OCASA update- July
25, 2006
Hard to believe, but the summer is nearly over. Below are updates on issues that OCASA has been tracking and areas of expected concentration as the 2006-2007 school year begins.
Major topics in this update include:
§ Prop 49 Planning and Update
§ Joint Powers Authority Vote Expected Today
§ Workforce Development Resources
§ High School Discussion Pending
§ Training and Technical Assistance Survey Coming Soon
§ Oaklandafterschool.org - Website Improvements
§ OCASA Listserve Grows by 20 Members
§ Membership Dues for July 1- June 30 Fiscal Year
PROP 49- PLANNING AND UPDATE
According to the latest information we’ve seen, amendments to Prop 49 are on track to pass in early August with the possible release of Prop 49 application information by the California Department of Education as early as the end of the month. With this timeline, we expect OUSD and any local charter proposals to be approved possibly by October with programs targeted to start in January. OCASA continues to work with the OUSD SUCCESS office to gather and share information to help match schools and interested after school organizations. We encourage you to please keep us in the loop as you make contact with principals so that we can be of the most assistance. We are also continuing to work with the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY) and other partners to talk about the possibility of leveraging OFCY and other funds to meet operational funding gaps created by the implementation of Prop 49. As per recommendations at the July 18 OFCY Project Oversight Committee (POC) meeting, we do not expect special funds to be available in the 2006-2007 school year. We are relatively confident that funds may be available in the 2007-2008 year. We will continue to be involved, to provide updates and to seek your advice and assistance.
JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY VOTE EXPECTED TODAY
After a one week delay, the City Council is scheduled to vote on a proposed Joint Powers Authority (JPA) sponsored by Safe Passages that would include afterschool under its mandate. Key documents presented at recent meetings about the JPA and Safe Passages are collected on this OCASA webpage: http://www.oaklandafterschool.org/ProposedJPA.htm. OCASA has expressed concern and raised questions about the scope and specifics of a possible JPA, the voice and involvement of afterschool and youth development organizations in planning and ultimately being represented, the pace of the decision, as well as other issues, and asked for a delay to allow more community input. As information becomes available we will continue to provide updates and ask for your leadership and involvement.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
OCASA representatives have held a number of individual meetings to begin to explore ways to help meet the workforce needs that currently exist and that we expect to be created with the implementation of Prop 49. We are in discussion with local community colleges about the possibility of creating and piloting a certificated program both for entry level afterschool workers and students pursuing college education. We have also advertised via this listserve the Oakland After SchoolCorps program (for more information contact Malaika Parker at CalSAC, laikap@comcast.net). We also suggest contacting Be A Mentor (see www.beamentor.org, Robert Goetsch at goetsch@beamentor.org) for more information regarding their mentor/volunteer-matching program. In the near term, we plan to bring various groups together to continue to further these efforts. If your organization is interested in getting involved or has suggestions, please contact us (contact information at the bottom).
HIGH SCHOOL DISCUSSION PENDING
As mentioned in the last update, we see the anticipated
transition of 21st Century Funds to a stronger high school focus may
provide opportunities at the high school level that will further the goal of
high quality, comprehensive after-school learning center at every public school
in
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SURVEY COMING SOON
OCASA will soon release a survey asking community based organizations to identify challenges, successes, as well as their ability to offer and desire to receive training and technical assistance. Working with the OUSD SUCCESS office, OCASA intends to offer three two-session small group TA trainings led or co-taught by OCASA members, as well as larger group trainings and a limited number of formalized mentoring opportunities. More details will be forthcoming soon. Your response to the survey will be critical to developing and ensuring the success of this effort.
OAKLANDAFTERSCHOOL.ORG – WEBSITE IMPROVEMENTS
OCASA’s website, www.oaklandafterschool.org, continues to improve. In addition to the Afterschool Directory (click here) and supplemental CBO-school matching survey results (click here), the website has now added a very basic “Resources” page (click here). We still plan to add a job board and a discussion board, and to automate the directory pages. We would be interested in 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.
OCASA LISTSERVE GROWS BY 20 MEMBERS
OCASA’s general listserve, hosted as a YahooGroup, grew by over 20 members in the past month and now has over 75 members. This 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 and youth development community. A list of current members 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.
MEMBERSHIP DUES FOR JULY 1 – JUNE 30 FISCAL YEAR
Starting this month, OCASA has asked members to contribute dues. Over a dozen organizations and individuals have responded. 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. Members are invited to all membership meetings and only members are eligible to serve on the Steering Committee. If dues are a significant barrier to your membership, please contact Edward Hannemann. More information and a registration form is available online (click here).
Questions or comments about this update, please contact:
Edward Hannemann, Steering Committee Chair, ehannemann@sbcglobal.net
Jeff Abramson, Interim Director, at jeffabra@rocketmail.com