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
President Obama's Proposed Budget Has Negative Implications for Afterschool and Summer Programming in Minnesota

NEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE
Minnesota Management and Budget Report on Children's Resources in Minnesota
Legislative Auditors Report Evaluating Alternative Education Programs in Minnesota
NPCR is Accepting Project RFP's for Summer 2010
Youth Work Matters Offers an On-line Course for All Youth Workers

POLICY AND ADVOCACY UPDATES
2010 Legislative Session Begins
Governor Pawlenty's State of the State
YCC Policy and Advocacy Committee Meets in March
Supporting Youth Success Initiative Update

FUTURE EVENTS
Joint Professional Development Opportunity for Teachers and Youth Workers in St. Paul - March 6
Be a Resource, Be an Advocate, Be a College Connector!
National Afterschool Association Conference & Afterschool for All Challenge - April 19-21, Washington D.C.
Local Elected Officials Invited to National City Afterschool Summit - April 19 - 21, Washington D.C.

RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS

• The budget proposed calls for level funding of the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) initiative at $1.16B.  This would essentially eliminate the $13 million increase provided by Congress last year. 

• The budget proposed combines funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) funds with the Full Service Community Schools program.  The proposal sustains funding for Community Schools at $10 million but opens 21 CCLC funds to Community Schools. 

• The budget proposed eliminates formula funding for 21st CCLC programs and creates a competitive process among states.  This would limit state’s ability to plan and provide grants on a long term basis.

Concerned?
If you would like to voice your concerns about these proposed changes you can contact your Congressional representatives.  They will hear from the Department of Education Secretary Duncan next week.  To find your congressional representatives, click here.

You can also track progress on the Afterschool Alliance website.  They post up-to-date information on congressional actions. 

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

Minnesota Management and Budget Report on Children's Resources in Minnesota
The Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) prepared a report that piloted the mapping of all the state expenditures, regardless of source, that served the primary function of supporting the health, safety, stabilty, growth, development and education of children in this state.

Advocates for children and youth have been asking for this type of report for years. This report provides the first step in a process of identifying what state resources support children, youth and families in this state. The report will also be used by the newly orgnaized Youth Caucus at the Minnesota Legislature and is available to the public on the MMB website at http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/budget/bud-cap/10/child-resource.pdf.

Legislative Auditors Report on Alternative Education Programs
The Minnesota Legislative Auditor has recently released a report addressing the impact of Alternative Education Programs. Alternative education programs have expanded from enrolling high school students in separate "learning centers" to also serving elementary school students in before- or after-school programs and during the summer (referred to as extended-time programs).

The report finds that of the 150,000 students enrolled in alternative education programs in 2009, 75 percent were enrolled only in extended-time programs. This means that they attended a traditional school during the regular school day and particiapted in alternative education only before or after school or during the summer.

To learn more about alternative learning programs and review the recommendations of the Legislative Auditor, click on the link below for a summary report: http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/PED/pedrep/altedsum.pdf. You can also find the full report at http://auditor.leg.state.mn.us/PED/predrep/alted.pdf.

NPCR is Accepting Project RFP's for the Summer 2010
Neighborhood Partnerships for Community Research (NPCR) is inviting proposals for the summer 2010 semester. NPCR is a consortium of Twin Cities colleges, universities and commnity organizations that partner with neighborhood and community organizations on applied research projects. Organizations define and direct their research projects and NPCR recruits and funds research assistance for the project.

Please follow the link below for details on the program and how to apply. The deadline for project proposals is March 15, 2010. Approved projects will run from May 31 to August 29, 2010.

http://www.cura.umn.edu/Programs/ApplicationProcess.php

Youth Work Matters Offers an Online Course for All Youth Workers
Offered for the first time ONLINE: The Youth Work Matters online course takes an in-depth exploration into the foundational research and theories of positive youth development. It's the information and the skills every youth worker should have!

Participants will interact with an online community to explore, wrestle with ideas, and produce resources and skills for working with young people. Over a three-week period, participants can expect to spend 7-10 hours/week, up to 24 hours total. This course will be available online from March 10 - April 2, 2010.

Cost: $50
(Limited to a cohort of 15 partcipants)
Visit: https://www.regonline.com/YWIOnline

POLICY AND ADVOCACY UPDATES

2010 Legislative Session Begins
The State Capitol is abuzz as the 2010 Legislative Session began on February 4, 2010. The Legislature and Governor will work together to erase the $1.2 billion budget for the current fiscal year. They will also pass a bonding bill aimed at increasing jobs in Minnesota. Committees have begun to meet and hear bills. Youth Community Connections will track legislation affecting children and youth outside the school day and send monthly updates. You can also track legisaltive progress on the Legislature's website, http://www.leg.state.mn.us.

