In this Issue

• Child Care WAGE$ Florida WORKS!
• Spotlight On: Afterschool Initiatives
• Forum Corner
• Children's Week at the Capitol Largest Turnout in Years
• Worst to First: A Campaign to Put Florida's Kids First
• Attend the One Goal Conference: Building the Future Together
• Celebrate Provider Appreciation Day May 8
• Legislative Updates
• State and National News
• Early Learning Coalition Briefs
• Calendar of Events

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To be eligible, participants must:

• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Work in a licensed or license-exempt youth development program serving children age five and older
• Work a minimum of 15 hours per week
• Have the support of their youth development program
• Be a Florida resident

Funded by The Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, Child Care Services Association and the National T.E.A.C.H. program and in partnership with Palm Beach County Community College, Prime Time Palm Beach County, Inc. and the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, the pilot project will provide scholarships to 25 youth development staff working with children ages five and older in Palm Beach County.

For more information about the T.E.A.C.H. Palm Beach Pilot - Youth Development Professional Scholarship program, visit www.thechildrensforum.com/teach-pb_pilot.php.

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The upcoming May seminars include:

• May 9 - Panama City, FL
• May 16 - Land O'Lakes, FL (This event is full/closed).

Registration deadlines are the Friday one week prior to the Saturday training date or until filled to capacity. For a complete listing of the entire statewide training schedule through December, visit www.myfan.org or contact Jenn Faber at 239-489-4386 or jfaber@thechildrensforum.com.

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In America today, more than 14.3 million children are alone and unsupervised in the hours after school. Afterschool for All brings together individuals and organizations from across the nation who support the vision that all children and youth deserve access to quality, affordable afterschool programs.

Afterschool advocates hope that Afterschool for All partner list will convey the broad and diverse support that exists for access to afterschool for all children. Sign on to Afterschool for All Florida at www.afterschoolalliance.org/a4aJoin_FL.cfm. To learn more, visit www.afterschoolalliance.org.

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Among other factors, the video details these statistics:

• In communities today, 14.3 million children take care of themselves after the school day ends.
• Just 6.5 million children are in afterschool programs - but the parents of another 15.3 million children say their children would participate in afterschool if a program were available.
• A report on 21st Century Community Learning Centers (afterschool programs receiving federal funds) showed that 45 percent of all participants improved their reading grades, and 41 percent improved their math grades.
• On school days, the hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are the peak hours for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex.
• Teens who do not participate in afterschool programs are nearly three times more likely to skip classes than teens who do participate. They are also three times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs, and they are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and engage in sexual activity.
• Parents with children in afterschool programs are less stressed, have fewer unscheduled absences and are more productive at work.

To view the video, visit www.myfan.org/media.html.

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