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ChildCare CCAC ActioNews Child Care Action Campaign May-June 1995 Volume 12 No. 3 Children and Families: A Wise Investment for Business The benefits of invesment in children and families are great, as are the consequences of doing nothing. Children play at Pacific Gas & Electric Company's Children's Center at its corporate headquarters in San Ted Childs Francisco's financial district. Open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., it serves 68 infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers. Corporate America con- nies should provide such ly ask how many women are tions, vacation plans and tinues to debate whether a assistance. in high-level positions and other benefits. Employers corporation should be in- whether or not these women offer these benefits because volved with its employees' Helping Families Helps have families. More often they want to provide some the Bottom Line family issues, particularly than not, unsatisfactory level of protection and secu- child care. One train of Recruiting. Companies answers to these questions rity for their employees. Em- thought views family matters compete to attract the best reduce a company's ability ployer involvement in sup- as personal and private and and brightest college gradu- to attract top talent. porting child care and other argues that companies ates to their entry-level posi- Productivity. Employ- dependent care issues fits should not get involved. tions. Top college stu- ers know that if their em- into this family-oriented cor- The opposite view says that dents-both men and ployees are distracted by porate philosophy. corporations should show women-increasingly ask outside worries they will not Family issues can and do concern for their employees questions about a company's be productive at work. It is creep into the workplace and assist them in address- family-friendly philosophy. now commonplace for both and can cause as much con- ing child care and other They want to know about large and small companies cern among employees as dependent care needs. We flexible work schedules and to provide their employees concerns addressed by believe there are com- support programs for fami- with medical, dental and life health and medical benefits. pelling reasons why compa- lies. Young women frequent- insurance, retirement op- (Continued on page 4) B eing unready and ill-equipped is There are those who surely will even the terrorists could not have what you have to expect in life. It is hint that if more women stayed anticipated-and would surely relish. the universal predicament You must home, that federal center would not I hope all of you will take every always make do with less than you need have been full. The children would opportunity these days to speak to in a situation vastly different from what not have been in the line of fire. It is friends and strangers on this point. you would have chosen as appropriate for a savagely irrelevant comment, Modern life has made horribly clear your special endowments. designed to exacerbate the guilt that that there is no guaranteed safe That's an observation from The working mothers cannot help but place, particularly in our cities. But Marauders, a brilliant book by feel sometimes when they are not at regulated, responsible, security-con- Charlton Ogburn, about the ugly home with their young sons and scious child care-the kind that daughters. CCAC has always championed-is as President's But we have got safe, and essential, a place as our to be realistic. lunatic times can provide. Corner The dual-work- At the wise suggestion of our ing parent and founder, Elly Guggenheimer, CCAC single-working is spearheading a campaign to raise Richard B. Stolley parent family funds to restore and equip the are permanent ruined Oklahoma City child care 1941-45 war in the jungles of Burma. fixtures in America. That will not center. It will be our material tribute I recalled its poignant wisdom time change until government or business to those tiny martyrs. If you would and again in the days after the mur- or both make it financially possible like to contribute, send your check derous attack on the federal build- for one parent to stay home with his to our New York office. Even more ing in Oklahoma City. Who among or her infant, as other nations wisely important in the long run is your us-much less those directly in- do-which is to say that it will never continued public support of quality volved-could possibly be prepared change. child care, your understanding of for or absorb the sickening news of the growing demand for it among the destruction of that child care center and with it, the hopes and A nd that brings us back to the American families, and your pledge need for quality child care-the to campaign against any effort, no dreams of dozens of families? kind that was being delivered at the matter how misguidedly sincere, that That heartbreaking photograph of federal building. Recent studies indi- would suggest in some cruel way that a fireman carrying the body of the cate that employer-sponsored care is the movement of mothers into the year old girl out of the wreckage will generally of higher quality than workplace was a factor in the Okla- stay with us forever. But for me the other settings. Staffs are well trained homa City disaster and should be most terrifying graphic memento and better compensated than most reversed. Working mothers were not was a simple chart in The New York providers. Parents prefer on-site or at fault. Bloodthirsty terrorists were. Times. It was a cutaway drawing of near-site centers. They can drop in And against them. we are all equally the building in relation to the vehi- for lunch, develop a close relation- vulnerable. cle that brought in the bomb. Liter- ship with caregivers, and are avail- ally, only a few feet from those thou- able in case of tummy aches. Oklahoma City Child sands of pounds