VPOST Updates Funding in the General Assembly: The Senate Finance and House Appropriations committees released their budgets on Sunday, February 20. We were disappointed that the House budget did not include our funding request. However, we were thrilled to see that the Senate budget did include $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for it. This is a big win that we were included in one of the budgets. Currently, we have a campaign active to advocate for our funding to be in the final budget. Welcome Bridget Langer: Bridget Langer has accepted the position to serve as VPOST Administrative Assistant. She began work on February 28. Her primary responsibilities include network correspondence, updates to the VPOST website, meeting preparation and follow-up, research, record management, scheduling, and data collection. In her free time, Bridget enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her pets. Goodbye Iris Lane: Iris Lane has retired from the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA). We thank Iris for her service and wish her a peaceful and fulfilling retirement! Dr. JoWanda Rollins-Fells will be representing VSBA on our Leadership Advisory Council and Quality Committee moving forward. We are grateful for such a longstanding relationship with VSBA. Mott Foundation 3 Year Proposal: VPOST is in the process of developing a 3-year proposal and work plan for the new 3-year cycle of Mott Foundation Funding. We will carve time out of the upcoming Leadership Advisory Committee to have each subcommittee provide feedback on assessing where the network is in relation to each committee area of focus. Childcare Licensing: VPOST conducted a survey to gain feedback from 21st CCLC Grantees in regards to questions and concerns over the change in Childcare Licensing. There were common themes of concern that the current standards are for a traditional childcare model and not a school-community partnership. Also, there were concerns about increased cost. This feedback was summarized and presented as a whole to Licensing office. To support those that are going forward with licensure, VPOST is creating an abbreviated guide to the standards, which lays out the process chronologically from pre-licensure through maintenance. It seeks to simplify and prioritize the pieces most important to 21st CCLC programs. It will include supplemental resources, such as templates of forms needed for files, menus, schedules, etc.
STEM: We received approval for the supplemental grant request for Million Girls Moonshot staffing expansion grant ($10K) and are applying to bring aboard a STEM VISTA to support the work. The year 3 Million Girls Moonshot application was also turned in and awaiting notification. If awarded, this would bring an additional $30K to the program. VPOST has received a grant from the Afterschool Alliance to support STEM Policy Activities including developing a STEM Ambassadors Program, hosting a professional development day at the Virginia Science Museum, and developing a STEM policy agenda.
National News Highlights
Power of Us Workforce Survey: Calling All Youth-Serving Professionals and Volunteers: With support from the Wallace Foundation, now through the end of 2022, The Power of Us Workforce Survey, is collecting data from a wide swath of youth-serving professionals and volunteers in a national effort to explore, define, and elevate their profession. Please share this with your network. www.powerofussurvey.org We will be given state-level data when the survey concludes which will be very beneficial to better understanding and addressing the ongoing staffing crisis.
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