The After School Activities Partnerships (ASAP) Directory contains more than 1,200 listings for out-of-school time recreation and enrichment opportunities for youth in Philadelphia.
Recently, the City launched the website for its Out-of-School-Time Initiative (OST), ost.phila.gov. The OST initiative, which launched in February, created a shared and coordinated approach to OST programming among the City, schools, providers, philanthropy and the community. Accordingly, the website provides families and students who are heading back to school on Tuesday, September 5, with a directory of 1,200 safe, quality afterschool programming in which they can participate. The website also provides more information for after school providers and other stakeholders about the citywide OST initiative, how to get involved, and how to stay engaged with other committed stakeholders.
”We are excited to launch this site and to share a resource that elevates and builds upon the amazing work of the city’s out-of-school time partners who work hard every day to educate, support and grow our young people afterschool and during the summer,” says Michael DiBerardinis, Managing Director for the city. “This website reflects the on-going work of the growing network of OST stakeholders working together to build a strong, citywide OST system for our youth.”
Through a partnership with Philadelphia Media Network, the directory of afterschool programs will appear as a printed supplement in the Philadelphia Daily News on Wednesday, September 13th. Also, thanks to the support of Pennsylvania Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), an additional 10,000 copies will be mailed to families throughout the region. To request a copy of the After School Activities Partnership (ASAP) Directory, please contact Paul Carroll at [email protected].
“After school and summer isn’t just a time when kids get to BE themselves – it’s a time they get to become themselves through enriching experiences that develop important skills, foster positive relationships and broaden horizons,” says Justin Ennis, ASAP Executive Director. “ASAP’s Directory is a testament to the amazingly diverse opportunities that exist in our city to challenge, excite, and engage kids outside of the classroom. It’s also a testament to the broad community of caring adults who lend their time and talents each and every day to make the world bigger and brighter for young people in Philadelphia.”
The City’s Department of Human Services, which funds a significant portion of City sponsored out-of-school time programs, will distribute to the directory to Community Umbrella Agencies, foster parent organizations and through its education support services.
Cynthia Figueroa, DHS Commissioner says, “Keeping children and youth engaged in activities when they’re not in school is a key part of our goal to strengthen children and families. Through DHS support, thousands of youth take part in these programs each year. The ASAP directory and city website makes it easy for families to find and select the best programs for their children.”
The three City departments that provide the most out-of-school time programming to over 150,000 youth are the Department of Human Services, Parks & Recreation and the Free Library. By aligning and coordinating citywide OST programming, the City can ensure the greatest impact for the young people we serve and will work to define and create quality before school, afterschool, weekend programming and summer programs.
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