of explosive were And yet, locating child care cen- Care Relief Fund the children-on the second floor ters in risky buildings is likely to be for safety reasons, of course. The questioned as thoughts turn away This fund will be used to help solve the many problems that have arisen as a tragic irony of that location is almost from the destruction to rebuilding. result of the destruction of the child unbearable. It is a fair question, but so is this: care center. including support.for All of us dedicated to children and How do we determine risk? A high reestablishment of the center and other families will never be able to make visibility commercial tower (World programs that will ensure that children sense of Oklahoma City, but we can Trade Center), government offices and families have access to safe. good honor those who died by making (many others in addition to Okla- quality child care The effort hasibeen sure their deaths will not be used to homa City), airports (a center organized in conjunction with the discredit or damage child care in recently opened at JFK), God knows Oklahoma Association for the Educa- this country. The bombing was an where else? tion of Young Children.. Tax-deductible irrational act, which no one could To turn back the glacial move- contributions may be made payable to have prevented. We must work ment toward quality child care in the "CCAC/ Oklahoma City Child Care Relief Fund" and sent to CCAC, 330 together to prevent an irrational America because of random terror- 7th Ave., New York, NY 0001 response to it. ism would be a grisly triumph that 2 ChildCare ActioNews May-June 1995 Action on child care moved to the lies on welfare. Senate side with some good news for The Welfare Reform bill does require children as well as some serious set- states to provide some form of child backs. Unlike the House, the Senate care for mothers who are required to committees responsible for child care work-but only for children aged five did not consolidate all federal child Washington and under. No provision is made for the care programs into a single block grant. Instead. they left child care decisions to Watch child care needs of children six and old- er. Worse still, the bill removes current two committees-the Senate Labor and Helen Blank protections regarding quality and does Human Resources Committee. which not define what states must do to pro- has jurisdiction over the Child Care and vide child care. Child care is no longer Development Block Grant (CCDBG), step in the right direction. While the required to meet applicable state or and the Senate Finance Committee, Committee took the important step of local standards. States are free to set which has jurisdiction over the welfare- maintaining a set-aside for quality, it very low payment rates for care, effec- related child care programs and the At- reduced the overall set-aside from the tively eliminating parental choice. Risk Child Care Program. current 25% to 15%. The bill also re- peals or eliminates the Dependent Care Child Care Food Program Child Care and Development Block Grant. Both the House and Senate Budget Block Grant Child Care and Welfare Reform Resolutions would result in sharp cut- On the good news side, the Senate backs to all nutrition programs benefit- Labor and Human Resources Commit- The Senate Finance Committee's ing children and families, including the tee unanimously agreed on a bill intro- Welfare Reform bill consolidates all fed- Child Care Food Program. The Senate duced by its chair Sen. Nancy Kassebaum eral spending on welfare into one block bill recommends maintaining the Child (R-KS) and co-sponsored by Senators grant, cuts overall federal welfare spend- Care Food Program as an entitlement, Dodd (D-CT), Kennedy (D-MA) and ing. eliminates the family's guarantee to which means that all eligible children Coats (R-IN), reauthorizing the Child a subsistence grant, and to child care. would receive meals and snacks. It also Care and Development Block Grant. Under this bill there would be no sepa- recommends some cuts in the family The Kassebaum bill raises the eligibility rate child care funding or welfare-relat- day care portion of the program through level for block grant funding to 100% of ed child care program. Like the House a modified means test. Advocates are a state's median income. The Grant, bill, it eliminates the entitlement of now working with the Senate Agricul- first created in 1990, helps low-income child care for welfare recipients who are ture Committee to work out an appro- working families pay for child care. trying to go to work and repeals the priate means test that will ensure that as Considering the climate in Washing- Transitional Child Care Program (child many family child care providers as pos- ton and the action already taken by the care for families who have just moved sible and the children they serve have House to slash child care spending, the off welfare) and the At-Risk Child Care access to the nutritious meals offered Senate bill is sound. It authorizes $1 bil- Program (to prevent families from need- through CCFP. lion for the first year and "such sums as ing welfare). It allows Welfare Block necessary" in future years. While it will Grant funds to be used to provide child Next Steps be very challenging to win increases in care, but given the deep cuts already The Senate is expected to debate child care funding given the large cuts proposed. child care will compete with these bills in June, and the differences proposed in all domestic spending ex- the need to fund families' basic needs, between what it passes and what the cept social security, the bill did not set such as food and housing. The bill also House has already passed will be ironed very limited funding levels as targets, a creates a five-year lifetime limit for fami- out in conference committee over the summer. Advocates will seck to restore a In Memory of Vivian Cadden separate welfare-related