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To subscribe, submit the form in the left column of this e-newsletter or visit www.nassembly.org. Human Service Newsbytes August 3, 2007 Human Service Newsbytes is the biweekly e-newsletter of the National Human Services Assembly that contains information for and about the nonprofit health and human services sector. Please give a warm welcome new members of the National Assembly and the National Collaboration for Youth!
New Research Suggests Food Stamps and School Lunches Vital to Rural Areas Congress is currently debating the 2007 Farm Bill. According to a new report from the Carsey Institute, domestic food and nutrition programs, such as the national Food Stamp Program, are vital to alleviating food insecurity in rural America where residents rely on the programs more than their urban neighbors. Making the Case for Head Start While there has been considerable debate over the effectiveness of Head Start, a new Society for Research in Child Development brief reviews the program and its benefits, and finds that the short- and long-term benefits to children offer an economic case for increased investment in early childhood education. Mentoring Improves Academic Outcomes On August 2, Big Brothers Big Sisters released Making a Difference in Schools: The Big Brothers Big sisters School-based Mentoring Impact Study. Conducted by the independent research firm Public/Private Ventures, the study is the country's first large-scaled, national, random assignment evaluation of school-based mentoring. The study finds that "Littles" demonstrate eight positive academic outcomes in the first year as a result of mentoring matches, and reduced skipping of school and greater expectation to attend college in the second year. Extending Mentoring Services to Reach Juvenile Justice and Foster Care Youth Engaging foster care youth and juvenile offenders in mentoring programs is a challenge for many youth-serving programs. Health and Human Development Programs has undertaken the first-ever federally funded training program to assist mentoring organizations. HHD’s Technical Assistance and Training Program for Mentoring System Involved Youth (TTA Program) provides four demonstration sites with up-to-date research and innovative practices specifically geared towards the experiences and needs of system-involved youth. Support Builds for Expanding Children's Health Program Congress is on the verge of shrugging off a veto threat by passing legislation to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Adding fuel to proponents' efforts, a new Urban Institute study of the Los Angeles Healthy Kids Program, which covers uninsured children below 300 percent of poverty who are ineligible for Medicaid or SCHIP, finds significant positive impacts on children’s health and access to care. Children experienced improvements in access to and use of ambulatory, specialty and dental care; and reduced unmet need. In addition to positive effects on child health and access to care, law enforcement representatives in New Mexico assert that expanding SCHIP could help reduce crime. The Fight Crime: Invest in Kids brief cites research which shows that SCHIP can help cut crime by ensuring that kids' behavioral, emotional and mental health problems are identified and treated. Many Children Exposed to Trauma Report Assesses Status of Rural Education in America Schools in rural areas function beyond their primary mission of educating children and face difficult challenges in serving the needs of children and public education. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has released Status of Education in Rural America, which presents a series of indicators on the status of education in rural America. Among its finding, the study concludes that, in 2004, the high school status dropout rate (i.e., the percentage of persons not enrolled in school and not having completed high school) among 16- to 24-year-olds in rural areas was higher than in suburban areas, but lower than in cities. Enhancing Learning in After School Programs Since No Child Left Behind (NCLB) was passed in 2002, after-school programs have been asked to enhance school-day learning. Some youth-serving programs have strictly focused on academics, while others remain committed to a wider array of recreational social, and skill-building activities. Public/Private Ventures has issued a brief, Quality Time After School: What Instructors Can Do to Enhance Learning. The brief provides guidance to policymakers, funders, and program managers about improving program quality and engaging youth to learn in after-school programs. Finding Inspiration in Literature and Movies (F.I.L.M.) Program Based on Becoming Jane Set in England during the late 18th century, Becoming Jane depicts a 20-year-old Jane Austen as she struggles with life-changing decisions. Played by Anne Hathaway, Austen is a witty young writer, devoted to her writings and unwilling to conform to the domestic roles expected of women during her time. F.I.L.M. has developed a three-step program around the positive themes from the movie. Youth ages 13-18 are encouraged to see the movie and read a Jane Austen novel, participate in activities from the activity guide (which is now available for free download), and complete a related service project. To download the activity guide and learn more about the program, click here. The movie has a limited release on August 3, and a nationwide release on August 10th! On August 1, the House Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support held “Measuring Poverty in America,” to explore how the federal government measures poverty and potential alternatives to the current formula. Representatives and panelists agreed that the current official poverty measure -- based on 1960s estimates of food consumption -- is outdated and does not accurately indicate the cash and non-cash means available to families. However, panelists disagreed as to what the US official poverty measure should be, and how income, in particular, should be defined. For complete coverage, click here. Interaction Between Nonprofit Sector and Federal Government Examined The Government Accountability Office (GAO) testified before the House Ways and Means Oversight Committee on July 24 to present findings from a report that examined the ways in which public services are delivered through nonprofit organizations. The GAO will continue its research on the following areas: coordination and collaboration; internal governance issues; capacity; nonprofit sector data; administrative and reporting requirements; and fiscal challenges for nonprofits. To access the report, click here. Congressional Black Caucus Convenes Education Summit On July 23, the Congressional Black Caucus held an Education Summit. Panels discussed early childhood development, primary and secondary school reform, and higher education access. Witnesses identified program and policy solutions to the education-related challenges facing America’s children and youth, including home visiting programs, teacher training, and financial aid for higher education. For a full summary of the summit, click here. Reauthorization Hearing on Workforce Investment Act On July 26th, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness convened programmatic directors to discuss recommended improvements to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Chairman Hinojosa (D-TX) spoke of the extent to which the nation’s ability to compete globally is tied to the capacity of its workforce, and of the connections that need to be made between the workforce and education systems. Panelist recommendations included: expanding training opportunities; increasing parental and student access to workforce information; aligning workforce and economic development; integrating systems and streamlining services; and expanding adult education. For the online webcast and witnesses’ testimony, please click here. New Research on Parent Training Programs On July 27, the Brookings Institution convened “Child Protection and Parent Training Programs” to explore the latest research on parent training programs and discuss implications for policy. Research findings indicate the importance of high quality parent training programs, which require a high frequency of visits, guided parent-child activities, and a focus on child development education. Panelists made several program and policy recommendations for creating effective parent training programs, these include: implementing developmentally appropriate curricula; coordinating services among family service agencies; and allocating research funds to find the most effective child abuse prevention strategies. For more information click here.
