The GAIC will develop a statewide report to provide a critical scan of programs and unleash key issues that impact afterschool and youth development opportunities. Thanks to funding offered by the Children and Youth Coordinating Council (CYCC) and United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, GAIC will be able to convene key stakeholders who will determine scope, audience and key issues worthy of attention in a report of this kind. A Georgia OST Report Task Force has been formed that is representative of the non-profit-public makeup of GAIC partners, plus we will be joined by two researchers from GSU and UGA who have relevant experience and knowledge for this type of work.

Despite the growth and attention paid to out-of- school time opportunities, Georgia’s policymakers, non-profit and corporate leaders, and parents have not been able to articulate the formal successes and challenges we face in the state around these critical supports, services and opportunities for Georgia’s families. The Georgia OST Report’s primary objectives include: 1) informing key audiences about the need for positive, enriching afterschool programs in Georgia, 2) developing a state profile of afterschool/ out-of-school time issues (accessibility, availability, quality), and 3) identifying key barriers and leverage points for building a healthy system that improves outcomes for Georgia’s youth. GAIC has secured the Washington DC based, Collaborative Communications Group, to write the report and facilitate the meetings for the Georgia OST Report Task Force. This effort will also bring key partners, such as the National Afterschool Alliance and South Carolina Afterschool Alliance, to offer their content expertise and provide lessons learned from the development of the South Carolina Out-of-School Time report.

Department of Human Resources (DHR) Youth Initiative- DHR is accepting applications from targeted high schools to implement a summer learning program for 14-15 year olds. Youth will receive a stipend for participation in apprenticeships and health activities. The program will also help prepare teens for the future by offering more structured internship programs such as Teenwork.

The average award will be $125,000, but the Department will consider proposals ranging from $75,000 to $200,000. There is a $1 for $1 match requirement that can be met with hard cash or in- kind contributions. These matching funds will help the Department meet its internal Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirement for the TANF block grant. All high schools with a 2005-2006 free and reduced lunch eligibility rate of 50% or more are eligible to submit a proposal. The deadline has been extended to May 3, 2006 so spread the word to be sure Georgia’s high schools and key community partners hear about this opportunity!

For more information on the DHR Youth Initiative, please contact Malaika Moses, Project Manager, at mfmoses@dhr.state.ga.us or (404) 657-4718 or Carmen Callaway, Program Coordinator at cccallaway@dhr.state.ga.us or (404) 657-1595.

Leaders from Georgia PTA and the GAIC took their partnership to the next level. GA PTA’s Lisa Malice (Education Chair) and Donna Kosicki (Parent Involvement Chair) and Jill Riemer, Executive Director for GAIC, presented a workshop at the Summer Learning Conference, hosted by Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland, March 22-24, 2006. The presentation focused on ways afterschool and summer learning opportunities could better engage the Parent Involvement Model called ‘Building Successful Partnerships’ to strengthen these critical programs.

There are many important motivations why school, home, community partnerships are crucial for summer learning for all children. Among the top three reasons are that all young people, especially those from low-income families, face a significant risk of losing ground academically over the summer months. Second, children lose more than academic knowledge over the summer – they are also less healthy. Obesity and lack of access to nutritious meals are just a couple of health concerns. Third, young people who are not supervised during the summer months are more likely to use alcohol, drugs, and tobacco, engage in criminal and other high-risk behaviors.

Georgia PTA and GAIC will continue to work together to ensure educators, PTA leaders, and community businesses have trenchant resource tools available to them so that schools can assess and implement effective parent involvement strategies to out-of-school time learning - academic and enrichment - programs for all students in Georgia. Improvements in quality and quantity of afterschool programs will make dramatic strides with an informed end-user in Georgia’s parents and effective organizations like the GA PTA leading the way.

For more information, please visit the Georgia PTA website at http://www.georgi apta.org .

“Policy Counts for Kids” – Voices for Georgia’s Children. The latest and final “Policy Counts for Kids” for the 2006 Georgia Legislative Session is now available at this link from the Voices website: http://www.ciprg.com/ul/gavoices/Wavelengt h%203-27.pdf
The report lists the bills impacting children and families that made it through cross-over and gives a sense of which pieces of legislation could have the most profound impact on child well-being.

If you have any feedback or comments on how “Policy Counts for Kids” could be improved please contact:

Marc Marton
Director, Communications
Voices for Georgia's Children
mmarton@georgiavoices.org
(404) 521-0311
(678) 938-5470 Cell

The Institute on Neuroscience is an eight-week summer program, sponsored by the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience (CBN) and the Science National Honor Society, Inc. (SNHS), for rising high school seniors who excel in science. After orientation week and a thorough introduction to neuroscience concepts, scholars conduct a five- week independent research projects guided by faculty mentors. The program is a great opportunity for youth to become excited about neuroscience and explore neuroscience-related academic and professional careers. It also gives students comprehensive preparation for the pursuit of undergraduate science majors. Scholars earn a $1,500 stipend upon successful completion of the program.

Who Should Apply? The preference is for high school students beginning their senior year in fall of 2006 with a Grade point average of at least a 3.0 (B average). Advanced Placement science is recommended, and scholars must arrange in advance local Atlanta housing and transportation. Applications are DUE APRIL 17. Submission requirements include an on-line application (download application in pdf format), high school transcript, and two letters of recommendation from teachers and/or advisors. Notification of acceptances will be mailed the week of May 15.

For more information, please visit http://www.cbn- atl.org/education/ion.html

Contact Information:Kyle Frantz, PhD, CBN educator
E-mail: kfrantz@gsu.edu
Phone: 404.651.1487

Jill J. Riemer
Executive Director
(404)527-7250
jriemer@unitedwayatlanta.org

Karin C. Hong
Coordinator
(404)527-7232
khong@unitedwayatlanta.org

email: khong@unitedwayatlanta.org