Purpose

Create and sustain a statewide partnership to raise awareness of the importance and accessibility of high quality "out-of-school time" programs for all school age children, share criteria of effective programs and best practices among providers and the public, and promote sustainability of such programs throughout the state.

Members

Representatives from state agencies, community-based organizations, afterschool programs, schools, businesses, child care providers, professional organizations, colleges and universities, and families concerned with improving outcomes for school-age children through "out-of-school time" programs.

Goals and Strategies

• Establish a network of partners engaged in and/or supportive of high quality programs for school-age children and youth. Describe the need for of "out-of-school time" programs statewide. Link outreach programs and services. Provide outreach services such as web site, listserv, network meetings, advocacy and training materials. Identify and describe the needs of providers in sustaining high quality programs.
• Ensure "out-of-school time" programs are of high quality. Share best evidence of effective practices available from throughout the nation. Provide tools for evaluation of practice and reflection on program improvement.
• Help to secure resources needed to sustain new and existing high quality "out-of-school time" programs. Work to increase public awareness of the importance of high quality programs for all school-age children and youth. Develop recommendations for and support for public policies that will increase availability and sustainability of programs.

Pictured Above: Dr. Jane Hange (WVSAN Director) and First Lady Gayle Manchin at "Lights on Afterschool".

WVSAN Afterschool Links:

• 13 Indicators of a Quality Afterschool Program


• Afterschool Alliance Needs and Benefits Summary


• WV Data from Afterschool Alliance: American After 3PM Household Survey


• Harvard Family Research Project: Summer Success


• Harvard Family Research Project: Out-of-School Time Evaluation Snapshot


• Afterschool Day at the Legislature 2009 Agenda

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WV Statewide Afterschool Network Demonstration Days Project 2009

Purpose: Increase awareness of effective practices in out-of-school time programs and foster adoption and adaptation among program providers throughout the state

Background: As out-of-school program directors, staff, volunteers, and students know, the best way to learn to do something well is to see a high quality demonstration and hear answers to related questions. WVSAN agrees and, thanks to a grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, is able to fund the Demonstration Days Project for 2009. Small grants ($1250 or less in reimbursed expenses) are available to out-of-school time programs to conduct one-day demonstrations of their most effective practices in multi-age student programming, community collaboration, integration of regular school day personnel, academic skill reinforcement, and/or family involvement for teams of their peers - directors and staff of other out-of-school time programs. WVSAN expects to fund 3 Demonstration Day Projects and will provide technical assistance. 

Eligibility: Afterschool or out-of-school time programs serving school-age children in WV for 25 or more weeks during the 2008-2009 school year. Successful applicants will have:

• Secure funding for 2009-2010 regular program activities,
• Community partners who advise program activities and collaborate with the applicant through funding, shared programming or staff, or facilities ,
• Research and experience basis for the featured practices,
• Access to facility and equipment conducive to hosting the Demonstration Day activities proposed (e.g. computers for technology integration if needed, sufficient space to conduct activities, supervision for host students, parking arrangements for visitors, on-site meals/refreshments or nearby service, etc.),
• Director and staff assigned to Demonstration Day activities who are experienced with featured practices and can respond to questions, and
• Students, regular school day teachers, and/or parents/guardians, business partners, or community members experienced with featured practices who are available to respond to visitor questions.

Application Process: Program directors should complete the attached Demonstration Days Application and submit it with any attachments (photos, evaluation data, forms/agendas/program descriptions or other materials developed to conduct the practice or program) to:

Jane Hange
WV Statewide Afterschool Network
4700 MacCorkle Ave, SE,
Suite 1108
Charleston, WV 25304
Jane.Hange@mail.wvu.edu
304-720-9882
304-720-9572 (Fax)

Applications may be submitted by e-mail, fax, mail, or delivery service. Click here for an application. 

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WVSAN Afterschool Program Survey

The WVSAN Afterschool Program Survey, an online survey available through Zoomerang, began in January 2008 by inviting (through listserv announcements and dissemination of print surveys) all afterschool programs that offer "organized activities for at least two hours between the end of the school day and 6 PM" to participate. (Summer programs may be offered in addition but not instead of afterschool activities.) The survey continues to capture program data from individual afterschool sites as directors complete it online or return a print survey. With 182 (N=182) programs responding, we know that the data are far from complete. Locating programs and building a network of providers and supporters is one of three WVSAN goals. The work to "discover" additional afterschool programs and to invite survey completion continues. If you have not completed the survey, please do so by clicking on Zoomerang Survey below. Thank you.

WVSAN Afterschool Program Survey Links:

Zoomerang Survey

WVSAN Survey Copy

WVSAN Explorations Grant Request for Proposals

 WV Afterschool Day at the Legislature - Status of the Legislature 2009 Document

Preliminary data analysis of the WVSAN Afterschool Program survey

Updated May 13, 2009