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To subscribe, submit the form in the left column of this e-newsletter or visit www.nassembly.org. Newsbytes September 2, 2005 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. ASSEMBLY FEATURES Conference Program Now Available - National Leaders Summit The 2005 National Leaders Summit will take place on September 8, 2005 at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center located at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave in Washington, DC. The National Assembly recently released the conference program which includes workshop titles, descriptions and presenter information. Click here for more information or to register. Just a Few Days Left to Register Online for Policy Forum The National Assembly/Alliance for Children and Families policy forum on September 9 will explore how national organizations, including the National Council of Nonprofit Associations, YMCA of the USA, and Families USA, work with their state and local affiliates on national policy issues. The forum, Connecting Grassroots and Grasstops Policy Efforts, will also feature “the view from the grassroots” with state and local organizations such as the Human Services Coalition of Dade County, the Community Service Council of Greater Tulsa, and the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance. September 7 is the last day to register online. For more information and to register, click here. The Business Partners Program is a service for members of the National Assembly and their affiliates that leverages their combined purchasing power to reduce costs. Click here to see the complete list of National Assembly Business Services and Discounts. The Business Partners Program is made possible through the generous support of The UPS Foundation.
FEATURED BUSINESS PARTNER
Totally Chocolate: A Unique one-of-a-kind gift (customized or not) to say "Thank You". Totally Chocolate specializes in creating chocolate items that express gratitude to employees and volunteers. All products are made from 100% pure Belgian chocolate and can be customized to fit specific needs. Items and wrappers can also be imprinted with organizational logos. To receive special National Assembly member discounts you must call 1-800-255-5506 to place an order. Tell them you are a member of the National Assembly. Go to www.totallychocolate.com to view their yummy products. Youth Service America Uses Website to Engage Young People in Hurricane Katrina Relief Youth Service America is offering a list of organizations that are mobilizing to support the relief effort. This list can be found at www.YSA.org. Also available at this website are project planning tools and resources, along with a downloadable project planning toolkit, an online project planning tool, and easy to use tip sheets. These will help young people think through the steps needed to plan and implement a successful relief project. To continue their support beyond their individual project, YSA invites young people to educate others about the magnitude of this natural disaster and encourage them to engage their peers, elected officials, and the media in order to inspire others to help. YSA is also seeking stories of young people supporting the hurricane relief effort. Send stories or questions to Christina Wessell, Manager of Communications & Outreach at, (202)296-2992 ext. 28 or cwessell@ysa.org. Disaster Grantmaking - A New Resource The report Disaster Grantmaking: A Practical Guide for Foundations and Corporations lists eight guiding principles, among them: First, do no harm — your grant should contribute to the solution and not the problem; don't act in isolation; think beyond the immediate crisis to the long-term; and communicate your work widely to educate internal and external audiences about the disaster process. [Source: The Foundation Center] Free Copies of Kids Count Data Book Available The sixteenth annual KIDS COUNT Data Book, the centerpiece of the national and state-by-state initiative of the Annie E. Casey Foundation to track the status of children in the United States, was released in July. For a complimentary copy, click here. Report: Youth Program Quality Assessment and Improvement As the landscape of out-of-school time programming for children and youth has expanded and matured, the issue of quality has moved from the periphery to the core of conversations across research, policy and practice circles. To take stock of progress and to promote sharing and learning across roles, sectors and organizations, the Forum for Youth Investment convened a meeting in May 2005 with support from the William T. Grant Foundation. The meeting included presentations from the funding, research, practice and policy perspectives and featured an in-depth look at the High/Scope Foundation's new Youth Program Quality Assessment. This report highlights key themes that emerged over the course of the day and includes summaries of each presentation and links to speaker materials. Click here for more information. Independent Sector Issues Accountability Choices Independent Sector has released a list of steps charitable organizations can take to demonstrate and improve their accountability. The steps in the Checklist for Accountability, which also includes a list of resources available as models, are intended to help charitable organizations reassure their stakeholders of their commitment to uphold the public trust. The checklist, which builds on the work of the Independent Sector convened Panel on the Nonprofit Sector, calls on charitable organizations to develop a culture of accountability and transparency; adopt a statement of values, code of ethics, and conflict of interest policy; ensure that the board of directors understands and can fulfill its financial responsibilities; conduct independent financial reviews, particularly audits; ensure the accuracy of and make public their Forms 990; establish and support a whistleblower protection policy; and remain current with all laws and regulations governing the sector.
