Links

The After School Alliance
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of afterschool programs and advocating for quality, affordable programs for all children. It is supported by a group of public, private and nonprofit organizations that share the Alliance's vision of ensuring that all children have access to afterschool programs by 2010.

Creating more afterschool programs, increasing program quality and moving toward long-term sustainability requires building strong public will in support of afterschool. The Alliance was created to conduct this public awareness and advocacy work. Its purpose is to serve as a public resource on and voice for afterschool.

http://afterschoolalliance.org

After School Matters
After School Matters is designed to provide after-school activities to Chicago youth, while simultaneously preparing them for the demands of the workplace. By interacting with caring adults and pursuing subjects that interest them, After School Matters students learn skills that are essential to their future success - like problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork. In addition, many have the opportunity to build on their experience by working as summer employees or interns in their communities.

http://www.afterschoolmatters.org

Cabrini Connections Tutor/Mentor Connection
The mission of Cabrini Connections Tutor/Mentor Connection is to gather and organize all that is known about successful non-school tutor/mentor programs and share that knowledge to expand the availability and enhance the effectiveness of these services to children in inner city Chicago and other poverty areas. Cabrini Connections Tutor/Mentor Connection is able to provide additional resources and information that can contribute to After School Programs as well as summer programs.

http://www.tutormentorconnection.org

Chicago Park District
Every week, one out of every three chicagoans (more than 900,000 residents) uses a neighborhood park. Many of these patrons participate in the thousands of programs offered by our parks; swimming lessons, art classes, after-school programs, softball leagues, dance programs, fitness classes - our list goes on and on.

Each park program is designed to reflect the mission and principals of the Chicago Park District. They offer classes and programs that serve a variety of different age groups. From toddlers to seniors, there truly is something for everyone in our parks!

http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

Chicago Police & Firefighters Training Academy
The C.P.T.F.A Program provides training for students interested in careers in public safety. The four year program was developed jointly by the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), the Chicago Police Department (CPD), the Chicago Fire Department (CFD).
The C.P.F.T.A curriculum allows Chicago juniors and seniors who are city residents to progress seamlessly from high school directly into any City College of Chicago to complete a two-year Public Safety Associate in Applied Arts degree.

In addition to the high school and college training, students participate in two paid summer internships to promote a better understanding of all aspects of career public safety.

http://www.cpfta.com

City Year Chicago

City Year Chicago provides a wide range of activities for children in kindergarten up to the eight grade. They seek to provide not only positive role models and a safe space for children, but also opportunities for students to explore their creative side and learn about new ideas.

http://www.cityyear.org/sites/chicago/

The Coalition for Community Schools
The Coalition for Community Schools brings together local, state and national organizations that represent individuals and groups engaged in creating and sustaining community schools. The Coalition offers numerous tools and publications, most of which can be accessed via the web, regarding the development and implementation of community schools.

http://www.communityschools.org/

Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run is a non-profit after school program for 3rd through 8th grade girls. Their mission is to use running to help prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. The character-development program focuses on building self esteem and improving physical and emotional health. Over the course of a 12-week season, volunteer coaches teach life skills lessons such as handling bullies, dealing with body image and the media, making healthy decisions and contributing to the community. Along the way, the girls train together to run in a 5K (3.1 mile) run, the WonderGirl 5K.

www.gotrchicago.org

Harvard Family Research Project
Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) strives to increase the effectiveness of public and private organizations and communities as they promote child development, student achievement, healthy family functioning, and community development. In its relationships with national, state, and local partners, HFRP fosters a sustainable learning process-one that relies on the collection, analysis, synthesis, and application of information to guide problem-solving and decision-making.

http://www.gse.harvard.edu/~hfrp/

KidStart
Mayor Daley's KidStart reflects Chicago's ongoing commitment to offer all our children the positive alternatives they need outside the traditional school day to help them lead solid, healthy lives and to protect them from a life of gangs, guns and drugs. The goal of KidStart is to keep our children busy, keep them learning, and keep them well. The KidStart website provides information on after school programs, including early childhood, elementary, teen and young adult programs.

http://www.chicagokidstart.org

Mark Miller's Munchkin Programs
Mark Miller's Munchkin Programs provides sports lessons in schools, park districts, day care centers and other indoor/outdoor facilities using appropriately sized equipment. Their philosophy is to provide sports basics in a friendly and relaxed environment.

www.munchkinprogram.com

Midtown Educational Foundation
Midtown Educational Foundation (MEF) helps youngsters to become better students and better people through its sponsorship of the Metro Achievement Center for girls and Midtown Center for boys in Chicago and Waukegan, Illinois. Metro and Midtown's after-school and summertime provrams integrate academics with virtues.

www.midtown-metro.org

National Community Education Association

NCEA's mission is to provide leadership to those who build learning communities in response to individual and community needs.

It does this by providing its members with national and regional training conferences and workshops; specialized periodicals, publications, and products; opportunities for peer support and networking; and information and referral services. In addition it acts as an advocate for community education by working with related organizations and promoting at the national, state, and local levels:

• parent and community involvement in public education;

• the formation of community partnerships to address community needs; and

• the expansion of lifelong learning opportunities for all community residents.

http://www.ncea.com/

National Institute on Out-of-School Time
For over 20 years, the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST), at the Center for Research on Women at Wellesley College, has successfully brought national attention to the importance of children's out-of-school time, influenced policy, increased standards and professional recognition, and spearheaded community action aimed at improving the availability, quality and viability of programs serving children and youth.

http://www.wellesley.edu/WCW/CRW/SAC/index.html

North Central Regional Educational Laboratory
The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping schools-and the students they serve-reach their full potential. NCREL provides research-based resources and assistance to educators, policymakers, and communities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. NCREL's ultimate goal is to help build tools and apply proven practices to create schools where all students can develop their skills and abilities. Included on this website is "Beyond the Bell," a step-by-step guide for building a high-quality after-school program.

http://www.ncrel.org/after

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