Why Relationships Matter in Helping Families Get Connected to Resources

Relationships are foundational in connecting families with the resources they need. These connections are built on trust, respect, and effective interpersonal skills. Successful relationships require individuals to be courteous, trustworthy, compassionate, empathetic, active listeners, non-judgmental, and supportive.

When a relationship is established on these principles, it fosters partnerships that empower individuals and families, enhancing their confidence and engagement. A relationship grounded in integrity and authenticity demonstrates to families that their success is genuinely valued by the resource provider. This connection encourages families to openly share their needs and stay motivated throughout the process.

Hydroponic Innovators: Fork Farms’ Impact on Education and Food Security

In the heart of Green Bay, WI, a groundbreaking company is transforming the way we think about food, education, and community health. Fork Farms, with its innovative approach to hydroponic gardening, is making waves by bringing sustainable food production directly into schools. This initiative not only teaches students about healthy eating and agriculture but also plays a crucial role in combating food insecurity. Let’s examine how Fork Farms is changing the game and why their work is so essential.

Spooktacular Fun and STEM Learning at Kroc Community Center’s Family Fun Night

At the Wisconsin Out of School Time Alliance, we believe in highlighting events that provide enriching and engaging experiences for children and youth outside of school hours. One such event was held on October 11th, at the Kroc Community Center in Green Bay, where families gathered for a Halloween-themed Family Fun Night that combined spooky fun with STEM learning.

A Hub for Community and Creativity

Food insecurity is a critical challenge affecting millions of families, with profound implications for children's well-being, learning, and development. As out-of-school time (OST) program staff, educators are uniquely positioned to provide meaningful support and create positive interventions for students facing these challenges.

Understanding food insecurity requires looking beyond simple hunger. It represents the persistent lack of consistent access to nutritious food necessary for an active, healthy life. This complex issue extends far beyond empty stomachs, potentially compromising academic performance, triggering behavioral challenges, creating long-term health complications, and significantly impacting emotional and mental well-being.

In Beaver Dam, WI, where neighbors know each other by name and community spirit runs deep, the impact of a local initiative like the Food is Free pantry is profound. This 24/7 food pantry is not just a place where people pick up food: it is a symbol of hope and a vital resource in the fight against food insecurity. Let's explore how Food is Free is making a difference and why feeding families is more crucial than ever.

The Heart of Food is Free

The Food is Free pantry operates on a simple yet powerful principle: everyone deserves access to nourishing food, regardless of their financial situation. The 24/7 pantry established in Beaver Dam to address the needs of those facing food insecurity provides round-the-clock access to essential food items. With no eligibility requirements or barriers, anyone in need can take what they need, whenever they need it.

YMCA Youth in Government: Building Future Leaders

As the 2024 state and national elections approach, it is more important than ever to prepare our youth for active civic engagement. Afterschool programs like the Wisconsin YMCA Youth in Government (YIG) provide invaluable opportunities for students in grades 7-12 to understand and participate in government in a hands-on way that classrooms alone often cannot offer.

A Practical Approach to Civic Engagement
While civics and government classes play a vital role in education, the Youth in Government program takes learning to a whole new level. Jolene Gross, the statewide director of the program, explains:

In both Oneida & Vilas County, WI, a remarkable grassroots initiative is making an impact. Feed Our Rural Kids (FORK), a non-profit organization dedicated to combating child food insecurity, is a testament to what can be achieved when local residents come together with a shared mission. This organization, born from the collective efforts of community members, is transforming the lives of children and families in their own backyard.

A Grassroots Beginnings

FORK is a powerful example of grassroots activism. The organization was founded by community members who recognized a pressing issue in their own neighborhoods. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by rural families, they set out to create a solution from the ground up.

Multi-Age Collaboration Shines at UWSP Marshfield Summer Theatre Camp

As summer winds down, the Laird Theater in Marshfield is buzzing with excitement. This year marks the 18th annual UW-Stevens Point Theatre Camp, a beloved tradition for young performers in the community. During the summer, this camp provides a unique opportunity for participants aged 9 to 18 to immerse themselves in the world of theater, with this year's production being the enchanting "Frozen."

Promoting Better Mental Health for Kids at Camp Whitcomb/Mason

Visiting The Greater Milwaukee Boys and Girls Club at Camp Whitcomb/Mason in Hartland, WI, was a breath of fresh air, quite literally. This haven, nestled away from the hustle and bustle of city life, offers a unique escape for children, particularly those from Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). The well-managed camp, run by Camp Executive Director Sarah Resch, serves as a testament to the impact that the great outdoors and a supportive community can have on the mental health of youth.

An Environment of Growth and Friendship

Celebrating Youth Creativity at the Milwaukee Public Recreation Art Showcase

The Milwaukee Public Recreation Art Showcase on May 30th at Turner Hall was a lively celebration of young talent and creativity in the Milwaukee community. Organized by Leighton Cooper, the Recreation Coordinator for Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), the event showcased the dedication and hard work of youth in the arts.

