FLASH

The 2025 Lights On Afterschool poster contest is officially open! This year, we’re looking for any artwork that represents the spirit of afterschool programs. Think about how your program has opened doors to new opportunities, whether it’s discovering something you love, learning new skills, or making friends. Show us how your afterschool staff have inspired, mentored, or supported you. Let us know what afterschool means to you through your art! As always, the winning artwork will be…

Watch: 2025 Summer Youth Camp Season: Provider Informational Overview The federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization Act increases the health and safety requirements for all child care and early learning settings that accept child care subsidies, including summer youth camps. These provisions include pre-service and annual trainings, comprehensive criminal background checks, written policies and procedures, and inspections and monitoring. The NJ Division of Family Development, in partnership with the Departments of Health…

NJSACC Advocacy In Action: Latest Blog Post (March 2025) Governor Murphy’s FY2026 Budget Proposal: What It Means for School-Age Child Care WESTFIELD, NJ — Governor Phil Murphy recently unveiled his proposed $58.1 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026), emphasizing affordability, education, infrastructure, and economic growth while maintaining fiscal responsibility. While explicit investments in school-age child care (SACC) were absent, several key education initiatives intersect with the landscape of child care providers serving children ages…

Annual Conference We look forward to seeing everyone April 4 & 5, 2025 for 2 days of training, networking and fun! NJSACC’s Annual Conference on Afterschool and Out-of-School Time (OST) celebrates long-term success in the evolving landscape of Afterschool, OST, S.T.E.A.M. and Expanded Learning. The conference, occurring in Princeton, NJ, features over 45 workshops aimed at improving the quality of afterschool and out-of-school time programs. The last day to register for the conference is March…

💪 Empowering the Next Generation: Youth Advocacy Day 2025 On Monday, March 24th, NJSACC: New Jersey’s Statewide Network for Afterschool Communities hosted its 2nd Annual Youth Advocacy Day at the New Jersey State House. It was an inspiring day filled with passionate youth voices, meaningful conversations with legislators, and first hand exposure to the policymaking process. Youth in Action: By the Numbers 🚌 47 youth advocates and 8 chaperones from Newark, Jersey City, and Trenton…

Industry Career Fair – Willingboro High School Industry Career Fair Invitation – RSVP April 2, 2025 Do you love your career? Do you work in an interesting field? Do you have a job that kids might not know much about? We would love for you to come share your career with us! Come meet with the students of Willingboro High School and help them prepare for an exciting future! May 2, 2025Event Time: 8:30am -12:30pmLunch…

🚀 The New Package is PACKED with Great Knowledge DNA Day is coming up soon on April 25th, and through STEM Next’s partnership with global genomics leader Illumina, we have a training, activities and other resources to help your kids explore the genome!  Professional Development – The ACRES project is now offering all of their STEM coaching materials for FREE.  Earth Day Activity: Ignite a love for the natural world with a fun seed bombs activity!   STEM Learning…

Youth Voice Week (March 24-28, 2025) Youth Voice Week is a dedicated period where young people are encouraged to actively share their opinions, experiences, and ideas on issues that matter to them, often focusing on the importance of afterschool programs We’re lifting up youth perspectives. Join us in elevating youth voices and the role of afterschool and summer programs in providing youth with opportunities to lead and grow. With federal budget cuts looming, it’s particularly…

🚸 Report: Afterschool benefits kids for life Report: The findings are clear: kids who participate in afterschool are stronger learners, earners, and leaders. By Maria RizoPosted: Mar 11, 2025 “Organized Afterschool Activities as a Developmental Context for Children and Adolescents,” a longitudinal study led by Dr. Deborah Vandell of the University of California, Irvine, finds that participating in afterschool programs benefits kids for life. This study follows a large sample of young people over 26 years to understand…