ERIC Number: ED540506
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Aug-28
Pages: 43
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
After School: Connecting Children at Risk with Responsible Adults to Help Reduce Youth Substance Abuse and Other Health-Compromising Behaviors--An RWJF National Program. Program Results Reports
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
"After School: Connecting Children at Risk With Responsible Adults to Help Reduce Youth Substance Abuse and Other Health-Compromising Behaviors (After School)" helped develop intermediary organizations in Boston, Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area in order to create citywide systems of after-school programs. The intermediaries--Boston After School & Beyond, After School Matters in Chicago and Team-Up for Youth, headquartered in Oakland, California--are neutral, independent organizations capable of dedicating the necessary resources and focus to bring key players from many sectors to the table and generate broad community support. Key findings include: (1) Boston After School & Beyond, After School Matters and Team-Up for Youth brought together key players from public and private organizations--schools, after-school providers (including community- and faith-based organizations), local government agencies and funders--to strengthen and coordinate after-school activities and to provide programming; (2) The intermediary organizations helped link more than 90,000 at-risk young people in urban neighborhoods to quality, adult-led programs in Boston, Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area; (3) "After School" contributed to the recognition and growth of after-school intermediaries nationwide through reports about the program, and through sponsored meetings, which brought together after-school intermediaries, policy-makers, practitioners, researchers, funders and other stakeholders; (4) "After School" contributed to an emphasis on the after-school needs of teenagers. The consultants showcased After School Matters (Chicago)--which targeted teenagers--in reports and meetings. It also supported two meetings focused on teenagers. This led to an increase in after-school programs for teenagers, including the Teen Initiative in Boston; and (5) "After School" brought childhood obesity to the after-school field. Program staff raised the issue of obesity among American children--especially in low-income and minority communities--and brought representatives from the after-school and youth sports fields together to explore ways to increase after-school physical activities for urban youth. Team-Up for Youth (San Francisco Bay area), which focused on sports, served as a model. Appended are: (1) After School Project List; (2) Boston After School & Beyond Funders (as of June 2007); (3) After School Matters Major Funders (2002 to June 2006); and (4) Team-Up for Youth Major Funders (1999 to 2006). A bibliography is included.
Descriptors: At Risk Students, After School Programs, Youth Programs, Health Behavior, At Risk Persons, Adults, Agency Cooperation, School Community Relationship, Local Government, Urban Areas, Adolescents, Obesity, Well Being, Physical Activities, Financial Support, Program Development, Mentors, Substance Abuse, Child Health, Child Safety, Program Effectiveness, Technical Assistance, Governance, Athletics
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. P.O. Box 2316, Route 1 and College Road East, Princeton, NJ 08543. Tel: 877-843-7953; e-mail: mail@rwjf.org; Web site: http://www.rwjf.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Identifiers - Location: California; Illinois; Massachusetts
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A