4-H After-School - National News

The national 4-H After-School Team holds monthly conference calls for state contacts. In this month's discussion (August 2006) several emerging opportunities were announced.

1. MetLife Foundation is providing over $500,000 in a 3-year period to help states provide training to after-school providers in local communities. They anticipate awarding 8-12 different states (or collaborations of muliple states) each year, with grants of approximately $10,000 to reach 500 providers and 10,000 youth. Smaller states will be encouraged to collaborate with other states to achieve the goals. The Request for Proposals (RFP) will be out in September.
2. The National 4-H After-School team is conceptualizing a 1-year project to reach 100,000 young people with a curriculum focused on the core skill of positive choices and decision-making, most likely related to the national healthy lifestyles initiative. They envision providing 10 states with $40,000-$50,000 to reach 10,000 after-school youth/state. This is still in the conceptual stage and an actual funder has not been announced.
3. Watch for more details on 4-H night at the movies, a potential national event that could serve as both a fund-raiser for state foundations, and promotion of 4-H.
4. 4-H After-School staff across the Extension system are developing a 15 hour training course for after-school providers. It will be offered as a training track for providers attending the National Afterschool Conference, March 21-23, Pheonix, AZ. We can anticipate receiving CDs containing the training and resources for our use in our own states and communities.
5. New 4-H After-School curriculum will be reviewed through CCS in mid-September.
6. The Rural Youth Development program will be issuing new RFPs later in the fall.
7. The Coca-Cola RFP is still open for applications, and focuses on environmental education.