child care pro- gram. It is vital that parents, child care Vivian Cadden, a founding Board member of her. Sharing with her the gift of her wisdom. All for providers, and community leaders em- CCAC, died on May 25. A distinguished journalist the last time. The first time / met Vivian / had just and editor, she contributed to magazines including come to Redbook Magazine. She was then, some phasize the critical link between ade- Life, The Nation and Harper's, and was an editor of 35 years ago, as she was always. as she is now in quate child care and the ability of a par- Redbook and McCall's. She was a founding editor the memories-in the hearts-of those who knew ent to work and a child to enter school of Working Mother magazine, to which she had her, vibrant, caring, incisive, spirited, loving the ready to learn. There is still time for the continued to contribute. Here is a personal remem- right things and ready to fight for them, ready to brance by founding Board member Sey Chassler. struggle against the wrongs which the world visits Senate to respond to the opinion of the upon itself. / think it is impossible to have known American people, which strongly sup- The last time / sat with Vivian Cadden we shared a Vivian and not to have loved her. / thank her for all ports continued federal funding for cab from Penn Station, close to midnight. She that. And as a colleague of Vivian at the Child Care dropped me at my house and went off into the Action Campaign, / am, as we all must be, grateful child care for working families, invest- approaching day. / thought then, after having spent for her dedication to the children and the families ments in quality, and the establishment a whole day with her, traveling in the morning from we are working for. There were some who called of minimum health and safety standards New York to CCAC's Board meeting in Washington, her a warrior for justice. She was not a warrior. She to protect the wellbeing of children. sitting side by side with her at the meeting, having a was a peacemaker. Her victories were victories for small supper with her in Union Station, traveling in others. Helen Blank is Director of Child Care and Devel- the evening with her. Talking with her. Listening to -Sey Chassler opment at the Children's Defense Fund and a CCAC Board member. May-June 1995 ChildCare ActioNews 3 Investing in Children and Families desire on the part of the cor- porations involved to attract and retain the very best employees. From 1982 to 1990 the number of employ- ers with some sort of child care program jumped from 600 to 5,600 and continues Reading to grow. Center The American Business Collaboration for Quality Dependent Care was formed two years ago and has been successful in helping corpo- rations increase the supply and quality of dependent care in the communities in which their employees live. Believing that by "working together we can accomplish what none of us can afford to do alone," 156 companies and organizations contrib- Pre-schoolers engage in a wide variety of hands-on activities at the Beth Israel Hospital child care center in uted $27 million over two Boston. years to fund 355 projects in 45 communities. (Continued from page I) ployees address family issues. flexible scheduling can be The Collaboration's re- Flexibility and dependent Each company must evaluate implemented at virtually no cently issued two-year report care programs help address what it can afford financially, cost to the company. Child details its successes: 19,141 these issues so that employ- what its employees need, care resource and referral spaces for young children, ees can come to work and what is feasible within its cor- services can be structured so school-age children, or work worry-free. Managers porate culture, and what will that uniform service can be older adults were created or of the '90s must understand bring an adequate return on provided to a widely dis- improved, and over 200,000 that these programs are its investment. persed population. Some people directly benefitted tools to achieve productivity resource and referral ser- from this investment, includ- improvements and business Employee Support vices, especially those with ing over 13,000 family mem- results, not cost items that Programs national markets, are now bers of investors' employees. are barriers to greater prof- These supports take many including information about The accompanying chart its and productivity. They forms and can be geared to school-age care and help shows the types of invest- must also understand that the particular needs of a with college planning as part ments made. they must not make their company and its employees. of their service, making the The Collaboration sup- employees feel like they are The most common family- benefit useful to a larger ported a wide range of activ- less committed to their friendly benefits include ser- number of employees. ities. In Dallas, it helped careers when they use flexi- vices that help employees four companies come to- bile options and dependent find and choose child care; Employer Centers and gether to create a new, near- care programs. We have pre-tax set asides; leave pro- Specific Projects site center. In Poughkeepsie, these programs so they can grams; flexible work sched- Some companies are New York, IBM joined two have families and continue ules, part-time work; and going a step further and cre- hospitals and two colleges to to be productive at work. work-at-home programs. ating programs directly for replace a center that was In addition to meeting their employees. The most faced with closing. To im- What Employers the needs of employees and visible example is the prove the quality of care, the Can Do the company, these benefits increase in employer-sup- Collaboration helped 224 There are numerous ways can help address quality of ported child care centers. centers in 15 communities that a company can put into life issues in local