Afterschool Is Expanding Opportunities for All Youth
The Challenge
Afterschool programs are critical to children and families. They provide new learning opportunities that accelerate kids’ academic, social and emotional growth. They keep kids safe and care for children outside of school time while parents are working.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, afterschool staff innovated to distribute meals, provide in-person care when schools closed, and connect families to local resources. Yet, nearly 25 million youth are missing out on afterschool 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 that all children have access to affordable, quality out-of-school time programs. The Alliance focuses on addressing inequities and expanding sustainable investments, especially in historically marginalized communities.
Our Approach
As a strategic communications partner, Burness helps the Alliance develop resources for the 50 state afterschool networks to adapt and use, provides one-on-one technical assistance to states, and works with the Alliance to develop and disseminate materials that communicate about the impact of afterschool.
The 50 state afterschool networks have a wide range of resources and needs—some are well-staffed and well-funded, and others depend largely on a single staff member and volunteers. To accommodate this range, we help the Alliance develop strategies that are scalable and materials that can be tailored for each state’s needs, from messaging resources and graphics to op-ed templates and one-pagers. We help states define and advance their strategic communications goals by collaborating on strategic plans, storytelling projects and materials for meetings with stakeholders.
Together with several partners, we also help the Alliance plan and run large-scale national communications campaigns, provide training and coaching for state network staff, and facilitate learning sessions so the networks can learn from each other.
Results and Impact
Working with the Alliance and other partners, we’ve helped build a movement of highly engaged state networks—a united front of powerful advocates for afterschool programs. Throughout the pandemic, these leaders have forged new partnerships and secured new funding to help expand programming for kids and families nationwide. Through video and powerful stories, youth have told policymakers and local education leaders about the value of afterschool and the difference it makes in their lives.
Engagement across the Alliance’s digital and social platforms has increased. And the Alliance has grown its grassroots base with vocal supporters who are excited to engage on social media, place opinion pieces, and coordinate strategic meetings with policymakers and state leaders.
Afterschool leaders are building on the innovations of the pandemic and maximizing American Rescue Plan resources to create a more fair, inclusive support system that helps every child thrive. There is no more important time to strengthen supports for kids and families, and we have seen an indication that our joint efforts are making a difference.