The Afterschool Landscape in Georgia
The demand for safe and enriching out-of-school time programs (Afterschool and Summer) is on the rise.
According to America After 3pm:• 282,453 (16%) of Georgia’s school-age (K-12) children participated in
afterschool programs in 2014.
• Nearly 600,000 (40%) more children would enroll if a program was available in their community.
• Over 300,000 (18%) of Georgia’s children are alone and unsupervised between the hours of 3pm and 6pm.
The Demand for Out-of-School Time Services in Georgia
America After 3PM, Afterschool Alliance, 2014, http://afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM/detail.html#s/GA/stem/p_of_children_in_programs_2014
Most often Citied Reasons Parents are not Enrolling Their Children in Afterschool Programs
The Demand for Out-of-School Time Services in Georgia
1. Afterschool programs are too expensive
2. Preference for alternative activities (variety and type
available)
3. There aren’t quality programs available
• Jointly, the Division of Family and Children Services and theGeorgia Department of Education fund over 500 afterschooland youth development programs across the state.
• Funded programs serve over 52,000 young people each year.
• 93 of 159 counties are served through funded programs.
Afterschool in Georgia
• 90% of Georgia parents are satisfied with their child’s afterschool program overall. (up from 87% in 2009)
• 89% are satisfied with the safety of the environment. (up from 73% in 2009)
• 86% are satisfied with quality of care. (up from 70% in 2009)
Afterschool Service Satisfaction in Georgia
Data retrieved from the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network (GSAN).
The Afterschool Outcomes
Research has shown that high quality afterschool programs have a variety of positive impacts on youth outcomes.
Greater School Success: Youth participating in afterschool programs are more likely to have increased school attendance, improved classroom behavior and increased student achievement.
Better Health Outcomes: One Georgia study shows that the prevalence of obesity decreased for children participating in afterschool programs.
Minimized Risks: The hours between 3-6pm on school days are the most likely periods for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and sex . Seventy percent (70%) of parents believe afterschool programs reduce youth risky behavior.
Afterschool and Positive Outcomes
Data retrieved from the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network (GSAN).
Improved confidence and self-efficacy: Sixty- four percent (64%) of parents believeafterschool programs help youth gain workforce skills and fifty-nine percent (59% ) ofparents believe afterschool programs excites youth about learning.
Afterschool and Positive Outcomes
Productive Parents: Parents report they have less stress, fewer unscheduled absencesand more productive work time when their children are enrolled in afterschoolprograms.
• 79% of parents believe afterschool programs give peace of mind for parents at work.
• 78% of parents believe afterschool programs help working parents keep their jobs.
Data retrieved from the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network (GSAN).
The Division’s Support of Afterschool Programs in Georgia
Division of Family and Children Services
Safety Permanency Wellbeing
Community ProgramsAfterschool Care Program
Well-Being and the Afterschool Care Program
The Division supports youth through funded afterschool programs who are:
• Currently or previously in foster care• Within low income families • Within families receiving support services through the
Division (TANF, SNAP, Medicaid)• Performing poorly in school (low attendance, poor
grades, etc.)• Pregnant and/or parenting• Using or have used drugs and/or alcohol• Homeless• Disconnected (DJJ/Dually Committed)
Who Do We Serve?
Afterschool and Positive Youth Development
The Division’s support of youth within afterschool programs is foundationally based on the concept of
Positive Youth Development.
Positive Youth Development (PYD) focuses on asset building and adult support of youth. Within the Positive Youth Development
model, when our youth’s strengths are supported, encouraged and nurtured, they are more likely to transition into healthy and happy
adults and will be more likely to make positive contributions to their families, schools, and communities.
Putting Positive Youth Development into Practice – Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for children and families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, February 2007.
Academically Physically
Emotionally Mentally
Young people are thriving and making positive choices that support their overall
well-being.
