Afterschool and out-of-school-time program staff received best practices and strategies to positively impact Harris County students this week at two Fall Professional Workshops hosted by the Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment (CASE) for Kids.

On Nov. 3, they prepped their programs for World Kindness Day (Nov. 13), exploring youth-centered activities that promote empathy, compassion and the connection of highlighting the power of kindness as a key to social emotional learning. Workshop attendees not only left with a “kindness” journal but other meaningful activities to celebrate kindness that resonate with youth.

Three days later, program leaders convened to plan and better manage smooth transitions between activities in afterschool programming. Arguably the most chaotic moments within a program, participants explored the role that well-structured transitions play in reducing behavioral issues and walked away with fun, youth-centered moments to ensure a productive environment.