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On-Line Technical Assistance
Resources for Out of School Time Program Planning

We have identified resources that are available on-line that may be of assistance to you as you plan your after-school program. Each topic below is linked to specific resources.

PAGE Index:
General  Information 

Promising Practices in Afterschool (AED) - A website with information and resources in seven component areas:

  • Community & Family Involvement
  • Programming
  • Management & Administration        
  • Staffing & Training
  • Financing
  • Research, Evaluation, & Knowledge Base
  • Policy & Advocacy
Collaboration

        Whether called collaboration or cooperation or partnership or connection, virtually all successful ventures to improve the quality of programs for kids and their families involve collections of individuals and groups that agree to set aside differences to find common ground.  It is this common ground which forms the foundation of successful collaborations.
•Resources from the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education (NCPIE):  NCPIE's mission: to advocate the involvement of parents and families in their children's education and to foster relationships between home, school, and community to enhance the education of all our nation's young people.
•Partnership for Family Involvement in Education (USDOE) - information sorted by family-school, community, employer, and religious activities
•Resources from National PTA
•Pre-Collegiate Preparation Programs - fostering the development and implementation of collaborative partnerships among and between colleges, schools, community-based organizations, parents, students, business, industry and government to ensure that all students in New York State have the opportunity to be successful learners in an environment that honors the uniqueness of each individual
Evaluation

Gone are the days when programs could be implemented on the basis of good will and an intuitive sense that they would do good things. Funding is attached to the demonstration of effectiveness which in turn supports continued and enhanced funding.

•New York State After School Network (NYSAN) Program Quality Self-Assessment Tool  (.pdf format) This self-assessment tool provides an opportunity for program leaders and key staff, in collaboration with other stakeholders, to utilize a common set of standards to assess, plan, design and execute strategies for ongoing program improvement.  The self-assessment tool itself is an evolving document.  The goal is for it to be used throughout New York State, and possibly beyond, but also to continue to be refined based on the knowledge gleaned from its use, to maximize the effectiveness of self-assessment as a tool for appraisal, planning and implementation. 
•Principles of Effectiveness - the foundation for all funded programs 
•Harvard Family Research Project's Out-of-School-Time Evaluation Database -information about evaluation work of both large and small out-of-school time programs and initiatives.  
Family Literacy

Family literacy is an intergenerational effort to enhance the educational opportunities of all family members. Family literacy supports parents as the first teachers of their children. For adults, the positive effect that they have on their children’s education motivates them to strengthen their own literacy skills. Family literacy can be an effective tool to ensure that children develop the literacy skills they need to succeed.

•NYS Alliance for Family Literacy:  a partnership of the NYS Council on Children and Families, NYS Education Department, and the NYS Head Start Association
•National Center for Family Literacy: parents and children learning together
•Basic Components of Quality Family Literacy Services
Funding

The need for funds is self-evident. Sources are not.
The following links offer some possibilities. 
•From Channing Bete, the parent of Communities that Care:  Funding opportunities for youth development, currently accepting proposals;  list is updated as funding opportunities become available.  This site also provides information about government and foundation grants that support youth development activities.
 
•The Finance Project:   The Finance Project is a non-profit policy research, technical assistance and information organization created to help improve outcomes for children, families and communities nationwide.
 

•The After-School Alliance - Part of the goal of the After-School Alliance is to help local after-school programs expand their resources and increase their sustainability.  The resources offered here are intended to help by providing tools and tips on accessing funding and using communications to build support for programs among local residents, community groups, businesses and policymakers.

    1. Major Sources of Funding
    2. Sustainability Workbook (.pdf only)
    3. Designing a Sustainability Plan
    4. Funding Tips
Support for Afterschool Snacks and Supper 
Higher Education
  • Service Learning - Learn and Serve America  - Helping to fund ,develop, implement and integrate service learning programs into schools wherein students have opportunities to volunteer their service for the benefit of others and their community
  • Pre-Collegiate Preparation Programs - fostering the development and implementation of collaborative partnerships among and between colleges, schools, community-based organizations, parents, students, business, industry and government to ensure that all students in New York State have the opportunity to be successful learners in an environment that honors the uniqueness of each individual
Nutrition Resources

Quality nutrition is linked to better performance - in school and in life.
Nutrition is a function of both the presence of adequate appropriate food selections and the knowledge to make informed and healthy choices.
Here are some sources of both food and information which you may access to enhance your out of school program.

Program Planning 

We have identified resources which have worked for groups that have implemented successful programs for out of school time.  Planning with an eye to the future will offer huge dividends, producing a cohesive, effective program with the health and well-being of children and their families at the center.

  • New York State After School Network (NYSAN) Program Quality Self-Assessment Tool  (.pdf format only) This self-assessment tool provides an opportunity for program leaders and key staff, in collaboration with other stakeholders, to utilize a common set of standards to assess, plan, design and execute strategies for ongoing program improvement.  The self-assessment tool itself is an evolving document.  The goal is for it to be used throughout New York State, and possibly beyond, but also to continue to be refined based on the knowledge gleaned from its use, to maximize the effectiveness of self-assessment as a tool for appraisal, planning and implementation. 
  • Strengthening Connections Between Schools and After-School Programs (NCREL) - research on effective after-school programs and interviews with active program sites indicate that there are 16 characteristics that lead to comprehensive program planning for integration. This document describes each characteristic in detail and provides samples of policies and programs.
Youth Development

Positive Youth Development:  Helping kids develop the PERSONAL and SOCIAL skills to make it possible for them to overcome challenges and achieve the greatest success possible.

  • National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth (NCFY) - an online database of youth-related publications and current youth initiatives.  Includes free or low-cost publications and abstracts of research and informative documents.  Recent additions:  community-based youth mentoring and children of incarcerated parents; information related to runaway and homeless youth, street outreach, positive youth development, youth resiliency, and transition to independent living.
  • Learn and Serve America  Helping to fund ,develop, implement and integrate service learning programs into schools wherein students have opportunities to volunteer their service for the benefit of others and their community
  • Youth Development Resource Notebook - a companion to Promoting Positive Youth Development - provides information and tools for community partnerships working together to make youth development happen.
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