Use the power of the permit for sharing arrangements between schools and rec centers More sports can only be tried if there are available facilities and cooperation. OUSD and the City of Oakland are in the process of finalizing a new joint-use agreement (JUA) after the previous one expired in 2013. The next JUA – and subsequent policies for facility users – offers the opportunity to address coaching quality and health/safety gaps as a condition for access to public schools and parks spaces. The concept is referred to as the power of the permit, and it’s commonly used in youth sports throughout the country to create better experiences for kids. CITY-LEVEL AGENCIES Consult Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports Project Play’s Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports was developed with human rights and sports policy experts to create a shared cultural understanding that all youth should have the opportunity to develop as people through sports. For instance, children have the right to play in settings free from all forms of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual), hazing, violence, and neglect. Children also have the right to play under the care of other adults who pass background checks and are trained in key competencies. Specific standards to use sports facilities could be set based on these core rights. More than 360 athletes and over 130 national and international organizations have endorsed the Bill of Rights, the latest of which are Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and the city of Houston. As the first U.S. city to adopt the framework, Houston will operationalize the Bill of Rights through a municipal plan that includes educating and engaging the city’s parks and recreation department, schools, and more than 30 local organizations, who may be eligible for grant funds to implement new programs and services.
SCHOOL-LEVEL LEADERS Better utilize facilities booking system
Finding quality and available spaces can be difficult in Oakland. OUSD uses a system called Facilitron to book any community space, including for sports events and practices. The website includes useful information for each facility, such as rental costs, available dates, parking and other amenities. But not enough schools use Facilitron. Some schools are better at utilizing the system than others, even though OUSD reminds them to go through the proper channels. Many community sports providers secure spaces based on who they know, not a standard system that allows equitable access for all youth and to introduce new sports with organizations lacking those built-in relationships. Established usage patterns predate the current system. Nobody has supported schools and community providers in aligning with it in a way that feels helpful and isn’t burdensome or discouraging.
42
PROJECT PLAY — AN INITIATIVE OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online