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Congress is deciding right now if they’re going to divert funds and slash afterschool programs across this country.

Friday, July 30th, 2010

Action Alert from Moms Rising!

Dear Friend,

Dust off the backpacks and dig out the lunch sacks – back to school time is just weeks away.  And, working parents across this country are spending these last few weeks arranging, searching, and confirming afterschool care.

Unfortunately, many parents don’t succeed in finding afterschool care for their kids . More than 1 million children in grades K to 5 are on their own after school. [1] This huge and heartbreaking number isn’t because of parent neglect, rather it reflects a simple fact: Afterschool programs are unavailable or too expensive for millions of families across this country. [2]

And it could get much worse.  Congress is deciding right now if they’re going to divert funds and slash afterschool programs across this country. That’s right.  Congress is busy writing their education legislation, which includes afterschool programs, and they’re likely to finish before they go home in August.

Tell Congress not to make the back-to-school season any worse for working families!

http://action.momsrising.org/go/Afterschool/303?akid=2232.70950.FpjBJi&t=7

Why do afterschool programs matter?

Afterschool programs keep our kids safe. The hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are when children are most at risk for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex. [3]

Afterschool programs also have a big impact on our economy. Parents who are concerned about their children being unattended after school miss an average of eight days of work per year. Decreased worker productivity related to parental concerns about after school care costs businesses up to $300 billion per year. [4]

As Congress reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), it’s imperative that they don’t divert funds from 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to afterschool programs.  The initiative supports afterschool programs for 1,798,986 children and youth across this country.  And every one of them counts.

We have less than a week to speak up for afterschool programs.  Contact your legislators before they go home for their summer break:

http://action.momsrising.org/go/Afterschool/303?akid=2232.70950.FpjBJi&t=9

And please forward this email along to friends and family. This issue is too important not to share.

Together we are a powerful voice for children and families,

–Sarah, Kristin, Donna and the whole MomsRising.org team

P.S. Thanks to the Afterschool Alliance for all of their great work on this issue.
[1] Afterschool Alliance, “Afterschool Issue Overview,” August 2009

[2] “America After 3pm” National in-depth study funded by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund,

[3] Fight Crime Invest In Kids “America’s After-School Choice: Juvenile Crime or Safe Learning Time,” Research brief 2003

[4] Afterschool Alliance, “Afterschool Issue Overview,” August 2009

Posted in ALERT!, Advocacy | Comments Off

Childrens Outdoor Bill of Rights

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Great news!  NJ Audubon worked very hard to make this happen.
Now we need you to contact your  state legislators to show your support for this no cost resolution!

The Children’s Outdoor Bill Of Rights , this ties in  so very much with the work all of you do every day !and with our statewide campaign  to

Celebrate Afterschool! Outdoors in the Garden State, show your support for this Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights!

*******************************************************

The Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, a bipartisan resolution (AR103) was drafted by NJ Audubon, introduced to the Assembly on July 1, 2010 and we hope it will be posted in fall.

We thank Assembly Sponsors:  Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes, III, Assemblywoman Denise M. Coyle and Assemblyman Scott Rudder for their leadership on this resolution.

Key points of the Resolution:

  • Children are spending less time outdoors exploring, discovering and observing our natural world and playing and creating in open spaces;
  • Not  participating in these types of activities has been shown to have adverse health, social and emotional consequences;
  • Spending time in the outdoors with frequent access to nature experiences and lessons provides a foundation upon which to build physical strength and environmental awareness;
  • Learning about the environment and other subjects in an outdoor setting, an outdoor classroom or garden, and through field studies and outdoor lab activities, is known to help increase student performance in class, increase student interest in learning, reduce disciplinary problems, and increase student ownership of work being done;
  • The future quality, quantity and use of New Jersey’s natural resources will lie in the hands of children; and
  • Children will need to understand natural systems and the interrelationships between natural and human-built systems, in order to make decisions and take actions that would maintain a high quality of life;

Every child has the right and should have opportunities to:

  • Explore the woods; climb a tree
  • Run through a field; build a fort
  • Splash in the water; catch a fish
  • Explore a city park; turn over a log
  • Sleep out in a tent; gaze at stars
  • Follow a trail; listen to bird song
  • Play in the mud; hold a frog
  • Plant a garden; eat locally grown food
  • Play in the rain; follow animal tracks
  • Be alone in nature; share it with a friend
  • Celebrate NJ’s habitats; embrace our natural heritage!

Please encourage your state legislators to support this resolution and thank those who have already signed on!

Additional Co-Sponsors:

Assemblyman Egan

Assemblyman Greenwald

Assemblywoman Lampitt

Assemblyman McKeon

Assemblyman Diegnan

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESOLUTION

To show your support of this Resolution , email your state legislator and the message should be,

“I support Assembly Resolution #103, the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights !”

