Network accomplishments in 2007

 

Click on the image of our Annual Report for a glimpse of our efforts on behalf of the after school community in 06-07!

 

 

 

 

Events:

The 3rd annual After School Day at Capitol was held in March. The 2007 Children’s Champion awards were presented to Representatives Denise Merrill and Andrew Fleischman.

Secured Funding:

The Network helped secure an additional $2.3 million in after school funding in the State budget.

Awarded Grants:

  • The Network was awarded a three year Innovation grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation through the State Department of Education.
  • The Network received two grants from IBM and WFD, Inc. to provide training and mini grants to 40 after school programs in the areas of science and safety.
  • The Network received a grant from the State Department of Education to award 10 grants of $8000 each to local alliances for Summer Youth Corp training.

Training and Conferences:

  • On March 31, 2007, the Network held its semi-annual After School Conference with close to 200 participants. November 3, 2007 the Network hosted its Fall Conference in Meriden with over 200 in attendance.
  • Our Training & Consultation Service instructors conducted 50 workshops that provided training to 1112 staff. Two new trainers were added to the Service. There were 578 after school professionals who attended our two conferences and other workshops including a Directors’ Leadership Training, a Special Needs Roundtable Discussion and a Grant Writing Workshop/ Support Group. Additionally, a Camp Yankee Summer Camp Training was conducted in collaboration with the YMCA. Quality Advisors provided technical assistance to seven after school programs in Stamford.

 

Other 2007 highlights include:

 

  • The Network collaborated with Connecticut Charts a Course, Charter Oak State College and the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) to develop a BA degree with a concentration in Child and Youth Development offered through Charter Oak State College beginning in the Fall of 2007.

 

  • In October the Network held its first photo contest to coincide with Lights On After School. View winning photos here.

 

  • There were close to 100 Lights On After School celebrations across Connecticut that garnered lots of media attention. You can view a few of the articles here, here and here.

 

  • A Program Survey was developed and published online to compile information about after school programs statewide. View the aggregated results here.

 

 

  • Three listening sessions on DPH licensing regulations were held at various sites throughout Connecticut. Read the notes here.

 

  • Our newly designed newsletter, After School News was published quarterly in color.

 

 

The goals of the Network are to:

  • Create a sustainable structure of statewide, regional and local partnerships, particularly school-community partnerships, focused on supporting policy development at all levels.
  • Support the development and growth of statewide policies that will secure the resources that are needed to sustain new and existing after school programs.
  • Support statewide systems to ensure programs are of high quality.
  • Build the Connecticut After School Network as an entity, with increased capacity to carry out its mission.

The Network has the potential to secure the financial resources and provide the guidance necessary to frame a broad vision for ensuring success of programs across the state.  We serve as a driving force in bringing stakeholders together to build public will and influence public policies focused on quality and sustainability. We build the necessary partnerships that develop the balanced and diversified funding needed to sustain high quality programs over time.  With this approach, the Network holds the promise for building the capacity of programs — and the field — to have positive and enduring impact on literally hundreds of thousands of children and families in Connecticut.  Please join us to help build upon these accomplishments and help the children and youth of Connecticut reach their fullest potential.