News

September is Hunger Action Month. Organized by Feeding America, this month is a time to reflect and, most importantly, recommit to taking action to support those in our community facing the impossible decision between having nutritious food and paying for essentials like medicine, housing, or education. Food security and hunger connect to many of the components of the Whole Child Model. To honor this complexity but provide tangible action steps, below are three fall weekend projects that I hope inspire you. I’d love to know which ones you try and what you’d add to this list. Tag me on Twitter using @hatchdw or message me on LinkedIn.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in financial hardship for many, including members of the OST workforce. As a result, you may now be eligible for federal student loan forgiveness for your important public service, even if you were not eligible before.

The recently released Practice Brief from the National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment (NCASE) highlights considerations for addressing school-age needs in state child care licensing. NCASE reviewed selected states' school-age childcare licensing requirements and emphasized a variety of ways licensing requirements can and should support school-age providers and the youth they serve. This brief offers insights for licensing agencies to consider when focusing on the needs of school-age programs and providers, including:

During the height of the pandemic, feeling unsettled in my OST Director position, I thought about what would change how I felt. After all, the job provided comfort during some of the most trying experiences in my personal life. The organization paid me more than others in OST leadership positions, offering me financial security. The job had a flexible schedule that allowed me time to teach part-time at a community college. Finally, I left the position, exhausted from the mental, emotional, and physical workload. Moving on was difficult, but I know it was the best thing I could have done. It wasn't a higher salary that prompted me to take a different position at a new organization, and a raise wouldn’t have kept me with my former employer.