Now, More than Ever

WHEN CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS shut down to flatten the curve of COVID-19, more than 3 million students lost access to critical services. Thanks to the ingenuity, commitment, and support from organizations like CalSAC, out-of-school time (OST) workers have stepped in to fill the gaping void. Without OST programs and people, many students would be completely isolated, facing real-world problems that no young person should face alone.

The stories from our providers up and down the state tell the tale of how they pivoted from traditional service delivery models to meet the challenges of serving the most vulnerable children and youth in the face of a global pandemic. The grit and sheer determination we’ve witnessed in them is unparalleled, and we couldn’t be prouder to support these essential workers.

MEET BAY AREA COMMUNITY RESOURCES

One of the programs CalSAC supports is Bay Area Community Resources’ (BACR) afterschool program. Their innovative intervention is helping hundreds of Bay Area families navigate the uncharted waters of the pandemic. Providing support programs that specifically promote the physical, mental, and social well-being of children and their families in times of unprecedented strain.

BACR offers services five days a week including homework support and enrichment clubs like Today's Future Sounds (TFS - a beat-making class), American SCORES soccer, Girl Scouts, Kids Teach Tech (Coding class) and Upwards Roots.

In October, BACR produced the first-of-its-kind “Lights On” event that provided props and facilitation to help students and families choose the colors that best express their feelings on topics related to mental health, COVID-19, and other issues impacting their homes and communities. It was a deep and powerful conversation that helped bring to light the complex emotions we are all dealing with.

That’s just one shining example of the way that up and down the state, programs like BACR are supporting learning and development as well as critical information and resources to support families in this time of great need. Never before has the OST community been a more important link to wellness for students and their families.

Each year, CalSAC equips thousands of these professionals with leadership skills that are paving the way for their success today and builds networks for them to support, learn from, and inspire one another in these challenging times. Now more than ever, the CalSAC community is helping to make it possible for young people - and those who serve them - to thrive.

They need us - and we need you - like never before.