"The Art Showcase is our premier recreation art show," Leighton Cooper explained. "It gives us a chance to highlight the talent, creativity, and effort our young people have put into their art. This event brings together all our community arts partners from across the city. We have groups involved in visual arts, dance, music, poetry, spoken word, and literature. The showcase allows young people to take the stage, display their talent, and show the community the amazing work we're doing to support arts enrichment and education in the city."

LGBTQ+. That’s the current set of letters that we use to refer to a wide range of gender- and sexuality-variant people. You might feel like all of the changes in language to refer to these things are hard to keep up with–they certainly can be! But don’t let that intimidate you. 

It’s important to recognize that LGBTQ+ kids are at greater risk of mental illness and suicide due to the challenges they frequently have to navigate by how they are received in the world - especially when they don’t have supportive adults in their lives. 

Art and the Human Experience

Meet Craig Knitt, Creative Arts Specialist for the Boys and Girls Club of the Bay Lakes Region in Northeastern Wisconsin. Craig specializes in filmmaking and has had youth create, act in, and produce their own films. According to Craig, art and creation are a “...healthy and positive experience because that process is so in tune with what it is to be human…” Listen to a deep dive into art, creating, and the impact the artistic experience can have on youth in this episode of the Beyond the Bell with WOSTA podcast.

Many of us look forward to summer, especially in Wisconsin. It means longer days, warmer weather, and for some, summer camp! Whatever summer camp means to you - day or overnight camp, wilderness trips, school-based programs, etc., camp can be a positive and life-changing experience for campers and staff when designed and implemented with intentionality. 

Now you might be thinking, life-changing for staff? Aren’t they the ones in charge of making it life changing for children? While the answer is yes, many of our staff are often new or have limited experience in this space. Staff rarely come to us fully trained and well-versed in their job. To complicate matters even more, recent studies and polling suggest that “soft skills” (interpersonal skills, communication, relationship building, critical thinking, etc.) are more important now than ever in the workforce but employers are seeing large gaps in these skills in employees. Relationship building is just one core element to success when working with children. Knowing how to lead a craft activity is important, but getting your campers to listen, manage their behavior, and understand their needs are all a part of making that activity work. If staff had been coming in with a deficit in that area, imagine how the last few years have exacerbated that issue. The changing landscape of more opportunities for work/school from home, zoom calls, and limited daily interaction with actual humans, it’s no wonder our “soft skills” have taken a step back. Remember the first time you interacted with someone in a social setting after Covid restrictions started loosening? Woof. It was a little awkward and strange at best. So now consider how our campers and staff may have continued to be limited in their in-person interactions because, at times, it is easier, costs less, and is more convenient. In addition, I have been hearing that along with having a hard time interacting with others and building relationships, staff often do not have “basic” skills like how to clean, follow a schedule, or maintain healthy sleeping habits. That is a lot to think about. 

Out of School time programs provide kids, families, and entire communities with innumerable benefits. However, sometimes the biggest barrier to accessing programs and the benefits we provide is literally getting kids in the door. 

Transportation access, or lack thereof, has an enormous impact on OST programs and the families we serve. Whether your program exists in a major city or in a rural community, a host of issues can make getting kids in the door challenging. Providers in urban spaces often lament the challenges of young people trying to navigate complicated public transit systems and unsafe walking routes. Rural providers commonly deal with long commutes for kids to and from program hubs - commutes which are often affected by inclement weather. No matter where you are located, schools and programs continue to feel the effects of the ongoing bus driver shortage. When we are lucky enough to have access to dependable bussing, it remains incredibly costly and often options are limited. At the family level, many Wisconsinites do not enjoy the privilege of access to a safe, reliable vehicle that they can use at their disposal. When taking all these factors into consideration, it seems like no small miracle that we manage to have any children arrive at all! 

As out of school time professionals, you have opportunities to get to know kids on a level that school day staff and other providers do not. You get to see kids in some of their toughest transitions but also get to see them in their natural states, playing and exploring in ways that offer you deeper insights into their world. You notice when things are off - like when a child is tired or hungrier than usual. And you build relationships with their caregivers, opening up conversations with them as they pick up kids at the end of the day, and welcome them into your space.

All of this puts you in a unique position to serve the whole child and whole family and to tap into the community to provide kids and families much needed supports. Despite this unique opportunity to work with and support families however, it can be overwhelming to think about where to start. It is not always easy to initiate a conversation when you are worried about someone and you do not want to offend or make premature assumptions. In this blog post, we will explore the convenience and power of the open-ended question as a tool to start conversations and to dig deeper. 

Have you ever heard the phrase “It’s really expensive to be poor?” Think about it for a minute. There are a lot of ways to save money on everyday items and activities, but oftentimes, the ability to take advantage of those savings requires abundance elsewhere in your life.

Take, for example, buying toilet paper. Costco has famously excellent toilet paper that is really inexpensive for such a quality product! If you’re the kind of person who has a Costco membership, you might be shocked at how much a roll costs at the local drug store.