New York State Network For Youth Success Inc

INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM.

NEW YORK STATE NETWORK FOR YOUTH SUCCESS KNOWS THAT A SKILLED, EDUCATED AND ENGAGED WORKFORCE ENSURES THAT CHILDREN AND YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS BENEFIT FROM ALL THAT AFTERSCHOOL HAS TO OFFER. A RECENT STUDY FOUND THAT STAFF WITH STRONG PREPARATION, TRAINING AND GOOD WORKING CONDITIONS PROVIDE HIGHER QUALITY PROGRAMS AS DO THOSE WHO ARE MORE HIGHLY EDUCATED AND HIGHLY PAID. NEW YORK NETWORK FOR YOUTH SUCCESS ADMINISTERS THE NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL AGE CARE CREDENTIAL WHICH PROMOTES QUALITY SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BY PROVIDING SPECIFIC STANDARDS, TRAINING AND EVALUATION FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROFESSIONALS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN ADDITION, THE NEW YORK STATE NETWORK FOR YOUTH SUCCESS OFFERS A FULL DISTANCE LEARNING COMPONENT OF THE CREDENTIAL COURSEWORK AS WELL AS STATEWIDE INSTITUTES DESIGNED TO MEET THE TRAINING NEEDS OF AFTERSCHOOL PROFESSIONALS. DURING 2021, THE NETWORK PURSUED A SYSTEMS BUILDING INITIATIVE WITHIN THE CREDENTIAL. AFTER CONDUCTING SURVEYS AND HAVING INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS WITH HOST AGENCIES AND STUDENTS, WE DETERMINED THAT WE NEEDED MORE INTENSIVE COACHING FOR OUR ADVISORS, ENDORSERS, AND INSTRUCTORS. WE CREATED A TRAINING TO ASSIST OUR INSTRUCTORS WITH OBTAINING THEIR NYS AEYC T-TAP CREDENTIAL, WITH ALL FOUR THAT APPLIED AFTER TAKING THE TRAINING, EARNING IT. WE IMPLEMENTED LEARNING COMMUNITIES WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER INDIVIDUALS IN ALL ROLES OF THE CREDENTIAL PROCESS TOGETHER ONCE A MONTH TO DISCUSS PROCEDURE AND BEST PRACTICE. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS BUILDING OUR POOL OF BILINGUAL ENDORSERS AND ADVISORS. WE ADDED ONE NEW HOST AGENCY, THE NASSAU CHILD CARE COUNCIL. 100 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED THEIR CREDENTIAL (EITHER NEW OR RENEWAL) IN 2021. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 233 CREDENTIALED PROFESSIONALS THROUGH THE NEW YORK STATE NETWORK FOR YOUTH SUCCESS.THE NEW YORK STATE NETWORK FOR YOUTH SUCCESS FACILITATES PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT AND ACCREDITATION EFFORTS THROUGH A SYSTEM OF COACHES, ENDORSERS, AND TRAININGS ROOTED IN NATIONAL SCHOOL-AGE CARE STANDARDS. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 37 PROGRAMS ACCREDITED THROUGH THE NEW YORK STATE NETWORK FOR YOUTH SUCCESS. ALL PROGRAMS DUE TO RENEW IN 2021 AND 2022 WERE GIVEN AN EXTENSION DUE TO COVID-19 AND NO NEW PROGRAMS WERE ACCREDITED DURING 2021. WE PLAN TO BEGIN WORKING WITH PROGRAMS AGAIN IN FALL 2022.THE NEW YORK STATE NETWORK FOR YOUTH SUCCESS OFFERS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY TRAINING HOURS IN A NUMBER OF REQUESTED TOPICS BY TRAINERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE. THE CONFERENCE PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROFESSIONALS FROM ALL OVER NEW YORK TO NETWORK AND SHARE IDEAS, INCREASING THE QUALITY OF STAFF AND PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE REMAINED AS A VIRTUAL EVENT DUE TO COVID. IT TOOK PLACE ON FRIDAY, APRIL 23 AND SATURDAY, APRIL 24. 121 PARTICIPANTS REGISTERED FOR FRIDAY AND 113 REGISTERED FOR SATURDAY, AND 11 REGISTERED PRESENTERS OVER TWO DAYS. EACH DAY INCLUDED THREE 1.5 HOUR SESSIONS AND ONE .5 HOUR SPEED SESSION. TOPICS INCLUDED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, NUTRITION, DRAMA, BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT, AND MUCH MORE. THE CONFERENCE HAD MANY SPONSORS AND VENDORS EACH DAY, SOME SPONSORS SENT VIDEO CLIPS TO PLAY DURING THE EVENT, WHILE OTHERS CHOSE TO PRESENT VIRTUALLY DURING A SCHEDULED TIME SLOT. VENDORS AND SPONSORS INCLUDED PIONEER BANK, SPARK DECKS, MIZZEN, CHANGE IMPACT, PREVENT CHILD ABUSE NY, 4-H AND MORE. WE ALSO HOSTED THE SECOND ANNUAL AWARDS RECOGNIZING EXEMPLARY INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE FIELD. THIS WAS SPONSORED BY BBL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.THE NEW YORK STATE NETWORK FOR YOUTH SUCCESS SUPPORTS 15 REGIONAL AFTERSCHOOL NETWORKS ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THESE NETWORKS SERVE AS CONVENERS FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER FOR NETWORKING, TRAINING, AND ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES. THE NETWORK PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO HELP SUSTAIN THESE NETWORKS THROUGH THE CAPACITY BUILDING VISTA. DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE NETWORK HOSTED BIWEEKLY TO MONTHLY ZOOM MEETINGS WITH THE REGIONAL NETWORK LEADS TO ALLOW THEM TO CONNECT AND WORK TOGETHER, AND TO SUPPORT THEIR NEEDS FOR INFORMATION TO BRING BACK TO THEIR MEMBERS. THE NETWORK ALSO HOSTED A VIRTUAL REGIONAL NETWORK SYMPOSIUM IN THE FALL. ADDITIONALLY, IN 2021 THE NETWORK WAS FINALLY ABLE TO EXPAND ITS REACH WITH A WESTERN NY OFFICE. THE NETWORK HIRED WIL GREEN AS THE REGIONAL NETWORK DIRECTOR BASED IN BUFFALO. WIL'S INITIAL WORK CENTERED AROUND ASSISTING THE LOCAL AGENCY NETWORK (ASNWNY) WITH RESTRUCTURING. WNY AGENCIES HAD DONE A GOOD JOB OF PIVOTING DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT IN DOING SO MANY LONG EXISTING COMMITTEES COMBINED OR SHIFTED FOCUS. WIL WAS ABLE TO BEGIN THE WORK OF REORGANIZING COMMITTEES, IDENTIFYING LEADERSHIP, RECRUITING AND RE-ESTABLISHING PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES. DUE TO TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, WNY'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT DELAYED THE START OF ON-SITE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING. WIL BECAME AN ADVOCATE FOR STARTING PROGRAMMING AND WORKED WITH LOCAL PROVIDERS, BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND NYSED OFFICIALS TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO BRING SUPPORT TO STUDENTS IN FAMILIES. THE NEW YORK STATE NETWORK FOR YOUTH SUCCESS SEEKS TO INCREASE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS BY HELPING ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS ENROLL FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THEIR AFTERSCHOOL MEALS AND SNACKS THROUGH THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM.