On the fourth Thursday of each month, Ignite Afterschool hosts, “Minnesota Afterschool Connect”, A 60min virtual call to keep afterschool and summer program providers up to speed on all the latest state and federal guidance, funding sources, trainings and policy happenings during the Covid-19 global pandemic. This blog post is a summary of all the updates shared during the virtual call.
Here’s what you need to know:
Your “To Do” list – important actions to take.
Sign up on the MN Vaccine Connector! It is super, duper important for all youth workers in Minnesota who want a Covid-19 vaccine to sign up on the State of Minnesota’s Vaccine Connector. Vaccine’s for those who work with young people in afterschool and summer programs are right around the corner. Make sure the state of Minnesota knows you are a youth worker!
First, download these sign-up directions which walks you through how to sign up as a youth worker.
Go HERE to sign up on the Vaccine Connector.
Take the “State of Relationships” Survey! The Search Institute is providing free access to their Developmental Relationships Survey for youth and staff to use anytime they want.
Just participate in the State of Relationships survey. The purpose of the survey is to understand how young people experience youth-adult relationships in schools, afterschool, and summer programs across Minnesota. The results will help identify the ways that schools and out-of-school time programs can build strong, positive youth-adult relationships as well as identify barriers that get in the way.
Here is how it works:
- You and 5-7 members of your organization’s site-level leadership and youth-serving staff take the State of Relationships Survey before March 31.
- Once you complete the State of Relationships survey, you will be sent an access code for the Developmental Relationships Survey for students and staff to be used when you want. This survey provides critical insights on how youth and adults in schools/programs experience relationships.
- In addition, all youth-serving staff who participate are eligible to win a free workshop on building intentional relationships with youth (a $275 value).
- Everyone gets a $5 Amazon® e-gift card
Participate in NAA’s Be Counted Campaign: NAA's Be Counted Campaign is a three-minute survey for those who work with or on behalf of young people in out-of-school time. Your responses—up to 10,000 strong—to the survey questions about demographics and representation will provide a comprehensive reflection of our profession's members. Survey results will be compiled into the 2021 State of the Profession Report, providing workforce data to help you and other advocates solidify the profession and its essential role for young people, families and communities. Participate here. Ignite Afterschool is Minnesota’s state affiliate organization to the National AfterSchool Association.
Professional Development: Get support to do your best work.
Register for the FREE Amplify! Youth Workers Connect conference. Students from the Youth Studies and Youth Development Leadership program at the University of Minnesota have organized a free conference by youth workers for youth workers. It will be held on April 23rd from 9am-3pm. Register here.
Register for the National Service-Learning Conference! Ignite’s network partner, the National Youth Leadership Council’s national conference is virtual again this year. The dates are April 14th-15th and you can learn more about the agenda and register here.
