Now more than ever, we need connections and solutions. Planted in a new remote reality, afterschool champions across the country are facing a host of unprecedented challenges stemming from COVID-19, for which there is no playbook or script.

Our hearts are heavy with the understanding that as school district closures persist and afterschool programming halts, young people from low-income communities are most vulnerable.

We must overcome this wave of social distancing with the power of our collective voices and systems, and mobilize around providing resources and sharing strategies that support the well-being of young people and communities, resources that are crucial during and after this global crisis. 

Every Hour Counts is proud to serve as a critical lifeline to support the afterschool field.
Every Hour Counts
COVID-19 Resource Guide
Our COVID-19 Resource Guide shares tools and resources developed by members of our network to support their organizations and communities during this challenging time.  Please use these resources as you confront and tackle local challenges.

The guide features steps our intermediary members and others are taking to support their staff, site providers, educators, young people, caregivers and families, and communities. We will continue to update this guide as more resources are developed.  

Featured topics include:
An Uplifting Update
Every Hour Counts Expands Our National Network
We are shining a light during this dark time on positive news: we recently added eight local intermediaries to our network! These accomplished intermediaries will expand our knowledge base and advance our field-building efforts across the country.

In good times and bad, communities need afterschool intermediaries. Our network partners are mobilizing to tackle COVID-19 challenges head on with supports for emergency childcare and food support, virtual professional development, remote learning, local advocacy, and more.

We’re honored that our peer learning and field-building coalition has grown to 28 communities, working tirelessly to support transformative learning opportunities for young people.

A heartfelt and resounding welcome to the newest members of our national network:
Additional COVID-19 Resources
Financial Management Resources for Nonprofits: The coronavirus pandemic is taking a great toll on nonprofit organizations across the country. The Wallace Foundation interviewed nonprofit financial expert Hilda Polanco of Fiscal Management Associates about how organizations can best assess and work to maintain their financial health.

Polanco is the CEO of Fiscal Management Associates, the organization that helped develop Wallace’s Strongnonprofits.org website that has free resources for nonprofit financial management.
Supporting Families & COVID-19: The closure of schools, community centers, childcare facilities, and afterschool programs means that families are left to care for their children’s physical, emotional, and educational needs in unprecedented ways.  STEMNext’s blog offers five ideas to support families during this challenging time. 
Now More than Ever, Collaboration is Key: “ Cross-sector collaborations provide an opportunity for leaders to come together in crafting solutions to problems often thought of as too big for any one department or organization to solve.” Our blog shares insights from Carolyn Riehl of Teachers College, Columbia University, and senior author of Building Impact: A Closer Look at Local Cross-Sector Collaborations for Education , a report commissioned by The Wallace Foundation .
COVID-19's Alarming & Disproportionate Impact on People of Color
The coronavirus is infecting and killing black Americans at disproportionately high rates, highlighting what public health researchers say are entrenched inequalities in resources, health, and access to care. Learn more in this New York Times article .
Racial Equity Tools Racial Equity and Social Justice Resource Guide features resources to support communities in understanding and responding to the exacerbated inequities brought on by this virus.
Summer Learning & Corona, Past Lessons and Plans for Moving Forward: The RAND Corporation’s Jennifer McCombs shares  how lessons from summer learning can apply to recent school closures, especially for those from low-income communities.
Prioritizing Partnerships and Navigating Change: Afterschool intermediary organizations perform the "glue-functions" necessary to maximize resources, an essential role during this uncertain time. Prioritizing Partnerships and Embracing Change , a guest blog post from Priscilla Little, shares key lessons from a case study on the Denver Afterschool Alliance and offers five ingredients to support other afterschool systems.
Policy News
We've been active on the policy front, partnering with the Afterschool Alliance and other national afterschool and youth-serving organizations to fight for Congressional relief funding for the afterschool field. We sent Congressional leaders letters to urge them to include  non-profits as eligible entities  in relief funding and  support the OST sector .

We're grateful to Representatives David Cicilline (RI) and Don Young (AK) who led a sign-on letter to request a short-term $500 million increase to 21st Century Community Learning Centers during this time of crisis, and hope this funding is reflected in future relief packages.

You can help, too! Visit the Afterschool Alliance's Take Action page to urge Congress to support afterschool programs in COVID-19 relief packages.
  Every Hour Counts is a coalition of citywide organizations that increases access to quality learning opportunities, particularly for underserved students. The organization is a leading voice promoting expanded-learning systems, which provide learning and enrichment through after-school, summer, and other initiatives. Expanded-learning systems help students be more connected to school, build self-confidence, and connect with caring adults, so every student can thrive.
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