Download the 2002 Task Force Report

Completed in November 2002, the Illinois After-school Initiative’s Task Force report outlines a needs assessment and recommendations pertaining to building a statewide infrastructure for quality after-school in Illinois. These recommendations continue to guide the Illinois After-school Partnership's work.

The task force, a multi-disciplinary group of over 60 members, agreed on guiding principles and core elements of strong programs. Work groups of the task force guided the research and data collection efforts that provided information on the need for out-of-school time programs, the status of those programs and the current funding climate. The task force developed over 25 policy recommendations and strategic next steps in the areas of State-Level Interagency Collaboration, Capacity Building, Community Collaboration, Evaluation and Funding.

Meeting The Different Needs Of Children
Illinois out-of-school programs are tailored to the developmental stage, special needs and physical and cognitive abilities of participants. Illinois out-of-school programs offer a range of activities to capitalize on the varied interests of children and youth and take creative, multi-disciplinary approaches to develop participants’ potential and skills. Illinois out-of-school programs offer activities that are based on sound practices to reach the program’s stated goals. Illinois out-of-school programs have an established management system in place addressing personnel management — including the use of volunteers — planning, professional development, accounting and evaluation to deliver effective programming from year to year. Illinois out-of-school programs are staffed with high quality, well-trained personnel that receive continuous professional development and evaluation.

Diversity
Illinois out-of-school programs are developed with respect and appreciation for the diverse backgrounds, family structures, cultures, communities and languages of the children and families served by the program.

Outcomes And Evaluation
Illinois out-of-school programs use policies, programs and principles that have been shown by research to be effective. Illinois out-of school programs are held accountable to parents, youth, funders, and related stakeholders through periodic process and outcome evaluations. Illinois out-of-school programs are data-driven with specific goals, objectives and milestones that regularly assess progress and provide feedback for program improvement.

Parent Involvement
Illinois out-of-school programs consider parents and caregivers as partners. Programs work with parents and caregivers across all levels of program development, design, implementation and evaluation.

Role Of The Community
The State of Illinois actively encourages public institutions, schools, private agencies, business, faith-based and other community-based organizations and civic leaders to work collaboratively to plan sustainable out-of-school programs that meet the needs of local children.

Role Of The State
State government assures that needs assessments are conducted, priorities are set, training and technical assistance is promoted, best practices are supported and outcomes are evaluated for publicly funded out-of-school time programs.

The Illinois After-school Initiative Task Force spent considerable time understanding the elements of high-quality out-of-school-time programs. The Task Force explored research and regional and national resources, such as the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, Forum for Youth Investment, the National School-Age Care Alliance and the National Institute for Out-of-School-Time, and drew upon participants’ own program knowledge to select the core elements of quality programs. These provide concrete examples of the characteristics of quality programs.

The Task Force agreed:

• Ongoing Staff Training and Development
• Safe and Appropriate Program Environment
• Consistent and Defined Program Management
• Sustainability
• Transportation
• Community Collaboration
• Program Monitoring and Evaluation
• Family Involvement

…are crucial to the effectiveness of out-of-school-time programs.

In addition to these core elements, the Task Force agreed that successful programs provide:

• Academic Enrichment Opportunities
• Social-Emotional and Life-Skills-Building
• Opportunities and Enrichment Activities
• Cultural and Artistic Enrichment
• Healthy Lifestyle Promotion
• Opportunities to Develop Positive Relationships

Recognizing that programs are in various stages of development and do not always have the full funding and programmatic support they need, the Task Force, rather than recommending that the programs be required to implement each of the core elements, sets these elements as examples for programs to strive to meet. The Task Force encourages the state, through the RFP process, to promote the use of these core elements. The Illinois After-school Initiative Final Report contains full descriptions of each of the core elements and their impact on positive youth development.

Click here to download the executive summary of the 2002 Task Force report.

Click here to download the full 2002 Task Force report.