Reimagine Public Safety Act

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

For this month’s RPSA blog, ACT Now will share a brief overview of the grants we provide Training, Technical Assistance, and Support to. Going into this new fiscal year, ACT Now will provide Technical assistance (TA) on RPSA YDS (2775) and RYDIS (3007) grants. Agencies from both grants will have the opportunity to network and…

Introduction:  Welcome to the new fiscal year! We are very excited to take a moment to review our role as your RPSA Training, Technical Assistance, and Support (TTAS) Provider.  As your TTAS provider, we offer support in various areas including grant compliance, networking opportunities, and training and professional development. We offer training opportunities in a…

By: Kim Turnbull In today’s rapidly evolving world, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have become the driving forces behind innovation and progress. As the demand for STEM professionals continues to rise, it is crucial to lay a strong foundation for the next generation’s success. While formal education plays a vital role, afterschool programs offer…

RPSA May Blog! Over the last decade, ACT Now has provided trainings, consultations, and professional development on the Illinois Afterschool Quality Standards Framework. One of the primary philosophies we sought to teach was continuous quality improvement. Therefore, we are incredibly excited to present a ‘Reintroduction to the Illinois Afterschool Quality Standards Framework Training’.     Starting…

ACT Now’s RPSA Youth Development Grantee cohort is comprised of 15 organizations throughout Illinois, including school-based, community-based, and faith-based programs. This month, we’d like to introduce ACT Now’s newest RPSA grantees: The Boys & Girls Club of Lake County and The Salvation Army – Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center.  Boys & Girls Club…

RPSA Blog: Grantee Spotlight This month for the RPSA blog we are going to do a grantee spotlight on The Well Experience, located in Urbana, IL. Established in 2019, The Well Experience is a community organization that provides services that heal, engage, restore, and empower marginalized communities. They provide a variety of therapeutic supports like…

In this month’s blog post, we’re going to talk to Kasey and Tyrone about an upcoming training that they’re going to present to the field.   Would you please introduce yourselves and a little bit about what you do here at ACT Now? KB: My name is Kasey Brown, and I am an Afterschool Resource and…

RSPA Blog December 5, 2022 This month we would like to spotlight the Rock River Valley YMCA. The YMCA is an organization that is committed to the empowerment of youth through action with an emphasis on health and well-being. The Rock River YMCA is based in Rockford, IL, and is comprised of five locations throughout…