by Philip Coltoff This book provides advice and guidance for not-for-profit executives and boards from an experienced and successful former executive. (2006, 125 pages) $14.95. To order, click here.
by Stephen M. R. Covey This book articulates why trust has become the key leadership competency of the new global economy and tells how to inspire lasting trust in professional and personal relationships. The book shows business, government, and education leaders how to quickly and permanently gain the trust of their clients, coworkers, partners and constituents. (2006, 354 pages) $26.00.To order, click here. Grants, Notices & Awards (listed in chronological order by deadline) Grants for Community, Education and Health Projects Deadline: Open The RGK Foundation is offering grants for amounts under $25,000 each for community, education, and health projects including human services, community improvement, abuse prevention, youth development, and educational enrichment programs. Grants for Community Voicemail Hosts Deadline: Open Community Voice Mail (CVM) provides free, 24-hour nationwide voice mail to people in crisis and transition - connecting them to jobs, housing, safe communication and much more. CVM is currently available at 39 sites across the country. Thanks to a generous grant from the Cisco Systems Foundation, $20,000 seed grants are available to local agencies willing to “host” CVM for the whole community (for cities with population of 300,000 and greater). Deadline: August 8 (Apply Online)
Deadline: August 30
Capacity Building Grants for Community-Based Organizations Deadline: August 15, 2007 The Union Pacific Foundation offers grants to increase the organizational effectiveness of nonprofits in communities served by Union Pacific Railroad. Areas of interest include health and human services. Deadline: October 1, 2007. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and Youth Service America (YSA) are offering YouthPower grants of up to $1,000 to support youth-led service projects. These grants support youth in foster care (ages 5-18) and youth who have recently transitioned out of foster care (ages 19-25) in planning and implementing service projects in their community. Youth-serving organizations that have prior experience in working with youth in the foster care system are eligible to apply, provided that they that engage foster youth in planning and implementing a service project. America's Promise The 100 Best Communities for Young People Competition Deadline: November 2, 2007
Scholarship Program to Develop Nonprofit Social Sector Leaders Deadline: November 15, 2007 The American Management Association (AMA) and Leader to Leader Institute established the AMA Scholarship Program to assist social sector nonprofit organizations in developing the strong leaders today who will lead the organizations of the future. Up to 75 nonprofit employees will be able to take advantage of the fellowship, which includes a free seminar, a membership with the Leader to Leader Institute, and member benefits of the American Management Association. Small Grants for Katrina Research The Social Science Research Council is offering small grants of up to $5,000 each to enable researchers to complete projects bearing on Hurricane Katrina, its impacts on people and places, and the reconstruction of the Gulf Coast. Preference will be given to students completing dissertation projects and to younger researchers, but applications are welcome from others. Health Policy Fellowships Database The Kaiser Family Foundation has created a database that summarizes and links to fellowships and internships in health policy and related fields for undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals. ----------------------------------- Note: The National Youth Development Information Center (NYDIC) includes funding information for youth development and after school that is updated weekly. For grants, click here. For awards and scholarships, click here. Trainings & Events Nonprofit Sector Workforce Coalition National Meeting American Humanics October 21, 2007, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Los Angeles, CA Alliance for Children and Families November 18-24, 2007 Conferences National Law-Related Education (LRE) Leadership Conference The American Bar Association's Division for Public Education Youth Microenterprise Conference Making Cents International September 10-11, 2007 Washington, DC National Human Service Leaders Summit and Essence of Leadership Awards September 19, 2007, 1:00 - 8:00 PM The National Housing Center (near the Hyatt Capitol Hill) Washington, DC. (Note: A block of hotel rooms will not be reserved. Please reserve a room now at the DC hotel of your choice. )
National Conference of the National Center on Nonprofit Enterprise "Your Money or Your Mission?" September 26- 29 Sheraton National Hotel Arlington, VA National Summit on Your City's Families National League of Cities September 30-October 2, 2007 San Antonio, TX Alliance for Children and Families National Conference October 17-19, 2007 Anaheim, CA Independent Sector Annual Conference October 21-23, 2007 Los Angeles, CA Executive Leadership Institute for CEOs and Board Members November 8-10, 2007 Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management Claremont Graduate University Claremont, CA (Note: this event is for CEOs and board leaders of national organizations only.) Alliance for Children and Families 2007 National Youth Development Symposium Youth and the Emerging Workforce: “Get Ready, Here They Come!” Co-sponsored by National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) and National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) December 3-6, 2007 Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Chicago, IL The National Network for Youth's Annual Symposium 2008 January 27-30, 2008 Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington, DC. CLICK HERE to post your organization's conference dates on the National Assembly's Web site; click on "Add Your Own Event," and follow the instructions. Got News? Please e-mail newsbyteseditor@nassembly.org with your news, events, and suggestions for Human Service Newsbytes. |
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THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE: Leadership Strategies for Not-For-Profit Executives and Boards