Tag: Youth Development Professionals

Washington parents say afterschool programs provide the social, developmental, mental health supports many students need now.

By School's Out Washington

Most Washington state parents see afterschool programs as part of the solution to the social and mental health struggles so many students are experiencing right now, with 5 in 6 saying these programs give students time to engage with peers and reduce unproductive screen time, and 8 in 10 saying they help build confidence. That is according to Promoting Healthy Futures: Afterschool Provides the Supports Parents Want for Children’s Well-Being, a household survey released today by the Afterschool Alliance.   Afterschool programs are especially important now, as the country faces a youth mental health crisis. In December, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a … [ ]

Training of Trainers—Career Connected Learning & Designing Culturally Responsible Programming

By School's Out Washington

School’s Out Washington (SOWA) in collaboration with community and Million Girls Moonshot developed two live trainings to support pathways and access for girls of color in STEAM through tangible resources and trainings for youth development professionals.  Career Connected Learning: STEAM prominently exist in every community and culture – this training is designed to help widen our lens, resources, and project management skills to support developing Career Connected Learning opportunities for under resourced youth. The purpose of this training is to gain thoughtful strategies and techniques for embedding a decolonized approach to career connected learning projects, programming, and events. Designing Culturally … [ ]

Youth Development Advocacy Week 2022

By School's Out Washington

The youth development field is primed for major funding and supportive policies to increase access to programs and supports for providers. In order to secure these wins for kids, we need providers, youth, and other stakeholders to help increase awareness and build energy in the legislators to make big things happen this session and in the years to come. Youth Development Advocacy Week is a great opportunity to raise your voice with others across the state and show why funding and supports are critical to supporting children and youth during and after the pandemic.  REGISTER! Youth Development Advocacy Week is … [ ]

Community of dream makers

By School's Out Washington

An end of the year message from our CEO, Elizabeth Whitford. As we come to the end of another unprecedented year, I am proud of how School’s Out Washington has been able to support and strengthen expanded learning staff and programs. Communities across the state looked to SOWA to drive equitable funding, accessible professional learning, and supports to help them bring high quality, life-changing programs to young people. Modeling humanness and responsiveness, our incredible staff answered that call when the field needed us most. Below are just some highlights of what we were able to make happen together. Reasons to … [ ]

Participants needed to revise DCYF’s Core Competencies

By School's Out Washington

SOWA is seeking participants for a focus group that will help with revisions for the Washington State Core Competencies for Child and Youth Development Professionals.    The goal of this project is to update the Washington State Core Competencies for Child and Youth Development Professionals so that they align to current national and state frameworks, best practices, and provider voice and expertise. We will be working with Jen Siaca Curry from Change Impact as our consultant to complete a review of national standards, synthesize input from provider focus groups, and provide summary recommendations to DCYF.   We are looking for a diverse and representative group to support this process. Focus group members would be … [ ]

2021 Bridge Conference Reflections

By School's Out Washington

This year’s Bridge Conference reminded us of the power of collective knowledge and community building. Over 500 registrants logged in for our second virtual conference and were asked to tap into their radical imaginations.  Values that guided us include Nourishment, Community, and Change.   Nourishment  This year’s theme, From Seedlings to Stardust, inspired many during our conference including our workshop facilitators, keynote speakers and storytellers. We dared to dream and to pour into continued transformation.   “The theme and values were so clear and consistent; I really do feel nourished by my time at Bridge– and supported to *act*,” said one attendee.  Cultivating Connections was also brought back as a space to digest, reflect, and simply connect like we might … [ ]