Ready News: December 6, 2018

Governance Matters: Organizing for Success

Free Webinar
Tuesday, December 11
2:00 – 3:00 pm EST

Out-of-School Time (OST) systems are a promising strategy to improve access to quality expanded learning opportunities for more youth.

A key lesson learned from The Wallace Foundation’s investment in OST system-building is that coordination needs to match the local context. And, that governance really does matter for system success. In a study supported by The Wallace Foundation, Sharon Deich and colleagues at FourPoint Education Partners examined different approaches to governance structures and developed an infographic to describe how OST systems across the country are setting themselves up and evolving to ensure that their coordination continues to meet the local context.

Join Priscilla Little, Senior Consultant with the Forum, and Sharon Deich along with Erik Skold of Sprockets in St. Paul, Minnesota and Angie Ditsler of BLOCS in Louisville, Kentucky to learn more about approaches to OST system governance, and why and when it is time to consider revising your approach.

Register now!

Introducing the Metro-Level Opportunity Index

In-Person Event
Baltimore, Maryland
Monday, December 17, 2018
8:30 am – 2:30 pm EST

With a desire to bring Opportunity Nation’s annual Opportunity Index data to the local level, Opportunity Nation and Child Trends recently piloted a Metro-Level Opportunity Index. This modified version of the Opportunity Index focused on 13 of the nation’s metro statistical areas (MSAs) — regions with a high-population-density core and nearby communities that are integrated into it — together, representing over 76 million people, which represents nearly a quarter of the U.S. population.

The new index will be launched on Monday, December 17 in Baltimore, Maryland. This highly interactive day will feature an overview of the Opportunity Index, an expert-led data walk, and focus groups where participants will take a deep dive into the numbers to gain more understanding and awareness about why certain indicators were selected, and the factors affecting the results in order to inform better decision making and actionable steps towards lasting solutions.

Attendees will participate in facilitated discussions to identify and further develop their roles in relation to data use and community impact. How will you use this Index in everyday context? Does the Index and its findings affect the work you do? Should the Index be expanded to include more MSAs in the future? We hope that participants will either begin or continue to work on their community and/or organizational plans to address opportunity for all, and see the role that data plays in galvanizing action.

Learn more and register.

Social Mobility in Rural America

Much of the research on the fading “American Dream”-the expectation that children will grow up to earn more than their parents-has focused on the country’s urban areas. However, as the nation’s cultural, economic, and political divides have deepened, there has been accelerating interest in understanding how the 60 million people who live in rural America are confronting the challenges that come with climbing the income ladder.

A recent field report by the National 4-H Council and The Bridgespan Group titled “Social Mobility in Rural America” examines this important and often overlooked section of America. The Forum’s Karen Pittman offered her thoughts and insights in a foreword for this important contribution to the field of youth development.

Review the report.

Read Karen’s Foreword.

Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality – Upcoming Training Opportunities

The Forum’s Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality partners with networks of youth programs to implement evidence-based quality improvement and accountability systems. To help build local capacity, the Weikart Center regularly offers trainings around the country that prepare participants to lead their quality improvement process.

If you’re a manager or site leader who wants to support your program sites through the Quality Improvement Cycle or interested in building your capacity to offer professional development opportunities to your program staff, these trainings are for you.

Upcoming Training of Trainers (TOT)

Youth Work Methods:
Denver, Colo.: March 6-8, 2019
Ann Arbor, Mich.: April 16-18, 2019
Youth Work Management:
Ann Arbor, Mich.: May 7-9, 2019
External Assessor Reliability Training

Upcoming Training Events:
St. Paul, Minn.: December 19-20, 2018 – Youth PQA
Detroit, Mich.: January 10-11, 2019 – Youth PQA

Learn more about these and other upcoming learning opportunities.

Culture of Health Leaders

Applications for the next cohort of Culture of Health Leaders open January 11, 2019. This is a leadership development opportunity led by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for visionary individuals from all sectors and professions. Successful applicants value learning and collaboration, and want to increase their influence in building thriving communities where everyone has a fair shot at attaining the best possible health and well-being. Through this program, leaders will be prepared to collaborate and provide transformative leadership to address health equity in their communities.

The application period ends on February 20, 2019. The link will lead you to some ways you can start preparing now. Getting ready now will help ensure you have the time needed to put your ideas into writing and gather required materials, including letters from your references.

Learn more about the process.