communi- These programs represent obtain accreditation by the action its desire to help em- ties. Leave programs and long-term investments and a National Association for the 4 ChildCare ActioNews May-June 1995 Education of Young Chil- port or combines all three, assure that the education sys- this is an opportunity for the dren by covering the cost of everyone benefits when busi- tem prepares young people business world to partner fees and consultants and, in ness takes proactive steps to to meet these challenges. with local community organi- some cases, paying for physi- address the needs of chil- Corporations are now zations to improve the quali- cal improvements. Training dren. The company will see expanding their involve- ty of care and education for was provided to family child a more committed, ener- ment in education to in- young children. care providers, to staff in 77 gized and productive work clude the primary and sec- centers, and to center direc- force. Reduced absenteeism ondary levels, as well as uni- Children and Families: and turnover and successful A Wise Investment tors in 11 communities. Pro- versities. Many corporate ini- grams for school-age chil- recruitment can enhance a tiatives involve public school Many large corporations dren included science and company's bottom line. The systems in partnership pro- are faced with increasingly technology summer camps community and society also grams, adopt-a-school pro- limited financial resources. for children from 10 to 14 benefit from business in- grams, and IBM's own "Re- Government at all levels is years old in eight cities and volvement in supporting inventing Education" initia- faced with the same issues. the development of staff families. Initiatives like the tive. Indeed, IBM CEO Lou Many states are cutting their training programs and inno- American Business Collab- Gerstner, in his book Rein- budgets, in most cases re- vative curricula for older oration expand choices for venting Education, expresses ducing social programs as a children, who are frequently all parents in a community. the view that our schools are way to "put their house in left home alone because Bringing together the busi- in a crisis that requires im- order." Overlooked is the after-school programs are ness and child care commu- mediate, aggressive, innova- fact that neglected children not geared to their needs. nities allow different per- tive actions accompanied by become very costly adults. spectives to be shared and a long-term commitment to What has always been Donations or new ideas and solutions to correct. A new publication clear to the business com- Charitable Endeavors be piloted. Corporate fund- by the Department of Edu- munity is that we must make A number of corporations ing has helped child care cation called "Employers, wise investments with the support programs for chil- providers become more cus- Families and Education" limited resources we have so dren and youth through tomer oriented by offering highlights a number of local that we can get the greatest their foundations or extended hours, school-age programs. return on that investment. through other corporate giv- care, and other services par- The same should apply to ing programs. These dona- ents need. Young Children Key programs for children and tions are often geared to Many people feel that busi- investments in education. supporting national pro- Building the Workforce ness must focus on the devel- The High Scope/Perry Pre- of Tomorrow grams, funding research, or opment of children prior to school study showed that $1 helping the disadvantaged. Corporate America is in- their entry into kin- invested in a child care pro- Such support can have great creasingly concerned with dergarten. In fact, the first gram produces a return of impact on communities and the state of education in national education goal is $7.16. A wise investment now lead to very positive visibility America. The workforce of that by the year 2000, all chil- can lead to greater rewards for a corporation. tomorrow will need to be dren will enter school ready down the road: lower social more highly educated and to learn, a goal that cannot costs, greater creativity, a Everyone Benefits technologically aware than be reached if our children better educated and employ- Whether a company im- any other preceding genera- are neglected before they able workforce, increased plements one type of sup- tion, and business wants to reach kindergarten. Again, productivity and competi- tiveness. The benefits of business American Business Collaboration Funding investment in children and (By Type of Program) families are great-as are the consequences of doing Program Increasing Improving % of % of nothing. We are dealing Type Supply Quality Projects Funding Total with the future of our coun- try. Business must respond Child Care Centers 58% 10% 28% 68% to the call or we will have failed those who need us the Family Child Care 5% 8% 18% 13% most and who look to us for School Age Care 10% 3% 44% 13% success-our children. Ted Childs is Director of Work- Elder Care 5% 1% 10% 6% force Diversity at IBM and a mem- ber of the American Business TOTAL 78% 22% 100% 100% Collaboration for Quality Depen- dent Care Board of Champions. May-June 1995 ChildCare ActioNews 5 NEWS briefs Republican Poll: Americans Support Federal Funds for Child Care CCAC's President Earns Americans support federal assis- "Unworthy Wage" tance for child care for poor working families and welfare recipients who Before chairing CCAC's semi-annual Board meeting on April 27, our President, Richard want to work, according to a poll re- B. Stolley, worked with children at the Rosemount Day Care Center in Washington, D.C. leased just four days before the House as part of "Worthy Wage Day." The event drew attention to the scandalously low wages of Representatives passed its welfare paid to child care workers. In 1994, the average weekly salary for child care