Policy

Advocacy and Policy in Allegheny County

APOST and its partners work to advocate and educate our federal, state, and local government officials to achieve sustained support for quality afterschool. This combined effort helps keep kids safe, helps working families, and inspires learning!

Neighborhood Learning Alliance: Keeps Kids Safe

Human Services Center Corporation: Helps Working Families

Environmental Charter School Afterschool Program: Inspires Learning

Policy

Policy encompasses government action to address issues not only through laws but also regulations, enforcement priorities, and programs.

Afterschool Matters

According to America After 3PM by Afterschool Alliance, Allegheny County’s OST participation rate is 28% — much higher than the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at 17%. Not only is there a higher percentage of youth involved, but there is also a higher demand for OST.

If we want to increase the percentage of youth involved and allow them to receive quality and accessible OST, we need to increase overall investments in OST.

Quality afterschool impacts youth in the five domains of development; cognitive or academic, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual or connection to the community. Afterschool allows youth to further develop in these domains in a safe and supportive environment. Afterschool opportunities also offer students new and diverse experiences.

According to the National Center for Quality Afterschool, these experiences can impact in school academics and attendance, behavior, and social skills.

Developing the Platform

Over the last few months, we worked with the OST community and partners to formulate policy priorities and strategies. APOST works on behalf of all types of OST programs that range from grade K to 12. APOST is leading the grassroots movement in the out-of-school time community, while realizing there are strategic partners to advance the efforts across the state. Those partners include Allies for Children and Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network (PSAYDN).

Policy Priorities

Sustainability: secure dedicated funding
Efficiency: streamline and align resources
Quality: promote the quality standards

Policy Strategies

Amplify: communicating and building awareness of Out-of-School Time
Activate: mobilizing the grassroots OST community to advocate and educate influencers
Advance: educating and researching OST impact

The State of Afterschool Reports

APOST has released three reports analyzing afterschool school in Allegheny County. These findings have introduced afterschool and out-of-school time community members to trends and developments surrounding participation, parents thoughts, funding, and future directions in quality out of school time. Read key findings and access the report results.

Advocacy

AfterSchool Advocacy Day

Afterschool Advocacy Day is an annual event sponsored by Pennsylvania State Afterschool and Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) where afterschool youth, parents, and providers travel to the state capitol in Harrisburg to educate legislators on the goals and positive outcomes of afterschool.  APOST provides transportation, food, and t-shirts to participants from Allegheny County. Learn more about this event and how you can participate.