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR

Childrens outdor bill of rights

VioletSingle

Posted in Advocacy, General | Comments Off

STATE RESTORES FUNDING FOR NJ AFTER 3

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

STATE RESTORES $3 MILLION BUDGET ALLOCATION TO

NEW JERSEY AFTER 3

Expanded Learning Time Program Funding Partially Restored

New Brunswick, NJ – June 29, 2010 – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed the Fiscal Year 2011 state budget into law today, restoring $3,000,000 to New Jersey After 3. New Jersey After 3 is a nonprofit organization which supports a Statewide network of evidence-based afterschool programs that expand learning time in public schools. The restoration of public investment in New Jersey After 3 was one of a handful of items restored through the budget deal between Governor Christie and the Legislature on June 21st, demonstrating the widespread support of this innovative public/private partnership among State leaders, and validating New Jersey After 3’s position as a top priority for children and families of the Garden State.

The structure of the New Jersey After 3 model – evidence-based programs operated by nonprofit organizations in public school buildings – enables programs to cost less than half of what other high-quality programs cost nationally, according to a recent independent study.  In addition to the cost-effectiveness of its programs, as a nonprofit organization, New Jersey After 3 secures grants and contributions from corporations, foundations, individuals; and generates additional revenues through service contracts with school districts and municipalities. This innovative structure allows public and private sector partners to pool scarce resources so that they can maximize their collective impact on students, schools and families.

The current allocation of $3 million is less than one-third of New Jersey After 3’s $10.4 million FY2010 budget allocation, and one-fifth of the amount allocated in FY2009. While understanding of the need for shared sacrifice during such difficult times for New Jersey, and pleased with the restoration of significant public support, New Jersey After 3 is faced with a significant challenge that will be met with an objective, entrepreneurial approach.

“We have only come this far in the budget process thanks to the thousands of citizens who advocated on behalf of the students and working parents who rely on our programs,” exclaimed New Jersey After 3’s President & CEO, Mark Valli. “Despite our impact on student achievement and our ability to leverage significant outside investment, these are extremely tough financial times for the State of New Jersey and for New Jersey After 3. Ultimately, we are grateful that expanding learning time through evidence-based afterschool programs remains a critical State priority.  We will be working with our Board of Trustees and organizational leadership to finalize contingency plans and strategies that ensure maximum impact with limited resources. We look forward to working with the N.J. Department of Education, the Federal government, and our corporate investors to capitalize on our past success, strengthen our impact, and build toward a strong and exciting future for the communities we serve.”

Despite the recent recession and its impact on philanthropy across the nation, New Jersey After 3 has demonstrated success in its ability to leverage non-State funds. Over the last two years, New Jersey After 3 has increased corporate and foundation investments by more than 75%, and was able to secure Federal stimulus funds to further strengthen its impact on student literacy skills. Since its founding in 2004, the New Jersey After 3 network of programs has leveraged more than $41 million in outside investment.

New Jersey After 3 plans to take an aggressive stance in helping New Jersey students benefit from emerging Federal grant programs aimed at improving student achievement and transforming the structure of public schools to include more time. New Jersey After 3 programs expand student learning time by 40% each school day, and the agency anticipates working even closer with school districts and municipalities to align resources and efforts to improve student safety and academic success. District Superintendents and Mayors interested in partnering with New Jersey After 3 should contact the agency this week.

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NJ After 3 needs your support!

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Please sign New Jersey After 3’s petition at Change.org

Since 2004, New Jersey After 3 has served urban, suburban and rural communities as a cost-effective, public/private partnership that keeps children safe, improves student achievement, and supports school & family success.  This year alone, New Jersey After 3 provided comprehensive support to a network of 45 local nonprofit organizations, 114 public schools, and more than 12,500 students and their families, while delivering taxpayers more than a dollar-for-dollar match against the State’s investment.

By signing this petition, you trigger an email to your local state legislators outlining the benefits of high-quality afterschool programs for children, families and schools. The email also shares how New Jersey After 3 is a uniquely positioned conduit for Federal and private funds that can empower thousands of children and families across New Jersey.

The petition can be signed in less than 30 seconds by visting www.change.org/njafter3 and clicking the “Take Action” button, or by visiting the New Jersey After 3 homepage at www.njafter3.org.
On behalf of the entire New Jersey After 3 network of programs, thank you for your support!

Jim McGlynn

Director of Institutional Development & Policy Initiatives

New Jersey After 3, Inc.

391 George Street

New Brunswick, NJ

Phone: (732) 246-7984

www.njafter3.org

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Kids Count

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

New from ACNJ!

Find out how your county measures up when it comes to the well-being of your children. ACNJ just released the NJ Kids Count 2010 County Profiles, providing valuable information about the children in your county.

View the 2010 County Profiles Here: NJ Kids Count County Profiles

The profiles show that more New Jersey families are sinking into poverty, with unemployment up in every county and child poverty increasing in most. This information comes as proposed state budget cuts of about $150 million threaten to hurt these already-struggling families. These cuts include essential programs, like health care, child and after school care, school meal programs, energy assistance and tax credits for working families.

Find out how your county ranked. View the 2010 County Profiles Here: NJ Kids Count County Profiles

We hope you use this information in your own efforts to advocate for programs and policies that can help all New Jersey children.

Regards,

Cecilia Zalkind,
Executive Director
Association for Children of New Jersey

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