workers was reform package. Known as the Per- $158. Stolley received a check from center executive director Jan Yocum for $12 for his sonal Responsibility Act (H.R.4), the two-hour shift. (Taxes were not withheld!) bill cuts child care assistance to welfare recipients and working families, and and safety standards for child care to working families to keep them from eliminates child care that has been facilities. The House eliminated these needing welfare and helping mothers available to mothers making the transi- requirements in H.R.4. get child care so they can move from tion from welfare to work. It also elimi- 47% of American voters say it welfare to work," said Barbara Reis- nates a requirement that states invest a would be a "mistake" to cut federal man, Executive Director of Child Care portion of federal funds to improve child care assistance by 20% (as the Action Campaign. CCAC supports the the quality of child care for all working House had proposed), 46% believe alternative bill proposed by Senators families. The Senate is now consider- the cuts can be made, and 8% had no Kennedy and Dodd, which increases ing its version of welfare reform (see opinion. federal investments in child care by Washington Watch, page 3). $5.1 billion over five years and guar- Conducted by Republican pollster Poll: Finding Affordable Child antees assistance to mothers trying to Vince Breglio the poll surveyed 1,000 Care Has Gotten Harder move off welfare. registered voters nationwide and One in seven American voters say found that: that they or someone in their house- Thank You! 67% of American voters believe hold currently uses child care. Ac- that "the government (should) help cording to 71% of the respondents, The Child Care Action Campaign in paying for child care" for mothers finding affordable child care was wishes to acknowledge and on welfare who are required to work; somewhat or a great deal more diffi- thank the following for 29% disagree while 3% have no cult to obtain than just five years ago. their. generous support.) opinion. This survey was taken three months 64% of poll respondents said that after a New York Times/CBS News poll The Ford Foundation providing poor families with child found that 86% of the American pub- Strategic Communications Plan care assistance will keep them off wel- lic supported spending the same or fare; 31% disagreed and 5% had no increased levels of federal funds on Federal Employees who contribute to CCACthrough opinion. programs for poor children. the Combined Federal Campaign 54% of American voters oppose "The Breglio poll shows that the General Support federal efforts to eliminate require- American people strongly endorse ments that states set minimum health providing federal child care support 6 ChildCare ActioNews May-June 1995 Study Examines Breadwinner & Caregiver Roles Women: The New Providers CCAC Should women work outside the money, both men and women chose Richard B. Stolley, President home? Do they neglect their families time and money about equally. Barbara Reisman, Executive Director when they do? Does their job perfor- Women do not see their commit- mance suffer because of family re- ment to work rewarded by their ChildCare ActioNews is circulated on a bi-monthly basis to the membership of the sponsibilities? A new study conducted employers, and they worry about Child Care Action Campaign. To become by the Families and Work Institute employers providing fewer benefits, a member. fill in and mail the coupon and Whirlpool Foundation may bury the difficulty of integrating work and below. Child Care Action Campaign's mission this debate forever. family life, and organizations not real- is to stimulate and support the develop- Women: The New Providers, released ly valuing the people who work for ment of policies and programs that will May 11, shows that women are com- them. While both men and women increase the availability of quality, afford- able child care for the benefit of children, fortable in their roles of breadwinner would prefer to work fewer hours, their families, and the economic well-being and caregiver. Around half of em- concerns about loss of benefits pre- of the nation. ployed women now provide half or sent a formidable obstacle. To accomplish this, CCAC provides information and original research to par- more of their family income, and 90% Nine out of ten women believe that ents, the general public, and to govern- say they are responsible for taking the debate about family values should ment and corporate policy makers about care of their families. Although nine focus not on the structure of families, the needs of families and children. CCAC emphasizes the conection between these out of ten women report time pres- but on valuing families of all types and needs and the nation's prosperity, and sures, with three in ten saying they are the way people behave toward each- advocates for additional investment in extremely pressed. a majority say they other. child care by employers, by labor, and by federal, state. and local governments. do not want to give up any aspect of Women believe that continuing their responsibilities. their education is critically important If money were not a concern, twice to improving their lives, and they as many women would choose part worry about the quality of the educa- YES! I want to become a member of time (33%) over full time work (15%). tion their children receive. While 97 the Child Care Action Campaign! My Thirty-one percent would choose to percent of women believe they can membership will support CCAC's efforts to advocate for quality, affordable child care work at home caring for the family improve their own lives at least some- for America's children and families (down from 39% in 1981), and 20 per- what, less than two-thirds believe they $25 Individual cent would select volunteer work (up can affect life at all beyond their own $35 Contributing from 13% in 1981). Interestingly. how- communities. $50 