Program Quality News: March 3, 2021

Amplifying our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Supports

The COVID-19 pandemic and the national reckoning with racial injustice have overwhelmingly brought to the forefront the need to attend to the social and emotional well-being of both young people and youth work professionals. In response to this need, the Weikart Center has been working to create, elevate, and refine our SEL resources to support youth workers, leaders, and systems in the out-of-school time field as we navigate this challenging time.

This spring, we will be hosting several virtual learning opportunities that aim to equip participants with strategies to strengthen their SEL practices to better support young people.

Click on the links below to learn more and to register:

 


 

Raising the Bar on SEL and Cultural Relevance in Summer Programs

The National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) is currently hosting a week-long event, Summer Bootcamp: Get Ready for Summer Series, to provide program leaders with the tools they need at this moment to keep kids healthy, learning, earning, and thriving through the pandemic and beyond.

On Thursday, March 4, Kim Robinson, executive vice president of the Forum for Youth Investment and managing director of the Weikart Center, will be a featured speaker in a session that explores how out-of-school programs are uniquely positioned to develop a common vision and quality practices for social and emotional learning, along with what it looks like in advancing equity and culturally relevant teaching and learning experiences.

Learn more about the Summer Bootcamp series and register for the upcoming sessions here.

 


 

The Partnerships for Social and Emotional Learning Podcast

The Wallace Foundation recently launched a five-part podcast series that explores RAND’s findings from the first public report of the Partnerships for Social and Emotional Learning Initiative (PSELI). Throughout the series, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​practitioners in schools and out-of-school programs share their experiences working together to help children develop SEL skills.

Listen to it here.

 


 

Raise Awareness of the Effects of the Pandemic on Your Program

As we start a new year, afterschool and summer programs continue to face the challenges posed by the pandemic. To help tell the story of the ways in which COVID-19 is impacting your program and the kids and families you serve, take Afterschool Alliance’s short survey. 50 respondents will receive a $50 gift card!

 


 

Program Quality in Walla Walla

Each year, Washington 21st CCLC programs work with local evaluators to produce annual reports that are then shared with stakeholders in their community. The program staff in Walla Walla, Washington, share their findings and impact on their webpage, through a series of videos and visualizations.

Check out this video on how they use the PQA to improve program quality.

 


 

Executive Director of Providence After School Alliance (PASA)

PASA is seeking an Executive Director who will build upon the successes of a highly respected, high-performing, team-based working environment and seek to increase the impact of the organization’s deep commitment to the role that after school and expanded learning programs play in creating positive outcomes for youth in urban communities.

Read more about the position and how to apply here.