YES to the Future participant Noah Whitesell was recognized with the Governor’s Achievement Youth Award at the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association’s annual conference! Congratulations to Noah and all of the YES to the Future staff who supported Noah along the way!
Afterschool Advocacy Day
Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor, Austin Davis, students and legislators from across the state shared their support and experiences with afterschool programs at the 2023 Afterschool Advocacy Day Rally, held May 3, 2023, on the Pennsylvania State Capitol steps.
Several speakers shared their support for HB 795, Building Opportunity Through Out-of-School Time (BOOST), legislation that would provide $70 million in state funding for quality afterschool programs.
“As advocates of out-of-school time programming, you are champions for the future of our youth, and your dedication to creating positive learning environments is truly admirable,” stated Contrell Armor, director of Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network, an initiative of the CSIU’s Center for Schools and Communities. “Your work has a profound impact on the lives of countless children and families, and we are grateful for your unwavering commitment to improving education and promoting positive youth development.”
In Pennsylvania, every $1 invested in afterschool programs saves $6.69 by decreasing high school dropout rates, teen pregnancy, substance use and crime. Yet, for every youth enrolled in an afterschool program in Pennsylvania, four more are waiting to get in. Decades of research prove afterschool programs help kids attend school more often, get better grades, and build foundational skills like communication, teamwork and problem solving.
Afterschool Advocacy Day is organized by the Pennsylvania State Afterschool/Youth Development Network (PSAYDN), in partnership with the Pennsylvania School-Age Child Care Alliance (PENN SACCA), Pittsburgh Learning Collaborative, Pennsylvania Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, Pennsylvania State Alliance of YMCAs, Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST), and Sunrise of Philadelphia, Inc.
The CSIU participated in the annual PAIU Day on the Hill in Harrisburg on April 25. The group met with Senator Lynda Schlegel-Culver and Representatives Robert Leadbeter, David Rowe and Joanne Stehr to discuss important issues and advocate for support around five key topics of importance to intermediate units and school districts:
Participants included Rae Ann Crispell, administrative support director; Bernadette Boerckel, chief outreach officer; Julie Petrin, director of behavioral health support services; Kaitlyn Hall, director of early childhood education; Karen Shanoski, family support and community engagement director; and Geisinger’s Dr. Sam Faulkner.
IMPACT Update
The Improving Mental-health Practices Across Communities Together (IMPACT) team has begun initial meetings with CSIU region school districts to share ideas for improving mental health practices. Next, meetings will be scheduled with key individuals to start the assessment process and develop action plans. Initial contact with the career and technical centers is also planned.
Meetings with the IMPACT team, Geisinger and county behavioral health agencies are ongoing to coordinate referral systems and communication regarding students. The Geisinger Bridge Clinic has hired a care manager and scheduled more than 50 individual sessions with students from surrounding districts.
The Core Impact Team, including PDE, OMHSAS, and the McDowell Institute, is working on a long-term vision for sustainable student health and safety in our communities. The team is researching evidence-based programming models and visiting model districts that show results.