Family $100 Children's Circle ever, the "time famine" may be a Copies of the study are available $500 Leadership Circle national phenomenon rather than a free from: Whirlpool Foundation CCAC members receive CCAC's bi- gender issue. Asked whether they Study, PO Box 405, St. Joseph, MI monthly newsletter, ChildCare would choose more time or more 49085. ActioNews, discounts on publications and, upon request, copies of CCAC Information Guides. CCAC Lecture Series: Penelope Leach Urges Government to Put Children First Name (please print) "We need an organization like CCAC in Street Address the U.K.." remarked child psychologist and author Dr. Penelope Leach, at the City State end of her talk on "Putting Children First" at CCAC's lecture series on June Zip 9. Leach argued for workplace policies Please make checks payable to Child that would allow a parent to stay home Care Action Campaign and mail to: 330 with newborns and give parents the Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 (212-239-0138). flexibility and time they need to pro- mote the healthy development of their children. Faith Wohl, Director of Photo Credits: Workplace Initiatives for the General Our thanks to the following organizations Services Administration, spoke about and individuals for use of their photo- the need for increased government graphs: Pacific Gas & Electric Company (page 1); Beth Israel Hospital, Boston and employer investment in quality (page 4); Gail Richardson (page 6); child care. Citibank (page 7). May-June 1995 ChildCare ActioNews 7 Resources Want to CCAC's groundbreaking publications help both employers and employees who want to promote business involvement and support of child care: The Job/Family Challenge-Not for Women Only is a comprehensive guide know about Not Too Small to Care: Small Businesses and Child Care profiles 29 small businesses (employing to understanding and dealing with under 250 workers) that have implemented child care the work-family dilemma. Describes benefits: on- or near-site child care centers. employee employees' rights, family-friendly poli- subsidies. flexible work hours, parental leave. family day care homes and Dependent Care Assistance Plans. cies and how to advocate for them ($15 members, $25 non-members) with employers, unions and elected officials. Includes practical advice on Investing in the Future: Child Care Financing Options for the Public and handling work-family conflicts. Writ- Private Sectors highlights successful financing mod- ten by Ellen Bravo, Executive Director els. including grants and loans, bank reinvestment strategies. com- of 9 to 5, National Association of Wor- munity initiatives. bonds, pension funds, and employer partnerships. king Women. Published by John Wiley ($15 member, $25 non-member) & Sons, Inc. $12.95 at bookstores or An Employer's Guide to Child Care Consultants helps businesses determine whether contact 9 to 5, 238 W. Wisconsin Ave., they need a consultant, what they offer, what to look for, and how to find one. ($10 member. Milwaukee, WI 53203. $15 non-member) HALF PRICE WITHTHIS AD! Early Childhood Centers: Services to All three for $20 (members) and $30 (non-members). Plus a special bonus Prepare Children for School Often Child Care: The Bottom Line. an economic analysis of the costs and benefits of child care. Limited is a new study from the Gen- FREE with this ad! eral Accounting Office that analyzes Send prepaid order to: CCAC. 330 7th Ave., New York NY 10001 data from the 1990 national child care study and looks at centers in low- income areas in four states with partic- U.S. First copy of these reports avail- training, public awareness and strong ular emphasis on child development, able free from U.S. General Account- provider associations and describes nutrition and health, and parent ser- ing Office, PO Box 6015. Gaithers- how to start such an effort in a com- vices. Like others, this study also con- burg, MD 20884-6015 or call 202-512- munity. Family Child Care Providers cludes that services are inadequate 6000. Additional copies $2 each. Speak About Training, Trainers, and increased funding is needed. Accreditation, and Professionalism Early Childhood Programs: Promoting Child Care Aware: A Guide to Promot- reports on findings from a survey of the Development of Young Children in ing Professional Development in Child family child care providers trained by Denmark, France and Italy is another Care discusses the lessons learned Child Care Aware. Available from GAO study that contrasts the early from communities that participated in Families and Work Institute, 330 7th childhood policies and programs in Child Care Aware's effort to improve Ave., New York, NY 10001, (212) 465- these three countries with those in the family child care quality through 2044. Send Us Comments, Opinions & News! We like hearing from our readers. Please send your news to Dolores Schaefer at CCAC. CCAC NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Child Care Action Campaign PERMIT NO. 2120 NEW YORK, NY 330 Seventh Avenue, 17th floor New York, NY 10001 Forwarding & Return Postage Guaranteed SERVICE AS A STRATEGY IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME: A HOW-TO MANUAL Corporation for National Service 0 National Institute on Out-of-School Time The Corporation for National Service oversees three national service initiatives-AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, and the National Senior Service Corps. Through these programs, the Corporation pro- vides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to imrpove their communities through results-driven service. Corporation for National Service 1201 New York Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20525 (202) 606-5000 www.nationalservice.org The National Institute on Out-of-School Time's mis- sion is to improve the quantity and quality of school age care programs nationally by concentrating its efforts in five primary areas: research, education and training, consultation, program and community development, and public awareness. National Institute on Out-of-School Time Center for Research on Women 106 Central Street Wellesley, MA 02181-8259 (781) 283-2547 www.wellesley.edu/WCW/CRW/SAC/ October 1997 CONTENTS Preface I APPENDIXES I. Introduction 3 A. National Service Programs and Application Requirements 31 2. What is Quality Out-of-School Time? 5 B. National Service State Offices 35 3. Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time 9 C. State Commissions on National 4. Service as Part of Delivery in and Community Service 39 Out-of-School Time 13 D. State Education Agencies 45 Effective Practices A. Parents United for Child Care, Action E. School-Age Care Information and Resource for Children Today, and AmeriCorps 14 Sharing Via the Internet 5' B. Energy Express West Virginia and F. Other Out-Of-School Time Resources 61 AmeriCorps 15 G. Research and Statistics on C. AmeriCorps School's Out Kids Club Out-of-School Time 65 of New York City 17 D. City Year Boston LEFTY Program 18 E. West Philadelphia Improvement Corps- Turner Middle School 20 F. Brown Elementary School's Educational Outreach Program 21 G. Grandma Please-RSVP of Greater Cleveland 23 H. AmeriCorps*VISTA and Boys and Girls Club of Santa Fe 24 I. PlusTime New Hampshire 25 5. Service-Learning Activities for Children and Youth in Out-of-School Time 27 PREFACE O n December 4-6, 1996, Expanding Opportunities This publication is a collaboration of the in Out-of-School Time: A National Forum on Corporation for National Service and the National Service and School-Age Care launched a new part- Institute on Out-of-School Time, and the content nership to expand the resources available for chil- represents the work of many individuals and organi- dren and youth in programs operating before school, zations. Special thanks to the program directors and after school, on weekends, and during school breaks coordinators who were interviewed for the effective (i.e., out-of-school time, OST). The Corporation for practices section and participants of the December National Service, the Department of Education, the forum who provided input and guidance throughout Child Care Bureau at the Department of Health and the project. Human Services, the National Association of Child To help coordinate forum follow-up activities, the Care Resource and Referral Agencies, and the Corporation for National Service has organized the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (formerly To Learn and Grow (TLG) public-private partnership the School-Age Child Care Project) joined together to initiative to expand, enrich, and improve the quality begin planning for the development of new commu- of programs for children and youth in during out-of- nity-based collaborations that will expand and school time. The TLG partnership brings together enhance out-of-school time programs for children representatives from education, child care, and ser- and youth. Three pilot state teams-Illinois, vice organizations, private corporations, and founda- Massachusetts, and Washington-and a national part- tions, who are committed to providing quality OST nership team met to discuss solutions for the imple- opportunities for children and youth. mentation of service integration with out-of-school time at the community, state, and national levels. For more information or additional copies of this The inspiration for this manual originated from dis- manual, contact the Corporation for National Service: cussions at the forum focused around the integration To Learn and Grow of service as a strategy. The purpose of the manual Corporation for National Service is to help program directors, child care providers, 1201 New York Avenue, N.W. service members, school administrators, and leaders Washington, D.C. 20525 of community-based organizations effectively inte- (202) 606-5000, ext. 280 grate service in the development and implementa- www.nationalservice.org tion of OST programs. The manual discusses quality OST programs, highlights effective practices, discuss- es service and service-learning activities for children and youth in OST, and lists resources and contacts. The manual will be updated periodically as new lessons emerge from the field. I Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual 2 Service as a.Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Chapter I I n the past few decades, dramatic changes in the intervals during summer months only. Other pro- social and economic fabric of our country have led grams, such as school-age care facilities, operate INTRODUCTION to profound changes for the American family. Today, year-round and provide services while parents work less than 15 percent of our nation's children live in a and children are not in the classroom. Many schools household with a working father and a "stay-at- keep their doors open in the afternoons and home" mother (U.S. Census Bureau, 1996). In fact, evenings to address the needs of students and fami- according to the U.S. Bureau of Census (1991), two- lies. Law enforcement officials have started volun- thirds or 24 million children age five to fourteen are teer programs, like basketball leagues, to provide in need of care during their out-of-school time recreation and keep young people safe. When piec- hours, a population that is expected to grow with ing together this myriad of resources, communities recent changes in welfare laws. The General are beginning to build OST networks with some Accounting Office estimates that in the year 2002, potential to meet the needs of all parents, children, the current child care supply would meet as little as and youth. 