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The Illinois After-school Partnership is pleased to provide you this valuable resource directory of opportunities for children during the non-school hours. The Directory is a searchable tool for youth, parents, providers and others that are looking for program opportunities for children and youth in Illinois.
The term after-school programs traditionally refers to programs that offer children and youth ages six to 18 opportunities to participate in rewarding activities, improve their academic performance, develop positive relationships with peers and adults and gain self-confidence in a safe environment during the hours immediately after school. We know that the afternoon is not the only time that children and youth can benefit from enriching activities. The Illinois After-school Partnership’s Directory of Opportunities for our Children During the Non-school Hours includes programs available to help children and youth learn and grow after school, in the mornings before school, on school holidays, weekends and during the summer months. Quality after-school activities can include everything from recreational programs at a local park district to a homework help program that offers art and music at a child’s school to an internship for a high school student at a local employer. Children through age 12 may also attend a childcare program at a community based agency or a for-profit childcare center.
It is difficult to capture all of the opportunities available for children and youth in one comprehensive directory. The majority of the data compiled for the Illinois After-school Partnership Directory of Opportunities for our Children During the Non-school Hours was aggregated by the Data & Research Department at INCCRRA, the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies. These data are collected and maintained by the individual Child Care Resource & Referrals (CCR&Rs) in Illinois. These data include all information reported to the CCR&Rs on licensed and licensed exempt programs for children ages six and older. The data set used by INCCRRA for the directory was current as of March 31, 2004. For current information on school-age childcare opportunities in your area, you can visit http://www.ilchildcare.org and find the contact information for the CCR&R in your area, who will be able to provide you with any updated information. Staff from the Illinois After-school Partnership also collected information on the 21st Century Community Learning Centers and the Bridges programs funded through the Illinois State Board of Education and the TeenREACH programs funded through the Illinois Department of Human Services. The information provided by the Partnership was collected through September 2004. The majority of the programs listed in the Directory serve children six and older, but some of the programs may serve children only through age six.
To download the directory click here.
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