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School-Age Care and Positive Youth Development Resources

Children in kindergarten through 8^th grade spend their time out of school in a variety of ways. Some spend time with a relative or a nonrelative in a home setting. Others spend time in center- or school-based programs or organized activities that are aimed toward their enrichment or enjoyment. Still others are responsible for themselves during out-of-school time. During the course of a week, many families use a combination of all of these arrangements for their children.

In addition to providing support for working families, participation in after-school programs can help safeguard children and teens; provide safe recreational fun; offer academic enrichment and remedial help; and enhance positive youth development, character education, and drug and violence prevention.

Factors that research has shown are critical for success in after-school programs include leadership and organization, an emphasis on quality, adequate funding, a trained workforce, a rich variety of services that meet the varied needs of families, community partnerships, and accountability. Unfortunately, parents often find that high-quality, affordable after-school child care and recreation programs are in short supply.

In response to the need for after-school care, Federal lawmakers started the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC) initiative in 1997 with a $1 million appropriation. For Fiscal Year 2006-2007, the appropriation is $981 million. The No Child Left Behind Act, which was passed in January 2002, emphasizes the importance of high-quality after-school programs as a strategy for improving student achievement. This act converted the 21^st CCLC from a federally- to a state-administered program.

The following is a list of Federal agencies and national organizations with information about and for out-of-school time programs.

Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Projects

• 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC)
  U.S. Department of Education
  800-USA-LEARN
  World Wide Web: http://www.ed.gov/21stcclc/
  
  The 21^st CCLC program provides expanded academic enrichment opportunities for children attending low performing schools. Tutorial services and academic enrichment activities are designed to help students meet local and State academic standards in subjects such as reading and math. In addition, 21^st CCLC programs provide youth development activities such as drug and violence prevention programs; technology education programs; art, music, and recreation programs; counseling; and character education. State educational agencies award grants to eligible entities such as local educational agencies, community-based organizations, other public or private entities, or a consortium of two or more of such agencies, organizations, or entities.
• AfterSchool.gov
  202-208-1309
  World Wide Web: http://www.afterschool.gov/
  
  Afterschool.gov connects the public, particularly after-school providers, to Federal resources that support children and youth during out-of-school hours. It includes information about how to finance, operate, and sustain after-school programs; activity ideas for children and youth; a list of Web sites and reports about the after-school field; and information on related issues affecting after-school programs. The Web site is sponsored by the Interagency Executive Oversight Committee and the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• The Afterschool Investments Project
  Child Care Bureau
  Administration for Children and Families
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  202-628-4200
  E-mail: afterschool@financeproject.org
  World Wide Web: http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/afterschool
  
  The Afterschool Investments Project is a technical assistance project funded by the Child Care Bureau. It supports Child Care and Development Fund grantees and other State and local leaders in their after-school efforts. The project has developed State Afterschool Profiles that include descriptions of key State and local out-of-school time initiatives and quick facts regarding each State’s use of Federal funding streams for after-school. These profiles are available on the Web at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/afterschool/statep.html.
• GateWay For Afterschool and 21st Century Community Learning Centers
  U.S. Department of Education
  800-356-2735
  World Wide Web: http://www.learningpt.org/gateway/
  
  The GateWay For Afterschool and 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Web site offers information, resources, and services to help the after-school and the 21^st CCLC create, improve, and sustain effective programs.
• National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth (NCFY)
  Family and Youth Services Bureau
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  301-608-8098
  E-mail: info@ncfy.com
  World Wide Web: http://www.ncfy.com/
  
  NCYF provides information about youth and family issues for students, parents and community members, and youth service professionals and policy-makers. The site includes the NCFY literature database, which contains abstracts of more than 12,000 publications that focus on youth and family issues.
• National Partnership for Quality Afterschool Learning (National Partnership)
  Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
  U.S. Department of Education
  800-476-6861
  E-mail: info@sedl.org
  World Wide Web: http://www.sedl.org/afterschool/welcome.html
  
