Making the Case for Afterschool

1. Making the Case for Afterschool Tools, Resources and Techniques to Build Financial, Political and Community Support for your Program Afterschool Alliance www.afterschoolalliance.org

2. What We’ll Cover • Making the Case: • Public Wants & Needs Afterschool • Afterschool Outcomes • Benefits to Bottom Line • Policy Matters: Funding & Resources for Afterschool • National • State and Local • What You Can Do: Events, Media & More www.afterschoolalliance.org

3. The Need Is Clear • Parents of 28 million kids work outside the home. • 14.3 million, or 25%, of the country’s K-12 youth take care of themselves after school. • 3 to 6 p.m. are the most dangerous hours for kids. • Juvenile crime soars • Peak hours for drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex • Lack of physical activity/obesity • Parents of 15 million children would sign up for an afterschool program – if one were available. www.afterschoolalliance.org

4. Demand for Afterschool Programs • 83% of voters agree – children need a place to go afterschool that is organized, safe, and educational • 76% - newly elected officials in Congress should increase funding for afterschool • 69% of voters - support tax increase • 94% Democrats, 83% Independents, 71% Republicans – there’s a need for an organized, safe place for children and teens afterschool Source: Afterschool Alliance Poll conducted by Lake, Snell, Perry & Associates, Inc., November 2006 and 2008 www.afterschoolalliance.org

5. Benefits of Quality Afterschool Programs • Improved Test Scores and Grades • 21st CCLC participants nationwide—43% improved reading scores, 42% improved math scores • In California, higher academic achievement, test scores • In Ohio, higher scores in every subject tested • Oct 2007 study – big gains in test scores, work habits • Improved School Attendance, Engagement in Learning • More likely to come to school, stay in school and graduate • In NY, higher daily attendance and credit accumulation • In Chicago, higher class attendance, lower course failure, higher graduation rates • Los Angeles program reduced drop out rate by 20% www.afterschoolalliance.org

6. Benefits of Quality Afterschool Programs • Improved Social and Emotional Behavior • Lower truancy, drug use, violence teen pregnancy • Greater self-confidence • Develop leadership, critical thinking, team-building skills • Improved Health and Wellness • Structured physical activities, healthy snacks help prevent weight gain tied to inactivity after school and during summer www.afterschoolalliance.org

7. Benefits to Bottom Line • Rose Institute • Every dollar invested in afterschool programs saves taxpayers at least $3 • Catalyst Study (December 2006) • New Catalyst Study - $50-$300 billion/year due to lost productivity • PCAST – Parental Concern about Afterschool Time • Low-income and minority parents are much more likely than higher-income, white parents to have trouble finding high-quality, convenient and affordable programs. • Corporate Voices for Working Families • “After School For All: A Call To Action From The Business Community” www.afterschoolalliance.org

8. Who’s Doing What www.afterschoolalliance.org

9. Federal Afterschool Policy Federal Funding Picture • 21st Century Community Learning Centers $100 million increase for FY08 • Senate proposed level funding, House proposed increase of $50 million • NCLB authorized $2.5 billion • Other sources of afterschool money: CCDBG, Safe and Drug Free Schools, OJJDP, SES, Department of Agriculture • New Initiatives: Rural Afterschool and Afterschool for Older Youth • American Recovery and Reinvestment Act www.afterschoolalliance.org

10. State Afterschool Policy States Take on Afterschool Challenge • 38 Statewide networks working to build supportive afterschool systems • 26 Governors held Afterschool Summits • 50 Governors’ Proclamations for Lights On Afterschool • Creative and Diverse Ways to Fund Afterschool www.afterschoolalliance.org

11. States & Afterschool in ‘07 and ‘08 • CA – $550 million to K-8 programs - ASES • WV – Partnership between Americorps, Universities, DOE • GA – $14 million to school- and community- based afterschool programs through TANF, renewed for FY09, plus $20.3 million in one-time funds • MA – $5.5 million in state funding • NJ – $14.6 million in state funds to NJ After 3 PM • OH – $10 million in TANF funds to support afterschool programs in targeted communities • TN – $12.5 million unclaimed lottery funds (LEAP) • MN – $5+ million over two years • NY – $9.4 million through a mix of state and TANF funds • WA – $3 million for programs and professional development • CT – $5.5 million in new state funds www.afterschoolalliance.org