Official Poverty Rate and Number of Uninsured Increased in 2004 The Census Bureau reported on August 30 that 37 million people, or 12.7% of the U.S. population, lived below the poverty level last year, an increase of 1.1 million people from 2003. A more sophisticated measurement that the Census also publishes, which accounts for variable costs of living, rising medical expenditures and more accurate price inflation, shows the official rate has consistently understated poverty. The number of people without health insurance also increased by 800,000 to 45.8 million in 2004. The Coalition on Human Needs created charts that list, by state, the percent and number of persons living in poverty and those without health insurance. For more information, click here. Medicaid Commission Sends Recommendations to Congress The Medicaid Advisory Commission, selected by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt in June, recently sent its recommendations to Congress about ways to reduce federal spending for Medicaid by $10 billion. Some advocates criticized the Commission for proposing to increase prescription drug co-payments for Medicaid recipients and for the abbreviated time frame for commission deliberations. The Senate Finance Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee are preparing legislation by September 16 to reduce federal Medicaid spending. For more information, click here. (Sources: Child Welfare League of America and Families USA) Conference Call to Get Ready for the White House Conference on Youth Connect for Kids will host a conference call on September 14 at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern) to help you get ready to make good use of the first-ever White House Conference on Youth, scheduled for this October. Kristen Grimm of Spitfire Communications, Ed Hatcher of the Hatcher Group and others will present tips and strategies on messaging and how to take advantage of the White House Conference to reach your reporters and policy makers with local data and recommendations for reducing youth violence and reforming juvenile justice in your state or jurisdiction. E-mail jan@connectforkids.org to RSVP and get call-in numbers. For more information about the First Lady's Helping America's Youth initiative, click here. National Service Hill Day on September 14 Voices for National Service invites all champions of service - from program staff to private sector supporters to AmeriCorps alumni - to participate in National Service Hill Day. Representatives from programs throughout the country will gather in Washington, DC on September 14 to meet with Members of Congress and staff to share their stories about the impact of national service on their communities. For more information, click here. Seminars Focus on Basic Economics for Policy Analysis The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) is launching a series of free, in-depth economics seminars for those engaged in policy debates and the political process, as well as for those who simply want to learn more about basic economic concepts that impact their daily lives. Audio files and outlines of the seminars will be available for free on CEPR’s website the day after the seminars are held. For more information, click here. Study Examines Federal Funding of Faith-Based Organizations A new Urban Institute study concludes that Bush administration efforts to expand faith-based contracting via targeted initiatives are changing the nature of social services supported directly with federal funds far more than has legislation passed in the mid-1990s. The study is the first in-depth look at the major block grant programs in the Department of Health and Human Services with legislated Charitable Choice provisions, as well as at discretionary programs funded under the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF). For more information, click here.
GRANTS, AWARDS, & CONTESTSHIV/AIDS Story-Writing Competition for Youth-At-Risk The HEAR ME Project, in conjunction with Think MTV, recently announced the POSITIVELY NEGATIVE HIV/AIDS Story-Writing Competition for Youth-At-Risk. The winner gets $500 and their story gets adapted into an HIV prevention education film to be distributed nationwide to organizations that serve youth. For more details visit www.hearmeproject.org. Donations for Child-Centered Garden Programs Through the National Gardening Association's 2006 Youth Garden Grants program, 150 schools and community organizations with child-centered outdoor garden programs will receive Home Depot gift cards of $250-$500 for the purchase of gardening supplies particular to the needs of their program. Priority is given to proposals emphasizing an educational focus and/or curricular ties; nutrition or plant-to-food connections; environmental awareness/education; entrepreneurship; or social aspects of gardening such as leadership development or service-learning. The application deadline for the 2006 grant program is November 30, 2005. Volunteers Invited to Participate in Make a Difference Day Projects Make a Difference Day is a national day of community service sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine and its more than 600 carrier newspapers. Held in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation, the day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. The next event will take place Saturday, October 22, 2005. 10 projects will be selected and each will receive $10,000. Anyone, young and old, individuals and groups, can carry out a volunteer project that helps others. It might be as ambitious as collecting truckloads of clothing for the homeless, or as personal as spending an afternoon helping an elderly neighbor or relative. USA WEEKEND features volunteers and their projects in articles and photos. Nominations Invited for Volvo for Life Awards Volvo is looking for an everyday hero. A philanthropic program of Volvo Cars of North America, Volvo for Life Awards are made to individuals for their achievements in three categories that reflect Volvo's core values: Safety, Quality of Life, and Environment. The program's Grand Award Winner receives a Volvo for life and $50,000 to a charity of his or her choice. The three Category Winners receive $50,000 to a charity of their choice. The six Category Finalists receive $25,000 to a charity of their choice. To nominate someone or for more information, click here. UPCOMING PEER NETWORK MEETINGS National Collaboration for Youth Research Group meeting September 7 at the National Assembly, 1319 F St NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC. For more information please contact pam@nassembly.org.. National Collaboration
