At a time when more children are spending the time between 2 and 6 p.m. unsupervised, the need for quality after-school programming is great.
Strong programs are the result of careful planning and a strong vision.
Yet all too often, decisions are made quickly and without adequate information. The toolkit can be used as a whole, or in pieces to help a program fit its needs and the needs of its community. A review of the 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 lists each of these characteristics along with an indicator that describes the characteristic in more detail and samples of policies and programs that indicate if the characteristic is present in the program activities. These links will help you find resources on the many different aspects of after-school programming, such as safety, health and nutrition, parent involvement, project design, and finding potential partners for collaboration.