  The National Partnership helps State education agencies and local practitioners develop high-quality, balanced programs that provide a safe and fun environment for academic enrichment as well as youth development activities. It is engaged in a 5-year study to better define high-quality after-school teaching and learning. It is looking specifically at six content areas: literacy, mathematics, science, the arts, technology, and homework help. Its staff is available to assist State education agencies and local practitioners in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating high-quality programs through conferences and onsite training. Information about its Web-based Afterschool Training Toolkit, which describes promising practices in the arts, literacy, mathematics, science, technology, and homework help, is available on the Web at http://www.sedl.org/afterschool/resources/toolkit.html. Information about its curriculum databases, which contain expert reviews of materials for literacy, mathematics, and science, is available on the Web at http://www.sedl.org/afterschool/resources/curriculum.html.
• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
  U.S. Department of Justice
  202-307-5911
  World Wide Web: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/
  
  OJJDP provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization. OJJDP coordinates with States and local communities in their efforts to develop and implement effective and coordinated prevention and intervention programs and improve the juvenile justice system.

National Organizations

• The After-School Corporation (TASC)
  212-547-6950
  E-mail: info@tascorp.org
  World Wide Web: http://www.tascorp.org
  
  TASC provides grants, training, and technical assistance to more than 130 community-based organizations in New York to run programs in schools from 3 to 6 p.m. when schools are in session. It was created in 1998 with a challenge grant from George Soros’ Open Society Institute to enhance the quality, availability, and sustainability of after-school programs. Information about its publications is available on the Web at http://www.tascorp.org/publications.
• Afterschool Alliance
  202-347-2030
  E-mail: info@afterschoolalliance.org
  World Wide Web: http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/
  
  The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of after-school programs and advocating for quality, affordable programs for all children. The Alliance works with a broad range of organizations and supporters, including policy-makers and policy-maker associations, advocacy groups, after-school coalitions and providers at every level, business and philanthropic leaders, technical assistance organizations, and leaders representing a variety of interests, each with a stake in after-school. In addition to research information, its Web site has links to the following information:
  • Afterschool Alerts Issue Briefs describe the need for after-school programs; outcomes of after-school activities; the 21st CCLC program model; and additional topics such as literacy, rural communities, serving youth with special needs, and university partnerships. These issue briefs are available on the Web at http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/issue_br.cfm.
  • Polling data presents results from public opinion polls conducted by the Afterschool Alliance from 1999-2003, including information from an audio conference on polling and policy data. These data are available on the Web at http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/poll_reports.cfm.
  • Information about the Afterschool Caucuses in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives is available on the Web at http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/caucuses.cfm.
• The After School Project
  646-277-2408
  World Wide Web: http://www.theafterschoolproject.org/index.html
  
  The After School Project, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, concluded as of June 30, 2006. The project focused on bringing young people in low-income neighborhoods and responsible adults together during out-of-school time by creating strong citywide delivery systems for quality after-school programs. It funded intermediary organizations in three cities: After School & Beyond in Boston, After School Matters in Chicago, and Team-Up for Youth in the San Francisco Bay Area. These organizations continue to provide technical assistance, training, grants, and innovative programming to local youth serving organizations in their respective cities. The Web site will remain accessible with links to the three sites and to all Project-sponsored reports and publications.
• Board on Children, Youth and Families (BOCYF)
  The National Academies
  202-334-1935
  E-mail: bocyf@nas.edu
  World Wide Web: http://www7.nationalacademies.org/bocyf/
  
  BOCYF addresses a variety of policy-relevant issues related to the health and development of children, youth, and families by convening experts who provide information from the perspective of the behavioral, social, and health sciences. The Board’s Committee on Adolescent Health and Development focuses on national issues of importance to youth and their families. It operates under the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.
• Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
  810-238-5651
  World Wide Web: http://www.mott.org
  
  The Mott Foundation has made a major commitment to improve community education in order to ensure that community education serves as a pathway out of poverty for children in low-income communities. It provides grants that enable the 21st CCLC and other major national, statewide, and regional initiatives to promote sustainable, community-driven, expanded learning opportunities that support both academic achievement and positive youth development, especially for traditionally underserved children and youth.
• Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)
  Youth Services and Positive Youth Development
  202-638-2952
  World Wide Web: http://www.cwla.org/programs/positiveyouth/positiveyouthaboutpage.htm
  