for Youth Program/Research Group meeting National
Assembly COO Peer Network meeting NOVN
(National Organizations' Volunteer Network) Meeting National Assembly HR Council Meeting September 9 at Volunteers of America, 1660 Duke St., Alexandria, VA. For more information, contact ellen@nassembly.org. National Collaboration for Youth Program Group Meeting September 9 at the National Assembly, 1319 F St NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC. For more information, please contact pam@nassembly.org. National Collaboration
for Youth Washington Group Meeting PEER NETWORK RESOURCES Communications Peer Network Webpage Chief Operating Officers Peer Network Webpage National Organizations Volunteer Network (NOVN) Webpage CONFERENCE, TRAININGS & EVENTS TRAININGS & EVENTS September 11, 2005 Hold a gathering in your neighborhood to meet and welcome new neighbors and rekindle old friendships. National Audio Conference on Poverty Presented by The Center for Law and Social Policy September 16, 2005 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM ET Rethinking the High School Experience: What’s After-School Got to Do With It? Out-Of-School Time Policy Commentary Series Audio Conference September 21, 2005 1:00 PM EST To register send the following information to dianayu@forumforyouthinvestment.org: Name, Organization, Telephone Number and Email Address. University of Notre Dame Open Houses - Master of Nonprofit Administration Program The Master of Nonprofit Administration Program at the University of Notre Dame is hosting four open houses in September, October, and November. The four cities they will travel to are: Los Angeles on September 28th from 6-8pm, Chicago, October 5th from 6-8pm, Washington, DC October 26th 6-8pm, and New York City, November 2nd 6-8pm. For more information regarding the details of these events plesae call or email Judy Petty at 574-631-7302 or jpetty@nd.edu. CONFERENCES Presented by the National Assembly Keynote Speaker: Lester Salamon, Johns Hopkins University September 8, 2005 Reagan International Trade Center Washington, DC National Assembly-Alliance for Children & Families Policy Forum Connecting Grassroots and Grasstops Policy Efforts September
9, 2005 Washington, DC Generations United 13th International Conference The Intergenerational Current: Across the Life Span and Around the Globe September 13-17, 2005 Washington Marriott Washington, DC 2005 National Summit on Your City's Families Institute for Youth, Education, and Families National League of Cities September 25-28, 2005 San Antonio, TX This event focuses participants' attention on what local government can do, both independently and in partnership with others, to improve education and afterschool programs, engage young people in community decision making, and create supports for low-income working families. 20th Annual Conference: Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families "Crossing the Great Divide: Creating Communities for All Ages" September 26-28, 2005 Denver, CO Evidence
Based Programs: Successful Implementation and Lessons Learned September 29-October 1, 2005 Williamsburg Hospitality House
2005
Alliance for Children and Families National Conference October 19-21, 2005 Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate Orlando, Florida YouthBuild Conference & Transformation Institute The YouthBuild Academy for Transformation will hold two Transformation Institutes (April 11-13 in Los Angeles and October 24-26 in Washington, D.C.) for directors, staff, teachers, counselors, policy-makers, and funders from the youth development, youth leadership, youth employment, after-school, and education arenas. Washington, DC - October 24-26, 2005 2005 Healthy Communities-Healthy Youth Conference "The Asset-Building Get-Together: Creating Intergenerational Community" November 3-5, 2005 Dallas, TX InterContinental Hotel Sponsored by The Search Institute Executive Leadership Institute Presented by the National Assembly in cooperation with the Leader to Leader Institute November 10-12, 2005 Tampa, FL Wyndham Harbor Island Hotel The Roles of Leaders in Learning Organizations/Knowledge Management For Top Executives and Board Leaders of National Assembly Member Organizations Equal Justice for Youth: Innovating for the Future Presented by the Coalition for Juvenile Justice November 10-13, 2005 Fairmont Olympic Hotel Partnership for After School Education Shaping our Future - A National Agenda for Afterschool November 20-22, 2005 The Ritz Carlton - Battery Park New York City, NY Presented by the Alliance for Children and Families December 9, 2005 New York City, NY Building on Success: Providing Today's Youth With Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow Presented by the Federal Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention January 9-13, 2006 Washington, DC National Conference - Child Welfare League of America Securing Brighter Futures February 27 - March 1, 2006 Marriott Wardman Park Washington, DC Adolescent Brain Development and Juvenile Justice Presented by the Coalition for Juvenile Justice May 3-7, 2006 Hyatt Regency Bethesda CLICK HERE to post your organization's conference dates on the National Assembly's website; click on "Add Your Own Event," and follow the instructions. Got News? Please e-mail sara@nassembly.org
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