HOULTON, Maine — Maine Family Resource Center is joining with the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) to celebrate the professionals that are at the heart of afterschool programs during “Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week” April 22-26.
The 21st Century afterschool programs are actively running at: Houlton Southside, Hodgdon Mill Pond and Middle-High, Katahdin Elementary and Middle-High, Southern Aroostook Community and the East Grand schools.
“We believe Afterschool professionals make a difference in the lives of young people,” said Stephen Mine, a director at MFRC, “We encourage everyone to join us this week in thanking the afterschool professionals in their lives.”
An estimated 10.2 million children participate in afterschool programs each year. Today, after school programs are viewed as much more than just childcare, Mine said. They are widely credited as the way to enhance education in STEM, literacy, the arts, social and emotional learning, health and wellness, and more. With that demand comes increased responsibility on the estimated 850,000 of professionals who are making a difference in the lives of our children.
Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week is a joint effort of community partners, afterschool programs, youth and child care workers, and individuals who have committed to dedicating time to recognize and appreciate those who work with youth during out-of-school hours. The week is marked by celebrations and public relations efforts to encourage people to thank afterschool professionals serving children in programs and organizations across the nation.
An Afterschool Professional is someone who works with children and youth in diverse school and community-based settings to provide a wide variety of extended learning opportunities and care during out-of-school hours.
Currently, there is an estimated 850,000 afterschool professionals in the US. Local programs are overseen by MFRC a non profit organization in Danforth. Each afterschool program has at least one coordinator in charge of running the day to day programming. They are: Sam Hiscoe, Houlton Southside; Lori Lennintine,Hodgdon Mill Pond; Jessica Stubbs, Hodgdon Middle-High School; Eryn Schmidt, Katahdin Middle-High School; Gail Pocock, Katahdin Elementary; Shannon Mathers and Jeni Siltz, Southern Aroostook; and Susan Shain, East Grand.
In addition they have a devoted staff of three to 10 teachers, Ed Techs and/or volunteers at each location depending on program size.
Mine said people could show their support by declaring on social media: “I appreciate the Afterschool Professionals who make a difference in the lives of young people #heartofafterschool”; give a hand-written card from you and/or your child to the afterschool professional in your life; send an email to an afterschool professional’s supervisor describing why that person is appreciated; or bring treats to the staff at your afterschool program.
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