Presenters:Alexis Steines

Dr. Roslind Blasingame - Buford

BUILDing Better Futures:

Using Afterschool to Engage Youth and Connect Them to

a Network of Supports

How are you engaging youth out

of school / afterschool?

About the Afterschool Alliance• National non-profit based in DC

• Wide & deep reach at the grassroots & grasstops

o Work with more than 25,000 program providers

o 42 statewide afterschool networks

o 100+ Afterschool Ambassadors at the city level

o Bipartisan afterschool caucus in House & Senate

• Systems-building approach:

Field-Building

Research Policy, Advocacy &

Communications

1 2 3

What is afterschool?

• A program that a child attends regularly

• Provides a supervised, enriching environment in the hours after the school day ends

• Usually offered in a school or a recreation / community center

• Different from individual activities, such as sports, special lessons or hobby clubs

As defined in America After 3 PM: A Household Survey on Afterschool In America, 2009

America After 3PM

America After 3PM2009 Compared to 2004

National Percentages

2009 2004

Kids in Afterschool Programs 15% 11%

Kids in Self Care 26% 25%

Kids in Sibling Care 14% 11%

Parents Satisfied with Afterschool Program 89% 91%

Kids Who Would Participate if a Program were Available 38% 30%

Kids in Summer Learning Programs 25% --

• 8.4 million kids participate in afterschool programs

• 15.1 million kids on their own after school

•New American After 3 data this fall!

New research from Dr. Deborah Lowe Vandell, UC Irvine School of Education

New Research on Afterschool Outcomes

BUILD HISTORY• BUILD’s programs have served more than 90,000 youth

throughout our 45 years of existence.

• Landmarks of our growth include:– 1969 – BUILD established– 1973 – Prevention Program Launched– 1982 – Community Development Program began– 1993 – Project BUILD created– 2000 – Initiated our Teen REACH After-School Program– 2002 – Youth Council started– 2003 – Launched BUILDing Futures– 2006 – Formalized the BUILD Model  – 2007 – Talent Search began– 2009 – Humboldt Park Cluster Pilot Launched– 2012 – Launched Health & Wellness Program– 2013 - Brand BUILD Arts Academy (B.B.A.A.) created– 2014 – BUILDing Communities Together (BCT) formalized

• Today BUILD is in 11 communities, serving over 3,000 youth annually.

BUILD Mission & Vision• MISSION: BUILD engages at-risk youth in the schools and

on the streets so they can realize their educational and career potential and contribute to the stability, safety and well-being of our communities.

• VISION: By 2020, BUILD will be recognized and sought out nationally as a premier provider of proven-effective Youth Development services targeted for at risk youth and communities. BUILD’s youth will serve as ambassadors, living examples of how the BUILD Model transforms youth from “at risk” to “at hope” and, ultimately, to respected, contributing members of society.

Population Served• Ages (6-27)• Risk Factors include:

– Behavior and academic problems in school

– Negative use of out-of-school time

– Location of residence– Family issues – Youth not enrolled in

school– Youth or Family

members affiliated with gangs

– Youth or Family members involved in juvenile or criminal justice system

• Neighborhoods1. Belmont Cragin2. Hermosa3. Logan Square4. Austin5. Humboldt Park6. West Town7. Near North

Side/Cabrini Green8. East Garfield Park9. North Lawndale10.Brighton Park11.Englewood

“At-Hope” Youth

At BUILD, We focus on the tremendous potential and deliver the message that we believe our

youth will accomplish great things.

BUILD’s Programs• Prevention

– In-School Activities– After- and Out-of-School

Activities – Community Outreach

• Intervention– Gang/Violence Remediation– Project BUILD– BUILD Peace Leagues

• BUILDing Futures– College Access– Career Readiness– BUILDing Bridges to Manhood– Becoming Women – Brand BUILD

• Youth Leadership Development (Under BUILDing Futures)– Youth Council: “INDAGLO”

(The Light Within the Darkness)

– Y-MAD (Youth Making A Difference)

– HEY-U (Highly Empowered Youth United)

• Special Projects– Humboldt Park Cluster

Model– East Garfield Cluster

Model– Culture of Calm Initiative– YESS Program

BUILD’s Programs (cont’d)• Health & Wellness

– Affordable Care Act (ACA)– Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It! (MEND)

• BUILDing Communities Together (BCT)– Data Collection– Program Evaluation– Capacity BUILDing– Leadership Development

BUILD Model

Why we’re successful: M&M’s Meet YOUTH Where They are … Make a Genuine Connection… Master Their Needs & Interests… Maintain Positive Relationships…. Move Them from Margins to Mainstream Motivate them to Become Program Ambassadors…

BUILD Methodologies

Positive Youth Development (PYD) builds on the assets of youth rather than the deficits.

Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD): Working in partnership with others to provide youth with all the resources needed.

Appreciative Inquiry (AI): A way of bringing about change that shares leadership and learning The 4 stages of AI are: Discovery, Dream, Design and Destiny.

Strength- Based Change Model

Positive Youth

Development

Appreciative

Inquiry

Asset Based

Community Developme

nt

Performance Management

• BUILD’s Commitment to Data– Center for Latino Research at DePaul University (mid-1990’s)– Loyola University (1999)– Illinois Center for Violence Prevention (2006)– University of IL at Chicago, Masters of Youth Development Program (2012)– Evaluation for Change (2013)

• Systems & Tools– Group Activity Reports– Youth Profile– Youth Life Plan Self-Assessment & Reflection– Health Assessment– Mutual Accountability Plan (MAP)– Efforts to Outcomes (ETO)

• Accomplishments & Highlights– Chicago ETO User Group– Perform Well webinar (Performance Management to Becoming Evidence-

Based)– After the Leap Showcase in Washington, D.C.– MetLife Award

BUILD Designations & ReplicationDesignations:• “Promising Practice” (Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency

Prevention)• “Exemplary Practice” (Chicago Community Trust)• “Innovative Practice” (Department of Education Trio Programs)• “Effective Programs” (Office of Justice Programs)• “Four-Star Charity” (Charity Navigator)

Model Replication:Department of Public Health (Minneapolis, MN)Luz Social Services (Tucson, AZ)The Prevention & Addictions (Corpus Christi, TX)International Center for Conflict Engagement (Houston, TX)

Advocating for Afterschool

Things to think about: What are your immediate goals? Long-term, short-term, immediate?

Who are your allies? Who supports summer learning or afterschool in your community?

Who are you targeting? How do you plan to get the attention of each target?

Key Messages• Afterschool programs:• Keep kids safe• Engage kids in learning• Help working families

• At their best when they complement but don’t replicate the school day

• Afterschool programs are also community-school partnerships

Questions?

Dr. Roz Blasingame-BufordExecutive Director

BUILD 773-227-2880

contactus@buildchicago.org rblasingame@buildchicago.org

FACEBOOK: BuildChicagoTwitter: @BUILD_ Chicago

Alexis SteinesField Outreach Manager

Afterschool Alliance202-347-2030

asteines@afterschoolalliance.org

Facebook: afterschoolalliancedc

Twitter: @afterschool4all