February Updates from the Montana Afterschool Alliance

The Montana Afterschool Alliance envisions a future where all Montana youth have access
to enriching afterschool activities in a safe and healthy environment.

MTAA is asking for feedback

The Montana Afterschool Alliance is updating our strategic plan. One of the first steps in the process is to reflect on the status of the organization’s work over the last year.

Please share your thoughts in this 7-question survey.

This survey is intended to gather feedback from stakeholders throughout the state on how you think MTAA is doing as an organization, and what our priorities should be moving forward. Please respond by Friday, February 17. If you have any questions about this survey or additional thoughts you'd like to share, please don't hesitate to email.

Propel Your Agency into the Healthy Out-of-School Time Movement

Now's your opportunity to enhance your health and wellness programming in your before/afterschool or summer camp programs! The National Recreation and Park Association and the Walmart Foundation announced grants to support children’s health through park and recreation out-of-school time programs.

Grantees will receive funding to support their efforts to:

increase nutritious meals served to youth through the USDA federal nutrition programs,
implement nutrition education, and
implement healthy eating and physical activity standards.

Funding is expected to range from $25,000-$35,000 and can be used to support programmatic expenses like marketing, transportation, large equipment purchases, nutrition education materials and more!
Full eligibility requirements are in the RFA and applications are due March 8.

Resources to Explore:

Online STEM Professional Development Training for Out-of-School Providers from Click2SciencePD
Catalyst:ED’s technology-enabled service that matches schools, afterschool programs, and education nonprofits with vetted consultants for short-term, mission-critical needs.
Afterschool Alliance’s Funding and Sustainability Resources

There are millions of reasons to love afterschool. Afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire learning, and help working families. This Valentine's Day, share some of the reasons afterschool is close to your heart with your friends, family, and community.

It's easy to participate. Just download the Afterschool Alliance toolkit, print out some copies of the included We Love Afterschool sign, and write in why you love afterschool (ask students or parents to join you, too). Then snap photos of the finished product and share on social media with the hashtag #AfterschoolWorks!

Scholarships for Montana Students

The Montana Community Foundation manages more than 50 scholarship funds created just for Montana’s youth. Know graduating seniors? Encourage them to fill out a common application to see if they qualify for a scholarship in their area. Scholarships range between $500 and $5,000 and most have an application deadline of March 17.

Follow MTAA on Facebook

Visit our Website

Train the Trainer on Health Eating and Physical Activity

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) School Health Branch are providing technical assistance and training to schools to support healthy eating and physical activity in school based out-of-school time settings (before, after school and summer programs).

The CDC has a new School Based OST Train-the-Trainer (TOT) Program that will prepare instructors to present information effectively, respond to participant questions, and lead activities that reinforce learning.  A TOT model enables experienced personnel (trainer) to show a less-experienced instructor (trainee) how to deliver workshops and resources to their frontline staff.

This certified training will provide you, the OST Champions (before, afterschool and summer programs), with the knowledge and tools to train school-based OST staff in health and wellness. This TOT is for individuals and organizations who have a strong interest in healthy eating and physical activity among OST programs in their community.

The deadline to apply online to the CDC’s School Based OST Train-the Trainer Program is Friday, February 17, 2017. Contact Michelle Owens at MichelleOwens@HealthierGeneration.org to learn more.

MONTANA AFTERSCHOOL ALLIANCE STEERING COUNCIL

Becky Bey, KLJ
Tim Brurud, Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line
Patty Butler, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
Brian Dennis, Boys & Girls Club of Yellowstone County
Joe Hicks, MSU Department of Education
Danica Jamison, Greater Gallatin United Way
Jan Lombardi, JML Strategy
Heather Margolis, Montana Education Partnership
Kirk Miller, School Administrators of MT
Nicole Mitchell, The Flagship Program
Tracy Moseman, Montana Office of Public Instruction
Meghan Phillippi, MSU Extension 4-H Program
Bethany Steinken, Stevens Youth Center
Bob Vogel, Montana School Boards Association
Veronica Willeto, Pryor Public Schools

Julia Gustafson, Network Lead
email: networklead@mtafterschoolalliance.org

Greater Gallatin United Way serves as the fiscal sponsor for the Montana Afterschool Alliance.

MTAA is supported by funding from: C.S. Mott Foundation, Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, First Interstate BancSystem Foundation, and an Anonymous Foundation