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What If There Is No Afterschool Program in
Your Community?
Don’t give up.
Many afterschool programs have been created by
residents and parents in partnership with schools,
organizations and other concerned individuals.
Just think: if you are interested in a high quality
afterschool program for children, there must be
many others who are also interested. There are
people near you — at places such as the library,
police stations, community centers and foundations
— that can help.
Don't be afraid to approach people. 9 out of 10
Americans, whether they have children or not,
agree that all kids should have access to afterschool
programs.
Here are some steps you can take to get one
started in your community:
- Talk to parents, guardians, grandparents
and concerned neighbors. Find out if others
in your community are interested in having afterschool
programs. Working in larger numbers gives you
greater strength and influence.
- Ask your neighbors and friends.
- Place a notice in your school’s parent
bulletin or ask teachers to place flyers
in each child’s backpack. The notice can
ask parents if they are interested in afterschool
programs for their children, and whether
they are willing to help organize such programs.
- Attend a PTA meeting and ask participants
if they are concerned about the after school
hours.
- Build a list of the individuals who are
interested in having afterschool programs.
- Document your need. Use the national poll
data in this Kit as a guide for collecting
the information that can make your case.
- Talk to your school principal and/or teachers.
Principals often control the use of school facilities
and equipment after school. School teachers
and the principal can also be a great help in
getting people together to start an afterschool
program.
- Ask for ideas and help on starting a program.
- Tell them about the 21st Century Community
Learning Centers program, www.ed.gov/21stcclc.
- Contact other people in your community
who might help. Call any or all of the people
listed here for guidance on finding or starting
an afterschool program. Start with: local police,
the mayor, city councilperson, local YMCAs,
parks & recreation director, Boys & Girls Clubs,
4-H staff, Urban League, Cooperative Extension
Service, labor organizations, arts organizations
and museums, PTA, local chapter of NAACP and
La Raza, local businesses, libraries, community
centers, and local churches, synagogues and
mosques. Ask each one if he/she could contribute
ideas, time or money to help start an afterschool
program in your community.
- Call a meeting of the parents and other
individuals who are interested in starting an
afterschool program. Your list might include
educators, local police, organizations that
work with children, local businesses and elected
officials.
- Use the information contained in this
Kit as a basis of discussion. Talk about
the benefits to the community and to families
of a high-quality afterschool program.
- Assign people at the meeting to complete
tasks such as:
assessing the community’s after school
needs and the resources that may be available
to create afterschool programs that help
meet those needs;
talking to elected officials about obtaining
financial support for the program;
finding out how other communities got
afterschool programs started;
talking with teachers about activities
that might be offered in the program;
copying and distributing the Afterschool
Action Kit to everyone interested; and
developing a fundraising plan.
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