Navigating SEL from the Inside Out: Implications for Out of School Time Programs

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, educators around the country are seeing an increasing need to support young people who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, fear, trauma, food, insecurity, or even homelessness. One crucial avenue through which afterschool and summer learning program staff can help support young people is through the development of social and emotional skills, behaviors and beliefs.

Fortunately, this past summer saw the release of an updated version of the Navigating Social and Emotional Learning from the Inside Out report from the EASEL Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Funded by the Wallace Foundation, this updated report continues to support the idea that afterschool programs can have significant benefits to children through the development of skills and behaviors like empathy, respect, conflict resolution, and managing emotions.

In this webinar, which we are co-hosting with the Forum for Youth Investment and Every Hour Counts, we will be diving deep into what the research says around SEL in OST programs with Stephanie Jones, Professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and co-author of report that discuss the value of SEL in afterschool and identify straightforward, cost-effective strategies for improving SEL in any program. The webinar will also feature a presentation by Cheryl Hollis, Chief Program Officer of WINGS for Kids, who will provide insights for how to implement the lessons from the report in programs. Join us for a great discussion of how and why afterschool programs around the country are leveraging SEL to help kids recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speakers:

• Stephanie Jones, Gerald S. Lesser Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Cheryl Hollis, Chief Program Officer, WINGS for Kids

Introductory Remarks by:

• Jodi Grant, Executive Director, Afterschool Alliance
• Jessica Donner, Executive Director, Every Hour Counts