12. www.afterschoolalliance.org

13. What You Can Do www.afterschoolalliance.org

14. Making Afterschool a National Priority • Nationally: Need a strong, broad diverse coalition of organizations & individuals to champion afterschool for all • Afterschool for All Campaign • 160+ Lights On national partners • Afterschool for All Challenge • Business stakeholder groups • Coordinate advocacy and awareness work with allies who support expansion of afterschool, e.g., YMCA, PTA. Especially on federal legislation • Share knowledge with those with common interests: e.g. literacy, health, service learning • State-Level: Need capable, influential networks to push for expansion and support quality afterschool • Mott funded state networks • Work with state agencies • Identify new funding streams for afterschool • Provide technical assistance to state level advocacy • Support Governor's Summits • Train/develop state leadership • Media strategy • Support intermediaries • Community-Level: Need active, diverse, confident field of local programs, stakeholders & supports • Systems approach • Communications & advocacy training and tools • Policymaker & opinion leader engagement • Parent & grassroots empowerment • Develop steady streams of resources and provide updates, information and best practices • Connect community efforts on local wellness policies for youth • 7,000 local Lights On sites • Community-school partnerships www.afterschoolalliance.org

15. Know Your Allies • Afterschool Providers • House & Senate Afterschool Caucuses • CEOs, Police Chiefs, District Attorneys, Parents and more • Youth • State and citywide leaders www.afterschoolalliance.org

16. Use Events to Boost Profile, Build Relationships • Generate Media Coverage • Make Afterschool An Election Year Issue • Contact Congress • Tap Afterschool for All campaign • Position your program and issues du jour www.afterschoolalliance.org

17. Arrange a Site Visit • Ask your Members of Congress, local policy makers and media to visit your afterschool program: Help your elected officials and your community establish a personal connection to afterschool by inviting them to visit a program and see firsthand how it is helping kids and families • Find the home district address and phone number for your elected officials. • Identify a few dates during the next Congressional recess when you could host a tour of your program. • Call the district office. • Before the visit: Identify youth, parents, program staff, school officials and community partners who would be convincing spokespeople for your program. • What to do the day of the visit. www.afterschoolalliance.org

18. Ten Steps to Media Coverage • Create a Media List. • Invite the Public. • Identify your 2-3 key messages. • Structure events with media in mind. • Appeal to the press, build relationships. • Issue news releases. • Develop press kits. • Manage media at your events. • Event management. • Reap the benefits of your work! www.afterschoolalliance.org

19. Additional Media Strategies • Newspaper Opinion Page • Contact with radio and TV stations to promote your programs via public service announcements. www.afterschoolalliance.org

20. October 22, 2009 www.afterschoolalliance.org

21. Lights On Afterschool! • Annual nationwide event • Brings attention to the need for afterschool programs and resources • 7,500+ events and 1 million Americans nationwide • National Chair Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; Kevin Sorbo and Rhea Perlman as spokespeople • Thousands of newspaper & TV stories • Build relationships w/ business community, neighborhood leaders, elected officials www.afterschoolalliance.org

22. Afterschool & Elections • Get afterschool on the radar of policy makers and candidates • Learn the rules of non-profit lobbying • Present a Candidate Kit to those running for office in your community • Includes materials on latest afterschool research and outcomes, polling data and needs assessments • Use the Campaign Kit during an election year to raise awareness about the need for afterschool • Includes materials for reaching out to media, community partners and policy makers • Provides actions for varying tiers of election involvement – you don’t have to run a full campaign! www.afterschoolalliance.org

23. Contact Congress • Call, write or email • Meet district staff • Afterschool for All Challenge • Premier afterschool event in the nation’s capital • Honoring leaders in Congress and in the States • Let Members of Congress hear from you and your youth about afterschool www.afterschoolalliance.org

24. Afterschool for All • Show your support for afterschool programs and what they do for our children, families and communities • Register your support & be recognized by Afterschool for All campaign • Thousands of leaders, organizations and businesses already on board • Sign up at http://www.afterschool2010.org/a4aJoin.cfm www.afterschoolalliance.org

25. Afterschool Alliance Resources • Facts & Research • Subscribe to the Afterschool Advocate • Program Toolbox – Funding, Media & Reaching Policy Makers • Policy & Action Center www.afterschoolalliance.org

26. Rivka Burstein-Stern Field Outreach Coordinator Afterschool Alliance 202-347-2030 rburstein-stern@afterschoolalliance.org www.afterschoolalliance.org

27. WWW.AFTERSCHOOLALLIANCE.ORG www.afterschoolalliance.org