BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS TO DEVELOP AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS

SUMMARY
The Wisconsin Afterschool Network through regional meetings in Marathon County initiated opportunities for building partnerships within the community. A partnership was formed between the 21st Century Community Learning Center, Wausau Child Care, Inc, and 4-H Youth Development Staff. Training fund were requested through the 2007 MetLife Afterschool Fund for a two part training series with the following objectives

• Staff within the 21st Century Community Learning Centers and Wausau Child Care would become familiar with the components of the Afterschool Toolkit.
• Increased partnership discussions between these two groups as well as the 4-H Youth Development Team.
• Increased awareness of 4-H Essential Elements within the program staff of the partnership agencies.
• Increased awareness of Wisconsin Afterschool Networks’ Guiding Principals for Afterschool Programs.

SITUATION
Need—Increased afterschool training.

The goal was to increase training and programming for front line staff working in programs in Marathon County.  Management staff from both the 21st Century Community Learning Center and Wausau Child Care had received training on the SEDL afterschool toolkit.  In addition there was interest in increasing the knowledge base within the programs on the essential elements of 4-H.

RESPONSE
Management staff from these programs met as well as the 4-H Youth Development Agent for Marathon County to develop a proposed training outline. Two sessions were then developed as follows

Session 1 Afterschool Toolkit Training

• Introduce Wisconsin Afterschool Network’s Guiding Principles with emphasis on strong partnerships, knowledgeable staff and positive community relationships.
• Introduce and review the Essential Elements of 4-H emphasizing the components within generosity and civic engagement.
• Overview of the Afterschool Toolkits.
• Break Out sessions to cover each area of the toolkit.

Session 2 Incorporation of 4-H programming into Wausau Child Care Afterschool programs

• Increased emphasis on Essential Elements of 4-H to staff.
• Outline available clubs to incorporate into programs.
• Specific trainings with individual sites and programs appropriate to that site (14 sites are in place in the Wausau and DC Everest school districts).

A training fund request was then submitted and when resources were made available the trainings were presented to school age staff

RESULTS
The first training was presented in two sessions by staff of 21st Century Community Learning Center, Wausau Child Care, Inc and the 4-H Youth Development Agent. The first session included a review of the Elements of Essential Guiding Principles of 4-H and Resources available through 4-H for After School Curriculum. The second session was a Overview of After School Toolkits and specific sessions covering literacy, math and science and homework. Hands on computer time was given to the staff to assist with their familiarity with the program. 

The second session was a collaboration between Wausau Child Care and Marathon County 4-H.  The session emphasized the essential elements and curriculum available through 4-H.

All Wausau Child Care school age staff reviewed the trainings if they were unable to attend.

School age staffs in two of the larger programs in Marathon County serving approximately 1767 youth were trained in skills essential to frontline staff.  In addition curriculum kits were developed which are being used throughout both programs.  Wausau Child Care now has 6 active 4-H programs operating within their afterschool programs. Additional trainings and development of curriculum kits is being planned for Spring 2008.

Jean Berger, 4-H Youth Development Agent - 2007 Success Story

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