Cities and Statewide Afterschool Networks Partnering to Support Afterschool. Strategy Guide

In cities and towns across America, millions of children and youth get out of school by mid-afternoon but have neither a safe, supervised place to go nor a structured or engaging activity in which to participate. Because the hours between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. are when young people are most likely to be affected by crime or to engage in risky behaviors, the lack of afterschool opportunities presents significant challenges to parents, community members, and city, state, and federal leaders. Many local elected officials also recognize the importance of providing young people with access to challenging, relevant, and enriching activities that address other city goals and priorities. Concerned about quality of life and the city's economic vitality, municipal leaders use afterschool programs to support academic achievement, improve public safety, help working parents become more productive, and combat childhood and youth obesity. Because state policies impact local efforts and vice versa, partnerships between municipal leaders and statewide afterschool networks can draw upon local knowledge to emphasize the importance of afterschool and strengthen both state and local afterschool initiatives. This strategy guide features examples of how cities and statewide networks are effectively working together on behalf of children and youth in individual communities and simultaneously using their collective powers to increase afterschool funding and improve policy decisions that affect young people across the state. This guide also provides a list of ideas for how cities can partner with their respective statewide afterschool networks to impact state policy, leverage resources, sustain programs at the state and city levels, receive guidance and training to improve program quality, generate state and national visibility, and expand access to high-quality programs. Cities that have partnered with their statewide afterschool networks are appended.