Out-of-School Goes to the State House

Today was Advocacy Day for Out-of-School time programs up at the State House on Beacon Hill. This event brought together a diverse audience of many different programs and workers of many different ages and walks of life. The event was organized by Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership had speakers from government, programs, and youth voices.

The room was full of many professionals in the field of Out-of-School Time and one thing was certain from several of the conversations in the room - advocacy was not a single day event this year but will involve hard work and determination over the next few months to make sure that funding is either preserved or that lawmakers and the public see that often social programs need more government funding when times are tough not less.

Program coordinators are reporting an increase in the need for assistance to families who cannot pay fees they were used to paying just a year ago. Summer attendance of fee-for-service programs have also dropped last year and there seems to be worry that this year will see a substantial drop off in enrollment. One coordinator said that she posted a part time position at her program on craigslist and rather than a one-day bump in resumes, she has received about 25 per day for the past week and a half - many from people who claim they are looking for work because their program was closed or position eliminated. What was more shocking was that many of these resumes were coming from other locations in the state, and region.

These are hard times indeed, if these reports reflect the reality out there. Representative St. Fleur when she spoke said that she sees our glass as half-full. She said that attorneys are only as good as the last case they've won and that each year the field of Out-of-School Time must again "win" funding. This may indeed be the case. One person in the OST field joked that anyone who claims they know what to do in these financial times is either fooling themselves or others or both.

One good thing about Out-of-School programs is that they have already learned to operate with little funding and do extraordinary things using few resources. Staff are usually part time. Technology is kept to a minimum. It may be that the funding needed to continue these programs is actually small amount considering the overall state budget or the costs of operating other educational services, such as the Boston Public Schools or flat funding certain line items over others. Glue, craft sticks, some creative energy from staff have already provide numerous youth development opportunities. It may be that our ask is not that much. After all, give even 1/100th or 1/1000th of 900 billion dollars (the current number for the stimulus plan) and our field can change the lives of young people and give children places to play and learn.