Afterschool, before-school, and summer programs have become essential supports for working parents and a key part of life for many American children. These programs offer safe havens for children, as well as academic and development opportunities that many children and youth need.

But despite a growth in after-school programs nationwide, many communities struggle to finance and sustain quality programs. In the past decade, The Finance Project has developed unparalleled resources that help leaders address financing and sustainability issues for out-of-school time programs. The Out-of-School Time clearinghouse brings together The Finance Project’s resources with resources developed by other organizations dedicated to building better after-school programs.

The need for work supports, along with state flexibility to allocate TANF funds, affords a valuable opportunity to “make the case” for using TANF dollars to support out-of-school time programming. Moreover, policymakers, program leaders, and intermediaries must be able to understand and assess the policy and fi nancing options for using TANF or MOE funding on out-of-school time initiatives.

Published: June, 2007

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The Tony Grampsas Youth Services (TGYS) Program is a program authorized by §25-20.5-201 through 205, C.R.S. and intended to provide funding to community-based organizations that serve children, youth and their families with services designed to reduce youth crime and violence and to prevent child abuse and neglect. Eligible entities include non-profit organizations, local governments, schools, and faith-based organizations. TGYS is housed in the Child, Adolescent and School Health Unit in the Center for Healthy Families and Communities in the Prevention Services Division at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The TGYS program embraces a positive youth development approach in working with children, youth, and families. TGYS values children, youth, and families and their experiences, backgrounds, talents, and contributions. TGYS assumes that children and youth have the potential to become healthy, fulfilled, and productive citizens of Colorado given the proper support and guidance from caring adults, organizations, and communities.

It is encouraged that local programs integrate an assets-based philosophy into their programs, services, and organizations where staff identify and foster the strengths in the individuals, families, and communities they serve.

In the TGYS application process, programs are asked to address the risk and protective factors that their programs and services target among their participants. Programs that emphasize protective factors, while working to mitigate risk, are perceived as being aligned with the TGYS Program’s philosophy.