  CWLA is the Nation’s oldest and largest child welfare organization. It provides training and technical assistance to the field on the design and implementation of youth development-focused services for young people involved with the child welfare system and strategies for engaging young people.
• Coalitions of Community Foundations for Youth (CCFY)
  800-292-6149
  E-mail: ccfy@ccfy.org
  World Wide Web: http://www.ccfy.org
  
  CCFY is a network of more than 300 community foundations in communities across the United States dedicated to securing improved conditions for children, youth, and families. Launched a decade ago with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, CCFY is now supported by more than a dozen national foundations and over 125 of its members through voluntary contributions.
• Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
  After School
  202-776-0027
  World Wide Web: http://www.fightcrime.org/issue_aftersch.php
  
  Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is a bipartisan, nonprofit, anti-crime organization led by police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, victims of violence, and leaders of police officer associations. Its mission is to look at the research about what works to keep kids from becoming criminals. After-school programs are among the strategies proven to be effective. All Fight Crime: Invest in Kids reports on after-school are available on the Web at http://www.fightcrime.org/issue_aftersch.php.
• The Finance Project
  Children and Family Services
  Out-of-School Time Clearinghouse
  202-628-4200
  E-mail: info@financeproject.org
  World Wide Web: http://www.financeproject.org/irc/ost.asp
  
  The Finance Project is a nonprofit policy research, technical assistance, and information organization that helps improve outcomes for children, families, and communities nationwide. It develops and disseminates information, knowledge, tools, and technical assistance to improve policies, programs, and financing strategies. The Finance Project Out-of-School Time Clearinghouse provides resources that help leaders address financing and sustainability issues for out-of-school time programs. A link to out-of-school time publications related to funding and resources by the Finance Project is available on the Web at http://www.financeproject.org/pubs/all_pub.asp?c=4&pageid=1.
• The Forum for Youth Investment (The Forum)
  202-207-3333
  E-mail: youth@ForumFYI.org
  World Wide Web: http://www.forumforyouthinvestment.org
  
  The Forum is dedicated to increasing the quality and quantity of youth investment and youth involvement by promoting a big picture approach to planning, research, advocacy, and policy development among the broad range of organizations that help constituents and communities invest in children, youth, and families. A list of all publications by the Forum for Youth Investment is available on the Web at http://forumfyi.org/store/prodpage.cfm.
• Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP)
  Out-of-School Time Learning and Development Project
  617-495-9108
  E-mail: hfrp@gse.harvard.edu
  World Wide Web: http://www.gse.harvard.edu/~hfrp/projects/afterschool/about.html
  
  HFRP is working in partnership with other organizations to build the out-of-school time field, with a focus on out-of-school learning and development for children ages 5-13. The project identifies and researches key issues in out-of-school time evaluation and promotes strategic use of this information to improve the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of out-of-school time programs across the Nation. HFRP Out-of-School Time publications are available on the Web at http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/afterschool/resources/.

  The Out-of-School Time Program Evaluation Database is a collection of profiles of recent evaluations of out-of-school time programs. The profiles can be searched on a wide range of criteria. Each profile includes an overview of the program as well as detailed information about each evaluation report, with links to the actual reports, when available. HFRP adds new profiles and updates existing profiles quarterly. The database can be found on the Web at http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/afterschool/evaldatabase.html.

