OCASA update- June 19, 2006

 

As the school year ends and many organizations transition to summer programs, we hope everyone is doing well. OCASA would like to share and get feedback on recent and upcoming OCASA efforts and plans.

 

Major topics in this update include:

 

§      OFCY Fund Repayment – Advocacy Update – Pending Success

§      Afterschool Directory- School-CBO Partnership Update

§      Prop 49- Local Funding Efforts Update

§      Prop 49 - Action Alert

§      Developing A High School Agenda

§      Oaklandafterschool.org - Website Plans- Input Welcome

§      Membership Contributions Due June 30

§      OCASA Leadership & Steering Committee

§      YahooGroup Details

 

OFCY FUND REPAYMENT- ADVOCACY UPDATE – PENDING SUCCESS

Congratulations to OCASA, its partners, the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth and ultimately Oakland’s youth! OCASA’s advocacy letter, which garnered the support of 30 additional organizations, and follow up activities, demanding that the City Council make payment of $3.14 million in OFCY delinquent revenues is a pending success. At the June 8 City Council budget review meeting, 8 Council members voted to pay the funds, with half the funds coming this year and half next. Final vote is still pending.

 

AFTERSCHOOL DIRECTORY- SCHOOL-CBO PARTNERSHIP UPDATE

Thank you to the over 30 organizations who have entered information about their current activities and future interests on OCASA’s new afterschool directory (click here). In addition to the overall profile, OCASA conducted a supplemental survey and held a special meeting on June 2 to discuss the interest of afterschool service providers and youth development organizations to work with the 50+ public and charter schools that do not currently have major funding sources (ASES, 21st Century and OFCY After-School Initiative). Over 20 organizations have responded thus far and this list will be updated tomorrow and circulated (click here). We anticipate that all these resources will help facilitate partnerships in the upcoming school year.

 

PROP 49- LOCAL FUNDING EFFORTS UPDATE

OCASA continues to work with the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth and the OUSD SUCCESS office to talk about the possibility of leveraging OFCY and other funds to meet operational funding gaps created by the implementation of Prop 49. We hosted a special meeting in early June to air issues and have attended the past two OFCY Planning and Oversight Committee (POC) meetings to continue the conversation. At this point, it is unclear what the possibilities will be, especially in the 2006-2007 school year. We are relatively confident that funds may be available in the 2007-2008 year. After the July POC meeting, there should be more clarity and we will be sure to update OCASA members as more information is available.

 

PROP 49 ACTION ALERT

Let Assembly Appropriations know SB 638 needs to be heard, and passed into law, before July recess. SB 638 (Torlakson), which got the unanimous backing of the Assembly Education Committee, is not scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee until August, too late to get new programs in place for the start of the school year and seriously threatening a successful rollout of Proposition 49. Contact Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nuñez and Appropriations Chair Assemblywoman Judy Chu and urge them to hear SB 638 on the next possible hearing date June 28, and then move it to the Assembly floor as quickly as possible. This will help ensure the bill gets through the necessary Assembly and Senate floor votes in time to be signed into law before July 7, the start of the summer recess. Speaker Nuñez's contact information can be found here Assemblywoman Chu's contact information can be found here.

 

DEVELOPING A HIGH SCHOOL AGENDA

One of OCASA’s key goals is to support the operation and formation of a comprehensive after-school learning center at every public school in Oakland by 2010. The pending implementation of Prop 49 offers a mechanism for meeting this goal at the elementary and middle school levels. The anticipated transition of 21st Century Funds to a stronger high school focus, may provide opportunities at the high school level. OCASA would like to talk with high school afterschool leaders to develop a broad agenda that makes sense for Oakland. If you have suggestions and would be interested in meeting individually or as part of a group, please let us know.

 

OAKLANDAFTERSCHOOL.ORG – WEBSITE PLANS – INPUT WELCOME

We have already received positive feedback on the value of OCASA’s new website, www.oaklandafterschool.org, especially the Afterschool Directory. Over time, we envision the website becoming a central place to go for learning and sharing about afterschool in Oakland. We hope to add a job board, a discussion board, and a link to useful resources. We would also love to explore working with a youth-led group to design, update and add content to the website, including a portal for youth discussions. If you have suggestions for resources to include or ideas for improving the website, please let us know.

 

MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTIONS DUE JUNE 30

For the first time in its history, OCASA is asking that members contribute dues to support its operation. Contributions for the July 1, 2006- June 30, 2007 fiscal year are due June 30. Your membership contributions help guarantee that the core administrative costs of OCASA are met, and collectively they serve as a reminder that we are more powerful acting together than acting apart. Organizational membership is $250 per year for organizations with budgets of over $200,000, $125 per year for organizations with budgets under $200,000. All organization staff automatically become members when the organization joins. If dues are a significant barrier to your membership, please contact Edward Hannemann. More information and a registration form is available online (click here).

 

OCASA LEADERSHIP & STEERING COMMITTEE

The OCASA Steering Committee meets monthly, with the next meeting being June 27. Comprised primarily of Executive Directors and senior leaders of afterschool and youth development organizations, the Steering Committee provides guidance and leadership to OCASA’s efforts. If you would be interested in attending a meeting or possibly joining, please contact Edward Hannemann, Steering Committee Chair, at ehannemann@sbcglobal.net, or Jeff Abramson, Interim Director, at jeffabra@rocketmail.com.

 

YAHOOGROUP DETAILS

This yahoogroup listserve was launched earlier this year as part of OCASA’s efforts to continue building connections between after school service providers and has been a good tool for sharing updates on important issues and opportunities that effect the entire afterschool community. There are currently 55 listserve members, a list of whom is available by visiting http://www.oaklandafterschool.org/YahooGroup.htm. Most members are permanent full-time afterschool and youth development leaders. If you know people who might like to join the group, please encourage them to send an email to ocasa-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or to Jeff at jeffabra@rocketmail.com.

 

 

Questions or comments about this update, please contact:

Edward Hannemann, Steering Committee Chair, ehannemann@sbcglobal.net   

Jeff Abramson, Interim Director, at jeffabra@rocketmail.com