America's Promise Alliance - Making the promise of America real for every child

America's Promise Bulletin - May 8, 2020

Let’s Recognize Youth-Serving Professionals as the Essential Workers They Are

In ordinary times, we work to connect young people with the caring adults outside their homes who are central to their healthy development—educators, coaches, mentors, counselors, afterschool professionals, and case workers. As we cope with physical distancing, this now missing piece in the lives of our young people and communities, it reveals these caring adults as the true essential workers they are.

The founding organizations of America’s Promise—Boys & Girls Clubs of America, United Way Worldwide, Points of Light, Communities in Schools, and MENTOR—are uniting to challenge every single American to appreciate and elevate youth-serving professionals and their contributions and commitment to young people’s learning and development in this and all times. As we celebrate the end of Teacher Appreciation Week, now is the perfect time to think creatively and show gratitude for the youth-serving professionals you know.

Read the full statement here

New FAQ: Graduation & High School Decisions During COVID-19

What should districts consider in determining which young people can graduate with the class of 2020? How can schools and districts help their graduating seniors make successful transitions? GradNation is helping answer these questions and more for community, state, and district education leaders as they consider graduation, postsecondary transitions, instruction, and other educational equity issues during COVID-19.

As part of our efforts to share expertise during the crisis, we are hosting virtual office hours for state and district education leaders who are looking for research-based guidance from national experts. If you’re interested in one-on-one consultations with experts from GradNation, including Bob Balfanz, the director of the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University, please click here to reserve a time. We will update this resource with additional FAQs as time passes and additional issues are raised.

Learn more about this helpful tool here!

Trauma in the Age of COVID-19

As distance learning continues and we begin to see some of the long-term impacts of COVID-19, America’s Promise wants to elevate the conversation around trauma. While trauma-informed practice is important for supporting young people, we know that it can be confusing for parents, families, and caregivers to figure out where to start. To help those who care about young people support youth's wellbeing during this uncertain time, the resources below provide best practices related to coping with and healing from trauma:

Creating Cultures of Care: Supporting the Whole Child through Trauma-Informed Practice- America’s Promise
Trauma-Informed Communication & Decision Making for Schools and School Districts- Alive and Well Communities
Coronavirus: Keeping Our Children And Ourselves Safe, With Pamela Cantor, M.D.- Turnaround For Children

For more tools on high school graduation decisions, trauma-informed practice, and much more, please check out the full list of resources that America’s Promise is updating regularly to help educators, out-of-school-time providers, parents and families, as well ascommunity leaders to support their young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re here to help: please email us at [email protected] or reach out to us on Twitter (@AmericasPromise) if you have additional resources you’d like to share.

Access our COVID-19 Resource Collection

What We’re Reading:

17-Year-Old Explains Viral Tweet Asking Obama to Give a 'National Commencement' During Coronavirus - People
All Dressed Up, With No Prom to Go To - New York Times
Yes, You Can Do Trauma-Informed Teaching Remotely (and You Really, Really Should) - Education Week

Take Note:

Power of Youth Challenge Offers 50 new COVID-19 Response grants: Join us in supporting the next generation and their service projects related to COVID-19 by sharing this opportunity with your networks. Deadline is May 20, 2020.
Virtual Community Connection Series: The Children’s Institute, a nonprofit organization in Rochester, New York, is hosting open zoom sessions to promote connection with others and provide an outlet for some of the many challenges we’re facing today. Check out the Children’s Institute website to attend sessions on topics like grief and the importance of self-care.

America’s Promise Alliance is the driving force behind a nationwide movement to improve the lives and futures of America’s youth. If you would like to help make the promise of America real for every child, consider donating below.

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