For the past four years, we have been one of the leading organizations in Illinois with respect to after-school issues. These efforts build on our history of promoting quality after-school as a violence prevention strategy, and have resulted in Illinois being recognized as a national leader on developing an infrastructure for after-school issues.

Visit the Partnership's website for more information. http://www.illinoisafterschool.net

Our work has evolved into a comprehensive strategy for after-school including developing policies that support these programs, training and technical assistance to increase program quality, involving the critical voices of parents and youth, and building public will and awareness of the importance and benefits of quality after-school.

In November of 2002, the Partnership released its first report on after-school issues in Illinois. The report outlines issues and recommendations that serve to build a system of quality after-school programs across Illinois. The Partnership is now working to implement the recommendations outlined in this report.

The Illinois After-school Partnership is co-chaired by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois State Board of Education, and is coordinated by ICVP.  The Illinois After-school Partnership is working with child care, social service and youth development providers, educators, parents and youth, business representatives, policy makers and advocates to create a state-wide infrastructure that builds, supports and sustains high quality out-of-school-time programs for all interested school-age children and youth in Illinois.

The Full Partnership meets regularly to receive updates on project work groups, strategize issues that arise across the work of the Partnership, share resources, and to reach consensus on Partnership work products.  

Workgroups have been established to implement the report recommendations and are taking concrete steps to improve the ability of programs to deliver quality services.

The Capacity Building Work Group is creating the tools providers need to have quality programs that are staffed by a stable and skilled work force.   The goals of this workgroup include: making workforce development training available to all out-of-school time providers; creating a state-wide evaluation system with the supports providers need to meet funders’ requirements; building a system of peer networking among providers to share experience and information; and providing a range of resources to providers on such topics as best practices, funding opportunities, evaluation, and professional development.

The Policy Work Group is developing a financing plan to expand funding from a variety of public and private sources over several years to increase the number of available programs and enhance the quality of currently offered programs.

The Outcomes Work Group is working with providers and state administrators to determine common outcome measures that all out-of-school-time programs should strive to achieve, as well as tools and supports for providers to respond to evaluation expectations.