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
- Collaboration
- Evaluation - NYSAN Program Quality Self-Assessment Tool
- Family Literacy
- Funding
- Nutrition Resources
- Program Planning
- Youth Development
General Information
Promising Practices in
After school 
(AED) - A web site 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.
- 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 (
299.50 KB) 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.
- Local Family Literacy Alliances: 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
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.
- 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.
- Support
for After school Snacks and Supper - NYS Department of Health
- After
school Nutrition Programs - Information from USDA
- Nutrition
Education Resources from USDA - Team Nutrition and Beyond
- The
Building Blocks Project - Promoting Education and Child
Development with Nutrition Resources - Food Research and Action
Council (FRAC)
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 ( 305.52
KB) 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.
- Helping
Young People Succeed: Strengthening and Sustaining
Relationships Between Schools and Youth Development
Organizations
- Ensuring
the Success of Children & Youth in American
Communities (
158.9
KB)
- Resource
Guide for Planning and Operating After-School
Programs-Southwest Educational Development
Laboratory (SEDL)
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.
- Building
Partnerships for Youth - resources from the National 4-H
- 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.