ActionALERT

LEGISLATION

HF 378/SF 855
A bill to fund afterschool community learning grants and a statewide transportation study to engage children and youth in afterschool and summer learning programs has been introduced in the House and Senate. 

House authors include:
Representative Nora Slawik
Representative Mindy Greiling
Representative Carlos Mariani
Representative David Bly
Representative Bud Nornes

If you believe it is critical to provide afterschool and summer learning opportunities in your community, please consider contacting your own elected officials and members of the Education Committee in the Senate and Early Education Committee in the House of Representatives.

You will find information about the benefits of afterschool and summer learning programs on our website: Afterschool Community Learning Act; The McKnight Challenge Grant; and general Talking Points. 

Final Town Hall Meetings

The House and Senate have been hosting Town Hall meetings across the state to hear the public’s reaction to the Governor Pawlenty's budget recommendations.

If you want to share your opinion about investing in children and youth through afterschool and summer learning programs, please consider signing up to speak at one of the last Town Hall Meetings tonight! 

Thursday, February 26

Coon Rapids
Thursday, February 26th - 7:00 p.m.
Coon Rapids City Hall
11155 Robinson Drive
Sign up to speak at this location

Plymouth
Thursday, February 26th - 7:00 p.m.
Plymouth City Hall
3400 Plymouth Blvd
Sign up to speak at this location

St. Paul
Thursday, February 26th - 6:00 p.m.
West Minnehaha Recreation Center in Frogtown
685 Minnehaha Ave W
Sign up to speak at this location

Youth Training and Employment in the Economic Recovery Act
The Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $3.95 billion for Workforce Investment Act (WIA - state formula grants for adult, dislocated worker, and youth job training programs).  Of that amount, $1.2 billion is provided for youth employment services and $50 million for YouthBuild. 

Afterschool programs can connect with their local Workforce Investment Boards (WIB) to see how best to tap into the new workforce dollars.  You should get acquainted with your local WIB director and their youth council and talk with them about how afterschool and workforce programs can work together toward common goals.

Minnesota is expected to receive $18 million for youth summer employment programs.  Youth Community Connections is working with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to identify local contacts to make this process easier.  We expect to release this information within the next couple of weeks.

Basic Facts - tools and materials about the program as it currently operates, how it has been used to support afterschool and its administration and application process. 

Program Description – Youth Employment Activities

Maximizing Federal Dollars to Support Workforce Development Services for Youth. 
Funding Tips from the Finance Project.


Make the Case –Use these resources to help make the case for tapping youth activity funds in WIA:

Research Brief – Developing Tomorrow’s Workforce
By Youth Community Connections, 2008

Issue Brief - An In-Depth Look at Afterschool: A Natural Platform for Career Development
By Afterschool Alliance, 2004

Issue Brief - Helping Kids Compete in Tomorrow's Workforce
By Afterschool Alliance, 2007

Improving State Coordination of Youth Workforce Development Services
This Resource Note highlights strategies and initiatives that state policy makers, program officials, and other leaders can use to improve the coordination and funding of youth workforce development programs.  By Nanette Relave, The Finance Project, August 2006.

Using the Workforce Investment Act to Support Out-of-School Time Initiatives
By Helene Stebbins, The Finance Project, September 2003.

Child Care Development Block Grant in the Economic Recovery Act
The Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is one of the largest funding streams that help subsidize child care costs for children who are under the age of 13.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009 allocates $2 billion for this fund through September 30, 2010.  The full $2 billion dollars is available upon enactment.  Of the $2 billion, $255 million will be set aside for quality improvement activities, $93 million of which will go towards improvement of infant and toddler care.

Youth Community Connections is working with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to discuss how to enhance quality support for school age care children and youth.  Information will be passed along as available.

Youth Community Connections
1313 - 5th Street SE, Suite 321, Minneapolis, MN 55414
PH: 612.627.0160
WEB: www.youthcommunityconnections.org