June 7th OST Recognition Breakfast!

    For 20 years, BOSTnet has been working on behalf of out-of-school time (OST) organizations to strengthen programs, increase access for all children and advocate for the OST field. On June 7th, BOSTnet honored OST professionals who have made an impact in the OST field through a long history of dedication and commitment to excellence. Over 80 OST staff, directors and advocates joined BOSTnet staff and Board members for breakfast, networking and a ceremony in which the BOSTnet Excellence Award was given out to four outstanding OST professionals.

View the Press Release and Honoree Bios.

2007 BOSTnet Excellence Awardees
Charmaine L. Arthur-Neverson, Maria Cabrera, Mo Barbosa & Frank Reid

Summer Programming Resource Fair a Huge Hit!

On May 3rd, 2007 the Boston Children’s Museum was the site of the third annual BOSTnet Summer Resource Fair.  This fair attracted over 100 providers and 26 Resource Organizations – some as far away as Rhode Island and New Hampshire!  At the fair providers could sign up for field trips and programmatic resources offered by local cultural and community organizations and agencies. 

Resource Organizations included some who have participated in the fair in previous years such as: New England Aquarium, the Children’s Museum, the Museum of Science, Outdoor Explorations, Historic New England, and many more.  There were many new resources who participated for the first time this year including:  IDILL Learning Foundation Summer DayProgram, ReadBoston Storymobile Program, G-ROW Boston, “e” inc., and more.  Program providers were able to sign up for field trips on the spot as well as for traveling on-site programming and kits!

For more information on resources for programs please contact Geraldine Peters at Peters@bostnet.org or 617-720-1290 x239.

BOSTnet has a complete calendar of trainings and events for the 2008-2009 school year.   All trainings are free, and are geared for OST school-age program providers. Please contact us at info@bostnet.org.  View the Roundtable and Half-day Forum Schedule.

Children's Defense Fund Awards Fellowship to BOSTnet Project Director Manosi Datta-Project Director Manosi Datta has recently been named an Emerging Leader through the Children's Defense Fund's Emerging Leaders Fellowship program.  Ms. Datta is the only 2006-2007 fellow from the state of Massachusetts!

Policy News....

FY2009 State Budget Highlights

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

• Line Item 7061-9611: $5.55 million for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Afterschool and Out-of-School Time (ASOST) Quality Grants (FY2008 funding--$2 million).
• Line Item 7061-9412: $17.5 million for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Expanded Learning Time Grants (FY2008 funding--$13 million).

Department of Public Health

• Line Item 4590-1506: $3.5 million for the Department of Public Health (DPH) Youth Violence Prevention Program (FY2008 funding--$2 million).
  

Department of Early Education and Care

• Line Item 1599-0042: $5 million for a rate reserve for the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) professional development and quality improvement activities (FY08 funding--$7 million).
• Line Item 3000-4050: $197,745,274 million for financial assistance for families currently involved with or transitioning from transitional aid to families with dependent children to enroll in an early education and care program (FY2008 funding--$166,944,998).
• Line Item 3000-4060: $213,569,917 million for income-eligible early education and care programs. Budget allows Commissioner of EEC to transfer money from 3000-4050 to 3000-4060 (FY2008 funding--$209,825,847).
• Line Item 3000-6075: $2.9million for EEC mental health consultations to reduce expulsions and suspensions in programs (FY2008 funding--$2.4 million).

Department of Workforce Development

• Line Item 7002-0012: $8.1 million for year-round employment opportunities for at-risk youth to reduce juvenile delinquency and youth violence (FY08 funding--$6.7 million).

Executive Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security

• Line Item 8100-0111: $13 million for Senator Charles E. Shannon, Jr. Community Safety Initiative (Shannon Grants) for youth violence prevention and intervention (FY08 funding--$11 million).

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ASOST Commission Report Released

ASOST Commission Report Released
The highly anticipated report from the Special Commission on After School and Out-of-School Time was released to the public on November 13th in Springfield and November 15th in Boston. The report caps six months of hard work that included 10 public hearings held across the state, program site visits, subcommittee work by commission members and other stakeholders, and intensive research and data gathering coordinated by Debra McLaughlin of The Kunnusta Group and a staff of expert consultants.

The report makes two points very clear. One, OST programs are unique in what they offer children and youth, and when young people take part in these programs we can see measurable positive outcomes in their academic, social and emotional development. Two, there are very real problems in the current system that need to be addressed, including limited resources, transportation, lack of choices, especially for older youth and children with disabilities, and few opportunities for professional development and career options for the workforce. Investment in OST is truly an investment in our future. With that understanding, the Commission stakes a forceful position. "The Special Commission's vision for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state where children and youth are challenged and engaged, where families have quality afterschool and out-of-school time choices for their children, and where communities work together, in public/private partnerships, to offer enriching developmental opportunities for young people, regardless of their socio-economic or education status."

The report notes that in order to achieve this mission, Massachusetts will need to strengthen and coordinate its current OST system to improve quality and access for all children and youth and to link early care and education, school-age care, and youth development into a continuum of high quality learning opportunities for the state's children and youth ages 0-22 years. Five key elements will be critical in building a comprehensive network of afterschool and OST opportunities:

1. Increasing Public Awareness
2. Providing Information and Increasing Access
3. Promoting Quality Programs and a Quality Workforce
4. Fostering Partnerships and Collaborations
5. Sustaining the Effort

As we move forward, these elements will be central in our work and the continuing work of the Commission. As a way to elevate the dialogue and coordinate all the various pieces of the system, the ASOST Commission recommends creating a statewide Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Public/Private Coordinating Council comprised of diverse stakeholders who are recognized leaders in the field. Please stay tuned for more information about specific recommendations of the Commission's report.

ASOST Report

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BOSTnet testifies at the State House

On March 21st, 2007, representatives from BOSTnet, the Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership (MAP) and Boston After School and Beyond testified in support of House Bill 141, proposed legislation to create a coordinated system of out-of-school time services for school age children, youth and their families, which would respond to the needs of individual communities and support both the expansion of out-of-school time programs and quality improvement in such programs.

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BOSTnet holds a seat on the Commission on After School and Out of School Time

BOSTnet has been invited to sit on the Commission on After School and Out of School Time, co-chaired by Senator Thomas McGee and Representative Marie St. Fleur. The first meeting was held on March 22nd, 2007. The purpose of the commission is to define, coordinate, expand, finance and improve accessible, affordable and quality out-of-school time programming for school age children in all settings.
After School and Out of School Time Commission
Charting the Benefits of High-Quality After School Program Experiences
Support Amendments to the House Ways & Means Budget

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EEC Workforce Taskforce – The Department of Early Education and Care, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, and the Schott Foundation have created the Massachusetts Early Education and Care and Out-of-School Time Workforce Development Task Force (Workforce Task Force). The Workforce Task Force is comprised of individuals and organizations with expertise and experience in workforce development and in the early education and care field.

The Workforce Task Force is responsible for the establishment and implementation of a comprehensive workforce development system for the state of Massachusetts. Based on the EEC’s 2006 Workforce Development plan, the key elements of this system will include the following:

1. State-wide Infrastructure Building, Leadership, and Strategic Planning;
2. Core Competencies;
3. Professional Development Data Management System;
4. Credentialing and Career Lattice (Career Pathways);
5. Professional Development Opportunities and Resources Aligned with Requirements and Workforce Needs