Afterschool and Positive Youth Development
Youth in Funded Programs are1:
SAFE
HEALTHY
EDUCATED
EMPLOYABLE
CONNECTED
Graduation from a post secondary institution or employment (livable wage)
Healthy and safe relationships
Community service
Active participation in community
LONG TERM RESULTS FOR YOUTH IN FUNDED AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS
DHS DFCS Afterschool Care Program Framework of Service
Achieve and Maintain Good Grades ∙ Increased High School Graduation
Rate ∙ Increased Engagement in Learning
SHORT TERM RESULTS FOR YOUTH
IN FUNDED AFTERSCHOOL AND
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Provide
Funding to
Afterschool
and Summer
Programs that
serve youth in
low-to-
moderate
communities.
Provide
technical
assistance
to funded
programs
that assist in
program
quality
improvement
and funding
compliance.
Provide
resources
for additional
internal and
external
funding and
professional
development
opportunities
that improve
program
quality.
Created by the DFCS Afterschool Care Program – Updated 7/27/09
Ensure primary
components of
programs
include
academic
enrichment
activities,
health
education,
physical
activity and
teen
employment
opportunities.
1Format adopted from Voices for Georgia’s Children and Ready by 21™: Karen Pittman, Founder of the Forum for Youth Investment,
www.forumforyouthinvestment.org
The Afterschool Care Program is located within the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), Well Being Services Section, Community
Programs Unit.
The program provides federal funding to non-profit organizations and public agencies who serve youth
and families during the out-of-school time.
Afterschool Care Program
17
FFY 2014 FFY 2015
Unduplicated Youth Served: Over 23,100Average Daily Attendance: 16,600
Based on January 2014
Unduplicated Youth Served: Over 25,000Average Daily Attendance: 16,300
Based on January 2015
Number of Funded Providers: 41Community-based – 32Public Agencies – 9
Number of Funded Providers: 39Community-based – 30Public Agencies – 9
Number of Provider Sites: 263• Community-based – 229• Public Agencies – 34
Number of Provider Sites: 256• Community-based – 222• Public Agencies – 34
Afterschool Care Program
Annually, the Division provides $15.5 M in funding across the state of Georgia to support afterschool programs.
By funding youth development services that are provided during the out-of-school time (before school, after school, intercession and summer) the Afterschool Care Program also supports two
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) goals:
(a) Reduce the dependency of needy parents by promoting job preparation, work and marriage; and
(b) Prevent and reduce unplanned pregnancies among single young adults.
Afterschool Care Program
Goals
• Strengthen youth-serving organizations and institutions by providing funding that increases their capacity to design, implement, and sustain quality youth development programs and services.
• Provide opportunities for youth to establish positive relationships with their peers and caring adults during traditional non-school day hours.
• Provide technical assistance to organizations and agencies as they implement services and activities that support their youth’s overall safety and well-being as they prepare for and transition into young adulthood.
Afterschool Care Program
Funded Programs Provide:
1. Apprenticeship Opportunities (high school youth)
2. Project-based Learning Opportunities (elementary and middle youth)
3. Well-being and Enrichment Activities (all youth)
Afterschool Care Program
Partnerships and Collective Efforts for Greater Impact
• Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network• Georgia Department of Education• Georgia Department of Public Health• Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Office of Reentry Services• Georgia Alliance of Boys and Girls Club• Metropolitan Atlanta YMCA• Center for the Visually Impaired• Atlanta Public School System• Elbert County School System• Dougherty County Family Literacy Council• Lincoln County Board of Commissioners• Beacon of Hope, Inc.• Center for Pan Asian Community Services• Carrie Steel-Pitts Home
And many more…..!!!
Partners in Our Work
STEAM
Division funded afterschool programs will have an intentional focus on
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM)
as a foundation for all programs and services supported through awarded funding.
With this emphasis on STEAM, the Division is working to increase youth participant’s knowledge, abilities and opportunities within 21st century
academic and career fields such as technology, medicine, creative arts and engineering.
Afterschool and Enhanced Services in 2015-2016
Georgia SHAPE
Georgia SHAPE is the Governor’s initiative on childhood obesity that utilizes a network of partners, agencies and professional
athletic teams who work collectively to offer Georgia’s children an opportunity to achieve a greater level of overall fitness.
