Expanding Opportunities for Youth in Afterschool
The Challenge
Families across America rely on afterschool programs. They provide new learning opportunities that help young people build skills, gain confidence, do better in school and make healthy choices. They keep kids safe outside of school time and help parents work without worry.
Decades of data show kids, families and communities benefit from afterschool — and demand for programs is enormous among parents nationwide. But right now, more than 22 million youth are missing out because their families can’t afford a program, there’s no program available or they lack transportation. The need is greatest in communities of color and communities with low incomes.
As the leading voice for afterschool programs, the Afterschool Alliance works to ensure all children have access to affordable, quality afterschool programs. The Alliance focuses on securing resources to expand afterschool and help programs be the best they can be.
Our Approach
As a strategic communications partner, Burness works alongside afterschool experts to provide communications support when and how they need it. Our work is designed to help afterschool leaders and teams across the country build capacity, seize important opportunities and navigate challenges.
We help the Alliance develop resources for the 50 state afterschool network, provide one-on-one technical assistance to states, and work with the Alliance to create and share engaging materials that show the impact of afterschool.
The state afterschool networks have a wide range of resources and needs — and all of them face unique policy challenges. To ensure networks get the support they need, we work with the Alliance to develop strategies that are scalable and materials that can be tailored for each state, from messaging resources and graphics to campaigns, peer learning sessions, op-ed templates and one-pagers.
Results and Impact
Working with the Alliance and its partners, we’ve helped build a movement of highly engaged state networks and supporters — a united front of powerful advocates for afterschool programs.
In recent years, afterschool champions have not only protected against budget cuts and successfully restored frozen federal funds, but also they have introduced legislation to expand programs and increased state investments in afterschool — up from $264 million across 15 states in 2000 to $5.7 billion across 28 states and D.C. in 2026.
Helping young people share their afterschool stories has been critical for these wins. Through video, in campaigns, on social media and at meetings, site visits and events, youth have shown policymakers the value of afterschool and told them about the difference it makes in their lives.
There is no more important time to strengthen supports for kids and families, and we have seen that our joint efforts are making a difference.