Governor Pawlenty's State of the State
Governor Pawlenty provided his eighth and final State of the State address on February 11, 2010. Highlights include uggesting control of the Minneapolis and St. Paul schools be transferred to the Mayor's Offices, jobs bill and tax cuts for corporations, and a cap on state spending. His speech can be viewed or read on the Governor's website: http://www.governor.state.mn.us/.

YCC Policy and Advocacy Committee Meets in March
The next Policy and Advocacy Committee meeting is scheduled for March 12, 2010. We will provide updates on the President's proposed budget cut for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers and the implications for Minnesota. We will also discuss the newly released reports from the Minnesota Legislative Auditor on Alternative Education Programs and the Office of Management and Budget on the Children's Budget Report.

Please join us at the Oxford Community Center located at 270 North Lexington Parkway
in St. Paul. RSVP to Abou Amara, Jr. at amarj001@umn.edu or 612.627.0157.

Supporting Youth Success Initiative Update
Youth Community Connections has called together experts from formal education and non-formal learning in the out-of-school time to help advise in the development of a policy framework that aims to align and connect learning opportuities in the classroom with those in communities. The policy framework will provide local communities strategies and action steps to implementing comprehensive learning opportunities for all children and youth in Minnesota. To learn more about this initiative visit our website, http://www.youthcommunityconnections.org/S3.html.

FUTURE EVENTS

Joint Professional Development Opportunity for Teachers and Youth Workers in St. Paul - March 6, 2010
The Saint Paul Federation of Teachers and the Saint Paul 2nd Shift, through Mayor Coleman's office, has created a joint professional development opportunity for educators and youth workers. This professional develoment opportunity was created to bring youth workers and school teachers together for relationship building and co-planning experiences.  

Please join us on Saturday March 6, 2010 from 8:30 - 3:30 at Arlington High School.

Advanced registration is rquired. Click here for the registration form. There are scholarships available for Youth Workers. If interested, please contact Kari Denissen Cunnien at kari.denissen@ci.stpaul.mn.us. All scholarships are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Be a Resource, Be an Advocate, Be a College Connector!
The Minnesota College Access Network and Minnesota Minority Education Partnership is offering FREE workshops about college access and financial aid basics (including how to apply for FAFSA) and how to become a better resource and advocate for you7th and families. The sessions will address college access and financial aid options for all students regardless of immigration status. Join us to become a COLLEGE CONNECTOR!

Metro Training Area
Northeast Emma B. Howe YMCA
2304 NE Jackson Street
Minneapolis, MN
Wednesday, February 17, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
RSVP here: http://www.mncollegeaccess.org/YMCA_Registration.html
Get the Flyer

Southeast Training
South Central College, Faribault
1225 3rd Street SW
Faribault, MN
Thursday, February 25, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
RSVP to Carolyn Treadway at (507) 334.3817 or ctreadway@shac4youth.org
Get the Flyer

Central Training
Alexandria Technical College Auditorium
1601 Jefferson Street
Alexandria, MN
Thursday, February 25, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
RSVP to Óscar Bohórquez at (320) 762.4410 or oscarb@alextech.edu.
Get the Flyer

Interested in somthing closer to home? We are still looking for hosts in Northeast, Northwest, and Southwest Minnesota. Please contact Amanda at 651.645.7400.

National Afterschool Association Conference & Afterschool for All Challenge - April 19 - 21, 2010, Washington DC
The National Afterschool Association and the Afterschool Alliance are joining forces to combine their annual professional development convention and the annual advocacy campaign to support afterschool and summer learning opportunities. Youth Community Connections encourages you to attend this conference and meet with our congressional representatives to share your work with children and youth across the State of Minnesota. Click here to register today!

Local Elected Officials Invited to National Afterschool Summit
Mayors, city councilmembers and business community partners are invited to attend the third National City Afterschool Summit, to be held April 19-21, 2010, at the Gaylor National Resort and Convention Center in Washington, DC. Sponsored by the YEF Institute in partnership with the Afterschool Alliance and with support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Summit will help municipal leaders and their partners in the business community make the case for the importance of high quality out-of-school time programs for children and youth in strengthening the local workforce; network with peers to learn city strategies for afterschool financing and partnerships; recognize municipal champions for afterschool; and hear from national experts and Congressional leaders on federal and state support for afterschool.

For more information, contact Lane Russell at (202) 626.3008 or russell@nlc.org.

Youth Community Connections
200 Oak Street SE, Suite 270B ~ Minneapolis, MN 55455
PH: 612.627.0160
WEB: www.youthcommunityconnections.org