Opportunities for Providers
Administration
2024-25 Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program
Applications for the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program are being accepted, with priority given to applications completed before December 31, 2024. This program is designed to support human services professionals working at community-based organizations in Illinois by providing funds (which may be received annually) to help with the repayment of eligible educational loans. Learn more about this opportunity to see if you and/or your colleagues are eligible for this aid.
New Report on the Impact of Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs
The Afterschool Alliance released a report on afterschool and summer programs’ positive impact on students’ engagement in school, school-day attendance, academic performance, and mental well-being.
Data on Pandemic Highlights Unequal Impact on Student Populations
NWEA, a K-12 assessment and research organization, recently published a report that shows trends in science achievement since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using MAP Growth assessment results for grades three to eight, the report highlights drastic differences in academic recovery.
Survey Data Suggests Parents Cannot Access Child Care
The 74 released an article highlighting survey data that suggests parents are struggling with rising child care prices, unexpected closures, and a scarcity of providers.
Child Care Working Group Opportunity for Providers and Families
Illinois is bringing all early childhood programs under one new state agency — the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC). The Early Childhood Transition Advisory Council is looking for parents, families, providers, and other stakeholders to participate in workgroups to hear how to make the system work better for you! Our goal is a simpler, better, and fairer early childhood system in Illinois. ACT Now sees this as a great opportunity to include school-age child care providers in the re-imagining of the child care network in Illinois. Members of workgroups will be expected to attend regular meetings (typically monthly, as well as 1-2 hours of pre-work or discussion in between meetings. Workgroups will start later this fall/early winter. Please fill out this form to let us know if you are interested in serving on a workgroup:
The National League of Cities (NLC) and its partners will be facilitating free training programs to support local governmental entities and organizations in their grant-writing endeavors. These NLC trainings have already helped local governments throughout the country secure $275 million in federal grant funds.
Join ISAC for New Training on the Middle School PaCE Framework
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is offering an opportunity to attend a training on the Illinois Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Curriculum for 6th through 8th grades. The event is at Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) in Oglesby, Illinois on August 15, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The training is open to both middle and high school practitioners. Registration will close on August 12, 2024.
Save the Date for Coordinators Appreciation Week (CAW)
The Coalition for Community Schools is excited to honor Community School Coordinators across the country during their 8th annual Coordinators Appreciation Week (CAW). This year CAW falls from September 15 to September 21. The Coalition for Community Schools will be releasing a toolkit next month, with lots of ideas, sample content, and templates to help you celebrate!
Join the 21st CCLC National Technical Assistance Center (NTAC) team for this three-part series, where they’ll share best practices and approaches for structuring a 21st CCLC program from the ground up. Participants will have opportunities to ask questions and share their own successful strategies with others. The webinar series will take place from August 13 to August 15. Register here!
PIE is Hiring an Evaluation Coach!
Planning, Implementation & Evaluation Org (PIE) is a Chicago-based, national provider of evaluation, capacity building, and strategic planning services. An Evaluation Coach of PIE Org is responsible for leading a diverse array of projects, staff, and clients through multiple evaluation cycles in a culturally competent and responsive manner. Primary work includes the strategic leadership of external evaluation work, evaluation coaching to help organizations build their internal evaluation capacity, and collaboration with PIE Org staff to do this work. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Project Brainy is a six-session neuroscience-based curriculum designed for OST programs. The curriculum enables students to build social-emotional skills, engage in interactive STEM learning, and increase literacy. Summer and fall OST programs are invited to apply to participate in a research project to study the implementation of the curriculum. Selected programs will receive training and ongoing support on the curriculum and a $1,500 participation stipend. Learn more and apply here.
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum released a Fall Field Trip Planning Guide. The guide is designed to help prepare students for their field trip experience and contains tips to make the most out of a visit to the Nature Museum. To schedule field trip at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, click here.
Techbridge Girls developed a training video to help role models and volunteers engage young girls in STEM programs. The training helps role models and volunteers develop skills to engage girls from marginalized communities in STEM through videos, reflection questions and more.
Chicago Public Schools Out-of-School Time Partners Office Hours
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is holding office hours with its out-of-school time (OST) partnerships office. These office hours occur between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 during the weekday.
Volunteer Grant Reviewer Opportunity
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) is seeking community members to read and review grant applications submitted by organizations across Illinois for its equity-based grant programs, such as the Restore. Reinvest. Renew. (R3) opportunity. Reviewers are trained and sit on a team of three to review a number of proposals based on clearly outlined criteria. This collaborative approach will enhance ICJIA’s application review process with the assistance of individuals with diverse backgrounds, viewpoints, and experiences.
