and we are excited to discuss with you and your colleagues your thoughts on what you would find most helpful. If you're interested in hosting a meeting, playing a leadership role in a regional network, or simply have ideas about how to increase support for afterschool in our state, please feel free to contact Katie Magrane, Associate Director for Field Operations at kmagrane@massafterschool.org or at (617-338-0034).
Our Advisory Team MAP's Advisory Team convenes on a regular basis and is composed of diverse stakeholders in the afterschool, out-of-school time, summer and youth program fields including:
The Medical Foundation, BOSTnet (Build the Out-of-School Time Network), NIOST (National Institute on Out-of-School Time), United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, Child Care Connection, LASI (Latino After-School Initiative), MetroWest YMCA, For Kids Only Afterschool, Inc., Massachusetts 2020, DPH (Department of Public Health), Get on BASE, Massachusetts Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, PEAR: Program in Education and Afterschool Resiliency, PACE (Parents Alliance for Catholic Education), North Shore Community College, WestMOST, Massachusetts Alliance of Teen Pregnancy, Cambridge Agenda for Children, Massachusetts Mentoring Partnership, Black Ministerial Alliance, Boston After School & Beyond, Outdoor Adventures, Suffolk University Juvenile Justice Center, DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education), and the Mayor's Office: City of Boston.
| ||
|
Regional Happenings
ASOST Grantee Technical Assistance Seminar Series The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE), who administers and oversees the ASOST Quality grant, along with the Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership coordinated two seminars for the 2009 ASOST grant recipients that examined the impact and effectiveness of their after-school and out-of-school time partnerships and the system strategies they were using to align their work. Below is a brief overview of each training seminar and any handouts or resources that may be useful to attendees: Session I - Evaluation and Partnership A requirement of the ASOST grant, as specified in the Request for Proposals (RFP), was to develop an evaluation component for the proposed program or service. As part of this evaluation, applicants were asked to outline their program’s primary goals and identify quantifiable outcomes or results that would indicate progress towards or achievement of these goals. The April 30th Technical Assistance Training Seminar:
Commissioner Mitchell Chester of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education welcomed ASOST grantees, thanked them for their work and provided opening remarks highlighting the importance of strong school-community partnerships that prepare students for success and support working families. Dr. Heather Weiss of the Harvard Family Research Project delivered the keynote address that focused the importance of in-school and out-of-school time partners appropriately examining the quality of their partnerships as well as the accountability standards, benchmarks and tools they use to measure their shared outcomes. Tania Buck and Tony Bellerose of the Greater Lynn YMCA and Jennifer Jones of the Fitchburg Public Schools provided a panel presentation on the different evaluation tools they use in their programs to measure varying outcomes from improved academics to increased family engagement. During lunch, programs worked on brainstrorming solutions to “challenge scenarios” that schools or community based partnmers might encounter when developing or strengthening their partnership. Donna Traynham of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education then moderated a Partnership Panel presentation that focused on strengthening the abilities of ASOST grantees in communicating academic, social and emotional goals and outcomes in a more proficient and comprehensive manner through a common language. Panelists included Sheri Adlin of the South Shore Day Care Services and Khari Milner of Cambridge Public Schools
Seminar I Resources: A) MAP-Evaluation and Resource Compendium: B) The Harvard Family Research Project - About Our Work in Out of School Time: http://www.hfrp.org/out-of-school-time/overview C) Handout #1 – 4 - The four circular diagrams (#1 - An Ecological Model for OST Nonprofits; #2 - A Framework for the Capacities of High Impact OST Nonprofits; #3 - A Learning Cycle for OST Nonprofits and #4 - An Ecological Framework for Building the Capacity of the OST Nonprofit Sector) can be found in this document: "Strengthening Out-Of-School Time Nonprofits: The Role of Foundations in Building Organizational Capacity" by H. Weiss and P.M.D. Little (October 2008). www.hfrp.org/publications-resources/browse-our-publications/strengthening-out-of-school-time-nonprofits-the-role-of-foundations-in-building-organizational-capacity D) Handout #5 - Logic Model Worksheet: http://www.hfrp.org/var/hfrp/storage/fckeditor/File/logic_model_wksht_figure5.pdf (You can read the entire paper, "Learning From Logic Models in Out-of-School Time" by Harvard Family Research Project (2002) at www.hfrp.org/publications-resources/browse-our-publications/learning-from-logic-models-in-out-of-school-time . The handout entitled "Logic Model Worksheet" is from p. 10 of this paper. ) E) Handout #6 - Measurement Tools for Evaluating OST Programs/An Evaluation Resource: www.hfrp.org/evaluation/publications-resources/measurement-tools-for-evaluating-out-of-school-time-programs-an-evaluation-resource F) Handout #7 - Performance Measures in OST Evaluation:
Session II – Sustainability Strategies Recognizing the harsh fiscal climate programs are weathering, the May 28th Technical Assistance Training Seminar:
Even in tough financial times it is important recognize the importance of and honor the work of young people. Barbara Solomon of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education started the session II by presenting the inaugural ASOST Achievement Award to a young man named Issa from the African Community Education (ACE) Center in Worcester, MA. The ASOST Achievement Award is presented to a school age person attending an after school or out of school time program funded through the DESE ASOST Quality Grant. The recipient of this award is a young person committed to utilizing their out-of-school time hours to strengthen their community, build strong and lasting relationships, and improve their educational standing; They strive to be a role model for academic betterment and positive interaction with peers; They courageously participate in activities that stimulate their creativity and support them in personally expressing themselves in fun, safe, and enriching ways. The ASOST Achievement Awardee is a young person that works towards meeting his/her educational, cultural and social goals and is a competent, respectful, and responsible member of our society. A refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo whose siblings were kidnapped and parents killed by rebels, Issa was chosen by the United Nations to participate in a resettlement program which brought him to Worcerster, MA a little over a year ago. Issa received the ASOST award because he embodies the spirit, courage, determination and hard work of many young people that attend out-of-school time programs. In referring to how ACE has been so critical to his success, Issa says it best: “Here, I can think about the future. ACE has helped me a lot, because there was a lot I needed to learn to just catch up with other students. I want to go to college after graduation and study science.” Janelle Cousino of Fowler Hoffman, LLC then lead ASOST grantees in guided partner work that examined their current sustainability strategies and communications plans. Janelle is an experienced facilitator whose recent work includes coalition building and advocacy work aimed at ensuring that all children have access to quality, affordable afterschool programs by 2010. Currently, Ms. Cousino is working with 30 states, some of which she has helped to develop multi-year public policy campaign plans integrating organizing, coalition building, media, policymaker engagement and research. She is also involved in organizing business leader forums and a Congressional briefing on afterschool on behalf of Corporate Voices for Working Families.
· Emerging Typology of Afterschool Funding Diagram: · Stakeholder Identification Worksheet: · Messaging Worksheet: · Ripples of Influence Diagram 2. Sustainability Plan Template If you have any questions regarding the ASOST Grantee Technical Assistance Seminars, contact Katie Magrane, MAP’s Associate Director for Field Operations at kmagrane@massafterschool.org or (617)338-0034.
| |||
