Awards and Grants
NJSACC Recognition Awards
The NJSACC awards program recognizes the great accomplishments of the many afterschool programs across New Jersey.
Following is a brief description of each award:
John Radig Award
Dr. John Radig was a community leader working at EIRC in Sewell, NJ. In the early 1980's this visionary man saw the need for afterschool care and, with others working in the field, took the first steps toward establishing NJSACC. His enthusiasm motivated people to work toward the goal of securing appropriate, quality school-age care for children of New Jersey. This award recognizes someone whose work has furthered the goals of their organization through advocacy, direct service or development.
Recent honorees have included Susan Martz, NJ Department of Education; Pat Menutti, Community Coordinated Child Care of Union County, and Cheryl Thompson, NJ Office of Licensing.
Legislative Award
Through the years, community members have made important contributions to the advancement of NJSACC goals through legislative or governmental channels. These may be related to support of the Coalition as an entity or to the after school field in general. This award recognizes someone whose work has improved the quality, accessibility, affordability or availability of school-age care in New Jersey.
Tina McCormack Award
Before Tina McCormack became the director of Children's Services in the Middlesex County Department of Human Services, she was a single mother in Metuchen who wanted afterschool care at her daughter's elementary school. She formed a parent task force that put together a proposal for school-age care in Metuchen. Her vision and "grass roots" idealism facilitated the establishment of a number of programs in her region and she became an unofficial advisor to other parent groups wanting to start such programs. This award honors people who have had an impact on the field at a statewide level through direct advocacy.
Program Leadership "Keys to Quality" Award
The vision and leadership of outstanding professionals are critical to the advancement of the afterschool field. Those individuals who strive to provide the highest quality programs for their communities and at the same time share their special talents to further the afterschool field deserve recognition by their peers. This award honors program directors or administrators have demonstrated special talents, contributions and vision that furthered the field of school-age care. The candidate shall be a member of NJSACC.
Program Staff "Keys to Quality" Award
High quality, committed staff members are the key to program excellence and deserve recognition by their peers. This award recognizes individuals who work in the direct day-to-day supervision of children in a school-age program who exemplify excellence in program implementation and commitment to the nationally recognized quality standards.
Program Host Award
Whether functioning in schools, recreation centers, churches or other environments, it is important that the relationship between the host agency and the service provider be cooperative and friendly. The children, families and staff of the program must feel welcome, safe and secure and the facility should meet or exceed licensing standards and/or meet accreditation standards. All three stakeholders – the families, the program staff and the host agency - should find the arrangement mutually beneficial, and agree to work together in the best interests of the children served. This award recognizes program sites that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to working cooperatively with the provider to meet the needs of children and families in their community.
Grants
Once a year, NJSACC is able to offer grants of $2000 for the purpose of program improvement. It is a competitive process open to all licensed programs in New Jersey. NJSACC awards 15 grants each year. Successful proposals have included gardening, asbestos removal, activity centers and robotics programs.
Grant applications may be submitted each year in January by any afterschool program licensed through NJDHS. Please click on the links below for forms and more information. Please call NJSACC at 908-789-0259 with any questions. We hope to hear from you!
Here are the forms:
