We know during this unprecedented time, there are real challenges emerging for out-of-school time programs and out-of-school time professionals and advocates.
Please continue to reach out, as needed, to discuss challenges you are facing in your community. The Kentucky Out-of-School Alliance is here to be a resource for you and provide any support we can during this difficult time. We will continue to advocate and be a voice for you with local, state and federal agencies.
Be sure to stay up to date as this situation changes quickly.
Resources for OST professionals and advocates:
Reopening Resources:
COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs – updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control
Reopening Together Webinars – the Afterschool Alliance is hosting a series of webinars dedicated to ensuring afterschool programs are included in any reopening guidance and learn how you can play a role in the process in your community
How Afterschool Supports Students’ Learning – a one page brief to share with school and district administrators on how afterschool can support students’ learning
Partnering with Schools to Reopen – a sample email and letter that make the case for including afterschool in discussions and planning around reopening schools
COVID-19 Recovery Backgrounder – a four-page handout that describes why afterschool and summer learning programs are important and effective
K-12 Schools COVID-19 Mitigation Toolkit – the toolkit is designed for public health officials, K-12 administrators, school district officials, and occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals to assess hazards and implement mitigation strategies to reduce the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in schools.
What Do We Know About Children and Coronavirus Transmission – a good summary of the latest available data from the Kaiser Family Foundation
Kentucky Specific Resources:
The Commonwealth of Kentucky has a centralized website for all COVID-19 updates here.
KY Child Protection Resources – child protection, abuse and neglect referral and reporting details
KY 21st Century Community Learning Center Guidance – the information provided is intended to help inform the actions of 21st Century Community Learning Center program providers during this period
KY School Reopening Guidance 2.0 – new KDE guidance on Preparing for Reopening in January 2021 encourages districts to continue to follow previously issued reopening guidance from KDE and the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH)
KY Cabinet for Healthy & Family Services COVID-19 Resource Page – on this page you’ll find information and links to resources related to CHFS agency response to COVID-19 and its impact on our programs, services and the people we serve
KY Department of Education COVID-19 Resource Page – on this page you’ll find updates and information specifically for P-12 education
Kentucky Career Center – we know that this can be a challenging time for the out-of-school time workforce so please be sure to check out unemployment resources in your community which now covers childcare workers employed by religious affiliated organizations and non-profits
Policy & Advocacy Resources:
Afterschool Alliance – analysis of federal legislation responding to COVID-19, including updates on 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Child Care Development Block Grants, USDA meals and snacks, and AmeriCorps service
Survey: Afterschool programs in the time of COVID-19 – new poll finds that 3 in 4 programs have changed how they operate during COVID-19
Making the Case to Local Education Leaders – how to leverage afterschool and summer learning programs to meet students’ learning needs
National Summer Learning Association – CARES ACT: COVID-19 Stimulus Funding Guidance for Summer Learning to explore what it means for OST programs
COVID-19: Costs to Reopen Schools Fact-Sheet – this document estimates some of the expenses school districts may incur in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
and as they plan to reopen for the 2020–2021 school year.
Recognizing the Role of Afterschool Programs in Reopening – a new resource from American Institutes for Research describes the role afterschool and summer programs can play in rebuilding after COVID-19
Professional Development:
KYOSA Online Learning Platform – The Kentucky Out-of-School Alliance offers the latest in training for OST professionals and advocates. Network members can access these trainings anytime and anywhere. Users can also can track their progress and earn certificates of completion through their user account. Our online learning system is available for use FREE of charge to KYOSA network members.
Youth For Youth – technical assistance site has a robust offering of professional development modules designed for 21st Century Community Learning Center programs
Afterschool Tech Toolkit – the National Afterschool Association has a great centralized site for how to use technology for OST professionals to encourage connecting with 21st CCLC program participants virtually in an effort to reduce isolation for students and staff
Virtual Learning Response Fund – the Fund will provide professional development support to educators to enable the successful transition to virtual learning environments and enhance their ability to deliver instruction to meet today’s needs
Parent/Family/Caregiver Resources:
Building Positive Conditions for Learning at Home – the experts at the American Institutes of Research have assembled a collection of resources that focuses on building positive
conditions for learning at home
The Recipe for Reducing Stress and Boosting Health – a few easy things you can do every day, starting right now, to maintain a sense of control, build resilience and stay healthy
Talk, Read, and Sing Together Every Day – made specifically for families, caregivers and early educators, these resources can help enrich a child’s early language experiences by providing research-based tips for talking, reading, and singing with young children every day
Environmental Education at Home – activities from the Kentucky Environmental Education Council
How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus – resources from PBS on how to use age-appropriate language and information
Online Safety for Kids & Families – FREE digital resources on how to keep you and your children safe in an enhanced digital world
Supporting Families and COVID-19 – the STEM Next Opportunity Fund talks about five practices that afterschool providers can use to support families during this uncertain time
Other Resources:
COVID-19: Considerations for the Afterschool Field – the Afterschool Alliance has gathered examples of effective guidance for programs, and issues you might want to consider
COVID-19 and Kids: Resources from Save the Children – as the world’s leading expert on childhood, this website is dedicated to providing tools and tips you can trust for parents, caregivers, teachers, OST staff and all those who care about children in crisis including weekly learning activities for grades K-6
The BOOST Cafe Resource Center – a collection of FREE resources curated by BOOST (Best of Out-of-School Time) and sorted by grade level and category
Alliance for a Healthier Generation – provides free, evidence-based resources to support the physical, social, and emotional health of children and their caregivers. Here you will find a selection of these resources designed to support you in reducing stress, eating healthy, moving regularly, getting quality sleep, and more
Food Research & Action Center – is the leading national nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States
Free STEM Resources – in order to aid educators throughout this time, STEMfinity is offering their ongoing listing of free STEM resources to help in planning for potentially long school closures and student absences
Bring STEM Learning Home – the Afterschool Alliance has put together a list of STEM activities and curriculum to help keep both students and adults engaged during these times
Khan Academy: Remote Learning During School Closures – free online educational resources for students, parents and teachers
Hechinger Report – helping kids who are feeling isolated and anxious after schools shut down
Ready4K (English) / (Spanish) – provided, FREE of charge, through the support of Save the Children, Ready4K is a research-based text messaging program for families with kids ages 0 to 9. Each week, you’ll receive 3 texts with fun facts and tips on ways to help your child learn and grow
Keep Calm, Learning is On! (English) / Spanish – the Learning Hero Roadmap guides you with daily support for math, reading, life skills, and more