• National AfterSchool Association (NAA)
  formerly the National School-Age Care Alliance (NSACA)
  617-298-5012
  World Wide Web: http://www.naaweb.org/
  
  NAA is a national membership organization dedicated to the development, education, and care of children and youth during their out-of-school hours. NSACA membership includes more than 7,000 practitioners, policy-makers, and administrators representing all public, private, and community-based sectors of after-school and out-of-school time programs, as well as school-age and after-school programs on military bases, both domestic and international. NSACA promotes national standards of quality school-age care for children and youth 5-14 years of age and grants accreditation to programs meeting standards. Additional information about accreditation is available on the Web at http://naaweb.org/accreditation.htm.
• National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST)
  Center for Research on Women at Wellesley College
  781-283-2547
  E-mail: niost@wellesley.edu
  World Wide Web: http://www.niost.org
  
  NIOST brings national attention to the importance of children’s out-of-school time, influences policy, increases standards and professional recognition, and spearheads community action aimed at improving the availability, quality, and viability of programs serving children and youth. NIOST’s varied initiatives use three paths: research, evaluation, and consultation; policy development and public awareness; and training and curriculum development. Information about NIOST publications is available on the Web at http://www.niost.org/publications/index.html.

  The Clearinghouse on the Out-of-School Time Workforce database provides information about what is working across the country to help build a skilled and stable workforce. The database can be found on the Web at http://www.niost.org/clearinghouse/index.html.

• National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks
  E-mail: malone@publicengagement.com
  World Wide Web: http://www.statewideafterschoolnetworks.net/about_national_network
  
  The National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks brings together established statewide after-school networks in their collective mission to build partnerships and policies that are committed to the development and sustainability of quality after-school programs. These partnerships, funded through the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and other funders, are focused on actively engaging key decision makers in support of school-based/school-linked after-school programs, particularly in underserved communities. Currently after-school networks are funded in 31 States (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin) to coordinate and influence the systems that support the success of children and young people.
• National Youth Development Information Center (NYDIC)
  A Project of the National Collaboration for Youth
  877-693-4248
  World Wide Web: http://www.nydic.org/nydic/
  
  NYDIC is a project of the National Assembly through its affinity group, the National Collaboration for Youth. It provides practice-related information about youth development to national and local youth-serving organizations at low or no cost. The NYDIC Web site features a database that currently contains more than 1,100 abstracts of youth development reports, journal articles, and other documents. It also provides information about how to acquire each document. This database can be found on the Web at http://www.nydic.org/nydic/library/publications/pub_search_form.cfm.
• Promising Practices in After School (PPAS) System
  World Wide Web: http://www.afterschool.org/
  
  The PPAS System finds and shares information about strategies that are working in after-school programs. Its Afterschool Program Activities Web page provides an extensive listing of links to after-school activity resources on the Web at http://www.afterschool.org/programs.cfm. The Promising Practices database provides information about promising practices in after-school programming from around the country.
• Public/Private Ventures (P/PV)
  215-557-4400
  E-mail: webmaster@ppv.org
  World Wide Web: http://www.ppv.org/
  
  P/PV is a national nonprofit organization that helps improve the effectiveness of social policies and programs. P/PV designs, tests, and studies initiatives that increase supports, skills, and opportunities of residents of low-income communities; works with policy-makers to see that the lessons and evidence produced are reflected in policy; and provides training, technical assistance, and learning opportunities to practitioners based on documented effective practices.
• School-Age NOTES
  800-410-8780
  E-mail: info@schoolagenotes.com
  World Wide Web: http://www.schoolagenotes.com/
  
  School-Age NOTES develops and provides information, technical assistance, and resources concerning children and youth in out-of-school settings.
• The Wallace Foundation
  Out-of-School Learning Initiative
  World Wide Web: http://www.wallacefunds.org/WF/GrantsPrograms/FocusAreasPrograms/Out-Of-SchoolLearning/
  
  The Wallace Foundation concentrates on three areas: developing effective educational leaders for schools and districts to improve student learning; providing high-quality informal learning opportunities for children and families, especially in low-income communities; and promoting new standards of practice that enable arts and cultural institutions to diversify, broaden, and deepen relationships with their audiences. The Out-of-School Learning initiative works with city leadership to use public and private resources to develop comprehensive systems for out-of-school learning that consistently meet high standards. Publications supported by the foundation that are related to out-of-school learning can be found on the Web at http://www.wallacefoundation.org/WF/KnowledgeCenter/KnowledgeTopics/Out-Of-SchoolLearning/.

Updated October 2006