Surveys
Workforce Survey for Human Services Professionals
Our friends at the Illinois Partners for Human Service are conducting statewide research to better understand the actual cost of delivering human services in Illinois. Completing this survey will help shed light on what is missing from current grants and reimbursement rates, and allow the agency to develop practical solutions for bridging these gaps in funding. The deadline to submit the survey is October 18, 2024.
Surveys on the State of Out-of-School Time STEM in Chicago
The Chicago STEM Pathways Cooperative is asking organizations to complete the State of STEM in Out-of-School Time Citywide Landscape Survey, an initiative launched by the Co-op Leadership Team in collaboration with Northwestern University. This initiative consists of four surveys for Community Organizations, Schools, STEM Employers, and Workforce Development Organizations. The results of these surveys will shape the understanding of and policy surrounding citywide STEM programming. Please email hdembosky@projectexploration.org with any questions.
STEM Opportunity Alliance Partner Survey!
The STEM Opportunity Alliance (SOA) is asking organizations to review goals and action steps in the National Strategy for STEMM Excellence and Equity and provide feedback on the strategy.
Safety, Health, & Nutrition
Help Reduce the Spread of Seasonal Influenza in Schools
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance for school administrators regarding information to help reduce the spread of seasonal influenza (flu) among students and staff in K-12 schools.
The Connectory: Integrating Wellness into STEM Education
In collaboration with Healthier Generation’s new Eating Healthy at Home campaign, The Connectory is highlighting five key activities to encourage picky eaters of all ages to try new and nutritious foods – all with a STEM twist.
- “I tried It” Chart: Support food preferences while building critical thinking skills. Choose 2-3 types of vegetables or prepare one multiple ways (e.g., raw vs. steamed). Try the veggie plain and rank how much it was enjoyed using emojis or stickers. Add dips and sauces too!
- Make Trying (and Retrying) Fun:As you introduce a new item to a child’s diet, add a hands-on counting twist. Label bowls with numbers and ask the child to put the correct amount into the corresponding bowl.
- Wild Names for New Foods:There are creative ways to experiment with food preferences, such as pairing a new or disliked food with an ingredient, animal or insect a child enjoys. Does your student dislike peas? Try pairing peas with pasta and giving the dish an exotic name like Beetle Pasta.
- Delicious Science:Discuss the science of blending, boiling, baking, and other food prep options and how it changes a child’s preference. Click here for more ideas.
- Apple Math Taste Test: Choose 3-4 varieties of apples. Make predictions together on the weight and measurements of each apple. For a literacy “add on”, read Apple Fractions.
For more of Healthier Generation’s resources, click here
Family and Community Partnerships
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
The U.S. Department of the Interior posted an article that explains different ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month not only in November, but also all year!
Illinois Birth to Five Seeks Family Council Members
Birth to Five Illinois is a new statewide program centering family voice in the decisions made in Early Childhood Education and Care. Family Council Members will be asked to advocate for family needs, share critical input to improve programs, and serve as an advisory committee for their region’s Action Council. Birth to Five Illinois is currently seeking additional interested parents and caregivers with a child eight years of age or younger.
Strengthening Chicago’s Youth Podcast: The Parenting Supports
The Parenting Supports Podcast, sponsored by Strengthening Chicago’s Youth (SCY), is about all things parenting. SCY aims to empower their audience by providing information on topics relevant to the lives of parents, caretakers, family members, and community providers. Topics surround self-care, trauma, and managing stress and anxiety while adjusting to a pandemic. The podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
My CHI. My Future: Remote Learning Supervision Hubs
My CHI. My Future. has updated its list of organizations that are providing supervision and care during the remote learning school day for children ages 3 through 14. Hours, fees, and availability should be confirmed directly with the organization and specific offerings have not been formally approved by the City of Chicago or Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Also, now you are able to see where these opportunities are located, based upon their zip code in the City of Chicago. To view the map and learn more information about supervision and care, click here.
Forefront and Serve Illinois: Nonprofit Volunteer Opportunities Page
In collaboration with Forefront, Serve Illinois has developed a statewide page for nonprofits to post volunteer opportunities. Through this page, you can learn more, submit opportunities, become a partner, or search for opportunities by county. Click here to review the page.
Chicago Moves – Transportation Cost Relief
Chicago Moves is a short-term assistance program that provides financial relief for Chicago residents struggling with transportation expenses. The program grants $150 prepaid cards eligible for redemption at local Chicago gas stations as well as $50 prepaid cards eligible for use on public transit. Apply today!
Professional Development & Qualifications
Culturally Responsive Professional Development
Join ACT Now on September 26, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. via Zoom for the first session of our FY25 Cultural Responsiveness series! This session will focus on Culturally Responsive Professional Development. Learn about how managers and leadership can invest in their employees by enhancing soft and hard skills and offering well-designed professional development that can improve work quality for employees at all levels.