The Division has partnered with the Georgia Department of Public Health’s GA SHAPE Initiative Power Up for 30. Each funded
program will be implementing the GA SHAPE initiative within their programs.
Afterschool and Enhanced Services in 2015-2016
The Outcomes for Youth Served Through the Division
FFY 2011 Evaluation of DFCS Funded Afterschool Programs
• 96% of youth reported they completed their homework during the after school time
• 86% of youth reported their study skills test preparation improved
• 81% of youth reported their reading and language arts skills improved
• 78% of youth reported their math skills improved
• 66% of youth reported their science skills improved
• 52% of youth reported their career preparation improved
• 69% of youth report the afterschool program helped them prevent pregnancy, crime or substance abuse
Evaluation conducted by the DFCS Federal Regulations and Data Unit in 2011
Afterschool and Positive Outcomes
Quote: “There are numerous success stories from students who attended the DHS/DFCS College Bound Afterschool Program. As the Program Director, I worked closely with each student to develop a college and/or career
plan…...The impact the DFCS/DHS grant and afterschool program continues to have on the lives of our youth has been indelible.”
Participant: ZicuriaAfterschool Participant: 2009 - 2012High School ValedictorianCollege/University Attended: Spelman CollegeCurrently: Teach for America ParticipantCareer Goal: Education/Lead Teacher
Participant: KeitraAfterschool Participant: 2008 – 2010High School ValedictorianCollege/University Attended: Emory UniversityCurrently: Johns Hopkins University School of NursingCareer Goal: Neonatal Pediatric Nurse
Participant: RobinAfterschool Participant: 2008 – 2010High School Salutatorian and Gates Millennium ScholarCollege/University Attended: Emory UniversityCurrently: American UniversityCareer Goal: International Lawyer
Afterschool and Positive Outcomes – High School
Participant: Jhosbin (2nd grade) Academic Achievement: At the start of the year in 2014, Jhosbin had a 1.4 GPA. However, through his hard work, he was able to raise it up to a 2.8 in a matter of months.
Participant: Cristian (5th grade) Academic Achievement: At the start of the year, Cristian was an average 5th grader who did the bare minimum to pass his classes. His scores for reading and math were between below average and average. However, over the course of the year, he showed major improvements. By the end of the year, his scoring levels were well beyond the 5th grade. His success was used to encourage students to keep up the excellent work by reading and practicing their math over the summer.
Participant: Paw (5th grade)Grade Promotion: While in the refugee camps before joining the afterschool program, Paw did not complete 2nd and 3rd grade which led to her struggling with both Math and English at the beginning of the year. After attending the afterschool program, she now speaks English quite well. Additionally, her reading and math skill have improved tremendously which led to her passing the 5th grade.
Afterschool and Positive Outcomes – Community Organization
Increasing the Quality of Afterschool Programs in Georgia
To ensure all of Georgia’s afterschool programs are of high quality, the Division of Family and Children Services, in partnership with the Georgia Department of
Education (GADOE) and Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), have created the Georgia Afterschool & Youth Development (ASYD) Quality
Standards.
The ASYD Quality Standards:• Are evidence-based and research-driven.• Framed as a self-assessment and a tool for continuous improvement• Represent 9 categories (Quality Elements) that provide guidelines for high
quality programming.
Increasing Afterschool Quality in Georgia
Georgia’s Afterschool & Youth Development Quality Standards are grounded in the widely held and well-established understanding that children, youth, and families benefit when programs increase their
capacity to realize their mission by providing high quality programming.
1. Connect more youth in foster care to out-of-school time programs.
2. Continue our partnership with the Georgia Department of JuvenileJustice (DJJ) Office of Reentry Services to expand positive connectionsand support for dually committed youth (DJJ and foster careidentification) and those youth transitioning back into society.
3. Ensure all Division funded programs are using the Afterschool andYouth Development Quality Standards as a tool to ensure qualityprograms are consistently provided to all youth.
4. Conduct another evaluation of funded DFCS afterschool programs.
Considerations and Intentions for the Future