ACT Now IL Blog
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April 23, 2024
Curriculum Reviews: CATCH, TinkRworks, and Afterschool Math Plus
This month we have reviewed another three curriculums, covering topics of STEM, Sports/Recreation and Math in afterschool. Kids Club (OST) By CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) TAGS: Physical Education, elementary, middle school, health and fitness, activities, games, healthy eating, The Kids Club from CATCH is a very accessible set of curricular resources for jumpstarting…
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March 25, 2024
Elevating Youth Voice!
March 25th to March 29th marks Youth Voice Week 2024! Creating spaces where young people can share their experiences and discuss issues that are important to them is crucial. Afterschool programs are uniquely positioned to provide these spaces for youth. Amplifying youth voice initiatives helps youth develop essential skills and instills the confidence necessary to…
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March 4, 2024
March RPSA Blog
Hello RPSA Grantees! Excitement is building as we gear up for the FY24 Q3 Quarterly Meeting for RPSA 2775 and 3007! Hosted in-person, this event promises to be an enriching experience for all attendees, and ACT Now is thrilled for you to join us. Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 21st, 2024, from 10:00 AM…
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February 20, 2024
RPSA February Blog: Black History Month Events and Activities
In 1926, American historian Carter G. Woodsen, known as the father of Black History Month, had an idea to organize a week that would be dedicated to celebrating the history of Black Americans and educating future generations. This month offers a variety of events and activities to celebrate Black History Month. Here are a few…
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January 31, 2024
RPSA February blog: Black History Month Events and Activities
In 1926, American historian Carter G. Woodsen, known as the father of Black History Month, had an idea to organize a week that would be dedicated to celebrating the history of Black Americans and educating future generations. This month offers a variety of events and activities to celebrate Black History Month. Here are a few…
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January 5, 2024
RPSA January Blog: Expectations for the Quarterly Meetings
On December 12th of 2023, ACT Now hosted virtually the second quarterly meeting of FY24 for the RPSA Youth Development Services (YDS-2775) and Youth Development and Intervention Services (RYDIS-3007). In the spirit of growth and collaboration our blog this month will cover some new expectations for Quarterly Meetings moving forward. New Expectations for Quarterly Meetings…
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December 11, 2023
RPSA December Blog: Gender and Sexuality 101
A Peek Behind the Curtain: Gender and Sexuality in OST 101 Step behind the curtain into the world of our recent December training, hosted by Andrew Hitzhusen and Emma Vibber. In this post, discover the thought process behind the Gender and Sexuality in OST 101 training’s development, key takeaways, and the elements that made it…
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November 27, 2023
RPSA November Blog: Curriculum Reviews
A comment we often hear from grantees is that they are in need of quality curriculums, but there are so many out there that they don’t know where to start. The Department of Human Services has created a list of Best & Promising Practices, but even this valuable resource can be challenging for providers to…
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October 9, 2023
RPSA October Blog: The 3R Model of Workforce Planning
For October’s blog post we are going to provide a brief overview on ACT Now’s newest training series, The 3R Model of Workforce Planning. Many programs have expressed that turnover in the field has been a consistent challenge. ACT Now listened to program providers and developed a training series that provides strategies to combat employee…
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September 5, 2023
September RPSA Blog: Understanding Periodic Performance Reports
As the first quarter of FY24 comes to a close, agencies are preparing for the submission of Periodic Performance Reports (PPRs). These reports are essential in tracking an agency’s progress towards achieving the performance goals and objectives outlined in their grant awards. This month, we will review key aspects of the RPSA Youth Development Services…