Engagement level: Medium
Audience: Management, Administrators, Leadership
For questions, please reach out to Tyrone Taliaferro at taliaferrot@actnowillinois.org.
NAA25 Conference: Unleashing People, Potential, and Possibilities
The National AfterSchool Association (NAA) is hosting its annual spring conference in Nashville, Tennesee. The conference will span from March 9th to March 12th, 2025. There are opportunities to connect with colleagues in the field, access resources to provide programming, and more!
EducationWeek Webinars on Educational Technology
EducationWeek is partnering with various entities to highlight what classroom technology exists and provide professional development on student data, ed-tech policy, and more. Sessions are kicking off in September!
BOOST Cafe is hosting a series of training sessions for staff to support them in serving youth, families, and communities during the new school year. These professional development opportunities focus on SEL strategies that benefit the whole child.
Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Conference
The ASTC Conference is happening in Chicago, from September 27th, 2024, to October 1st, 2024. The National Informal STEM Education (NISE) Network activities include a pre-conference intensive session, concurrent sessions, an exhibit hall booth, and a networking happy hour. The happy hour will take place at the Marriott Showroom Food Hall on Saturday night, September 28th. Learn more about the professional development opportunities!
Additional Resources and Support for Youth within the DCFS System
Health Choice Illinois is an insurance company that works to support any youth that has been in the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) system. In addition to health insurance and case management, the Youth Care program allows the company to also support young people by providing funding for afterschool programs, uniforms, and gym memberships. Learn more here.
CDOT Safe Ambassadors to Support Chicago Youth and Families
The Chicago Department of Transportation’s SAFE Ambassadors offers free traffic-safety education and programming for diverse stakeholders. Whether your program needs ride support for a community bike event, a share-the-road presentation for drivers, or transportation-resource tabling at your neighborhood event, the SAFE Ambassadors offer a wide range of free services.
Engaging Girls in Engineering!
Scientific Adventures for Girls (SAfG) is hosting a three part curriculum training series focused on their free curriculum aimed to engage and excite more girls in engineering and design. Participants will leave the series with four engineering design projects and a materials list that they can implement with youth. The training will take place on February 21, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Invention Convention Training for Educators
Would you like to get your students involved in the Chicago Invention Convention and bring their creativity and ingenuity alive? Then this is for you
Illinois State Board of Education: Free Professional Learning Series for Kindergarten Educators
The Illinois Stated Board of Education (ISBE) and the Erikson Institute have partnered in order to provide professional development opportunities for kindergarten teachers across Illinois. Project Connect will allow teachers will earn professional development hours and get practical resources for their classroom while learning new ways to assess and address the needs of the “whole child.”
Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Grant Training
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) is hosting a training for those interested in securing state grant funding. This course will ease the application process for organizations looking to access ICJIA grants. Participants will receive an overview of the ICJIA grant process, how to set up a budget and complete a program narrative, and what it means to comply with the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA).
Youth Development, Programming, & Activities
Lights On Afterschool Giveaway
Register your Lights On event by October 10, 2024, to receive your 10 free posters! That’s right, there are only a few days left to receive your copies of this year’s official Lights On Afterschool poster. The Afterschool Alliance is also giving away 10 coloring mats (each mat serves 16-32 children) and 10 Galatic Grub storyboard packs (each pack serves 25-50 children) from WRiTE BRAiN! These are perfect for giveaways and Lights On event activities or favors!
National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) Programs
The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) is a trade association serving manufacturers of fluid power (hydraulic and pneumatic) components and systems, their distributors, suppliers, and related educators. NFPA members are looking to support students interested in pursuing careers and education in the fluid power industry. There are available grants, scholarships, curriculum, the Fluid Power Action Challenge, and more. If you have any questions, contact NFPA’s Workforce Team at workforce@nfpa.com.
Lights On Afterschool – STEM Prizes for Registering Events!
Register your Lights On event by October 3rd, 2024, for a chance to win 4-H Food for Thought STEM Challenge kits. This year’s kit provides fundamental knowledge on food security, exploring how it impacts communities locally and globally, and empowering youth to co-create more food-secure environments. 50 programs will win five kits designed to serve youth ages 6-10. Additionally, one program will win an assortment of fruit-flavored Torani Flavoring Syrups, complete with plastic logo cups, syrup pumps, and cocktail napkins— everything you need to host an Italian soda party or reward hard-working staff!
2024-25 U.S. Presidential Scholars
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is accepting nominations for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program for the school year 2024-25. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established to recognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Throughout the years, it has been expanded to honor students with talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts – as well as those who demonstrate excellence in Career and Technical Education (CTE). The state superintendent of education can nominate up to 10 male and female students for the general component of the program and up to five additional students for the CTE component. Please complete and submit a nomination form by5:00 p.m. CST on September 30, 2024. If you have questions about the program or nomination process, please contact presidentialscholars@isbe.net or 217-782-5270.
National Service 101: A Toolkit for Afterschool Programs
Supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, this toolkit emphasizes how AmeriCorps members positively impact the community, schools, afterschool programs, and community-based organizations through partnerships/placements.
Fall 2024 Data Detectives Club Program Opportunity
Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Data Detectives Clubs provide data activities and challenges based on a science adventure novel called Pandemics! The novel follows two middle school students who travel through time and space to learn about past and present epidemics including measles, smallpox, Ebola, and COVID. Each chapter is accompanied by hands-on activities like exploring real-world disease data, a card game on disease transmission, and a vaccination simulation game. The project has engaged over 1,000 youth in more than 60 clubs over three years, showing a significant positive impact on all outcomes. To apply to host a Data Detectives Club this fall, please fill out the form by August 15, 2024.
Field Museum Educator and Community Programming Events
Our friends at the Field Museum are hosting several upcoming events and open houses to highlight their informal/formal education learning opportunities for individuals who teach middle and high school students. There are also educational family events! If your organization is hosting a workshop, feel free to use these slides to talk about the Field Museum’s programs!
This Valentine’s Day, share some of the reasons afterschool why you and the youth in your program. To help you celebrate, the Afterschool Alliance has created a template that can be filled out by students and family members!
Latina Girls Code (LGC), formed in 2014, is a program that aims to bridge the diversity gap in STEM for Latinx girls who are interested in technology. LGC works to provide mentors, access to hardware and digital tools, as well as internships through various programs and events throughout the year for youth.
Great START
Wage Supplement Program
Great START (Strategy to Attract and Retain Teachers) is a wage supplement program that rewards eligible early care and education and school-age care practitioners who have completed college coursework, and stay at their current place of employment. Great START recipients are sent a check every six months (based on continued eligibility) to supplement their income. To learn more, click here.
NCWIT Learning from Young Women Study
This National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) study explores why some women pursue and/or persist in computing fields, while some do not. Data included a large sample of women from around the United States in high school, college, and the workforce over six years. Key findings underscore the importance of recognizing institutional and cultural factors that reinforce and maintain exclusionary practices, highlighting how gender and ethnicity-blind meritocracy perpetuate systemic biases.
National Geographic Society: National Geographic Explorer Classroom
This fall, the National Geographic Society is hosting a series of National Geographic’s Explorer Classroom events designed specifically for Out-of-School Time providers. Two versions are offered: one is recommended for grades 1-3 and the other recommended for grades 4-8. All Explorer Classroom events are supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The live YouTube sessions connect young people with cutting-edge scientists, researchers, and powerful storytellers around the world. The events are free and include opportunities to ask questions and receive guidance for facilitating conversations between youth and STEM professionals. To learn more and to register, click here.
Libraries Ready To Code
The American Library Association’s Ready To Code Collection provides resources and strategies for coding and computational thinking activities that are grounded in research, aligned with library core values, and support broadening participation. They have three experience levels to help library staff connect with resources that reflect their own computational thinking (CT) experiences, communities, goals, and interests.
Chicago Student Invention Convention Mentor Opportunity
The Chicago Student Invention Convention (CSIC) prepares K-8th graders today with the innovative skills they will need tomorrow to succeed in life and work in the 21st century. CSIC is a free program that trains educators in its experiential, applied STEM invention learning and encourages students to develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills to positively impact their own lives and communities. CSIC is soliciting mentors for its annual competition. Interested educators and afterschool program providers should register for the program here.
Connecting Students from K to Career
The National AfterSchool Association has partnered with Discovery Education to inspire a culture of STEM education in K–12 schools and afterschool organizations nationwide. Select schools and afterschool organizations will be provided full access to Discovery Education’s Daily Learning Platform, making it easy to find engaging resources that reach every student. Discovery Education’s flexible, award-winning K—12 learning platform connects educators and afterschool professionals to a vast collection of high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, and timely professional learning.
American Writers Museum: Online Education Program
The American Writers Museum (AWM) has unveiled an interactive online education program featuring young, diverse, and thought-provoking authors. This initiative is designed to inspire young writers across the United States. The interactive program includes live and virtual sessions with AWM education staff and renowned writers, as well as other digital materials developed for students grades 3 through 12. To review the Museum’s online educational programs, click here.
Gateways to Opportunity Registry
Gateways to Opportunity is a statewide professional development support system for individuals and programs serving youth and families. The Gateways Registry membership is FREE and offers a quick and easy way to track your training and education online, and meets Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) licensing requirements.
Adolescent Development Toolkit
ACT for Youth‘s Adolescent Development Toolkit presents selected resources that explain and describe adolescent development. Resources include guides, articles, fact sheets, videos, narrated presentations, and websites.