25 percent of the demand in some urban areas Some OST programs are also using service and ser- (GAO/HEHS-97-75, May 1997). vice-learning activities to expand and enhance Increasingly, schools and community-based organiza- opportunities for children and youth. Service is peo- tions are responding to the needs of millions of chil- ple taking responsibility for meeting community dren and youth by providing safe places and con- needs by giving their time and talents to help solve structive activities in the out-of-school time hours. problems. Service can be an important resource in Quality out-of-school time (OST) programs provide a OST programs in two primary ways: variety of enrichment activities that keep children Bringing national and community service resources safe, provide opportunities for positive and consis- into programs to increase organizational capacity tent relationships with adults and other peers, pro- and support the delivery of care. Thousands of mote development through recreation, and offer AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers extra learning time for students. Quality OST pro- are currently serving as tutors, mentors, activity grams also provide opportunities for young people coordinators, and community liaisons in OST pro- to volunteer in their communities, learn leadership grams throughout the country. and team building skills, and connect with adult mentors. Engaging children and youth in community service and service-learning activities in the out-of-school Out-of-school time programs encompass a wide time hours. Learn and Serve America helps OST range of activities for young people that take place programs develop service-learning activities such before school, after school, on weekends, and dur- as youth-led graffiti removal projects, care for ing school breaks. Some programs run for short 3 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual homebound elderly people, and environmental clean-ups. Chapters 3 to 5 explore these primary vehicles for service as a strategy through a variety of examples. The goal of this manual is to give program staff and school-age care providers practical information about how to integrate service as a component with- in quality out-of-school time activities. The appen- dixes contain information on contacts and OST and national service resources. Discussions among both practitioners and researchers in the emerging fields of service and OST have developed a body of knowl- edge about what makes a high-quality program. In an attempt to create a common language for OST programs, Chapter 2, What is Quality Out-of-School Time? presents a summary of some of these efforts to define quality standards. 4 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Chapter 2 DEFINITION structural features such as lower child-staff ratios WHAT IS T 0 describe children's time outside the regular and smaller group sizes; school day, child development experts and care providers recently adopted the term "out-of-school classroom/caregiver dynamics including care- QUALITY givers' sensitivity; and time." For the purposes of this manual, out-of-school time (OST) programs refer to the broad range of staff characteristics such as education and experi- OUT-OF- enrichment opportunities for children and youth, ence. grades K-12, in the out-of-school time hours, including SCHOOL school-age care programs, before- and after-school More recently, studies specific to school-age care centers, and extended-day programs. have found that latchkey children are at significantly TIME? greater risk of truancy and poor academic perfor- Quality out-of-school time refers to opportunities for mance and are more likely to engage in risky behav- children and youth to develop positive and consis- ior such as juvenile delinquency and substance tent relationships with adults, access safe places, abuse. In contrast, children who attend high-quality This chapter defines out-of-school and participate in constructive activities during OST out-of-school time programs have been found to hours. These activities occur in a wide variety of have better peer relationships, emotional adjust- time activities and discusses organizational settings and agencies, including ment, and grades and conduct in school (Vandell schools, community-based organizations, YMCAs, et al., 1996). (For more information on research, see ongoing efforts to develop Campfire, Boys and Girls Club, churches, and cooper- Appendix G). ative extensions. The hours encompass before- and standards for quality programs. after-school hours, weekends, holidays, in-service Consistent with existing research, National Institute days, summers, and other school vacations. on Out-of-School-Time recommends the following desired outcomes for children in out-of-school time: WHAT IS QUALITY? consistent and caring relationships with adults Extensive research in child care and early childhood and other children; education conducted over the past twenty years has demonstrated strong, positive relationships between opportunities for constructive activities; and a variety of quality measures and various dimensions access to safe places. of children's development and well-being. Although child care quality can be based on factors that are STANDARDS OF SCHOOL-AGE CARE difficult to measure, the research on child care qual- With the numbers of unsupervised children rising and ity has consistently found the following dimensions the evidence for quality according to existing to be most strongly associated with enhanced child well-being (Love et al., 1996): research, the National School-Age Care Alliance, in collaboration with National Institute on Out-of-School 5 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Time, developed national pilot standards and an I. Human Relationships Some days I like going to the gym and some days I accreditation system for school-age care programs. "The staff here are really cool. They do stuff with us like working with the computers. Sometimes I just The purpose of building a national system of program and talk with us and we have a lot of fun. It makes like to go to the loft and read. The best part is that I improvement and accreditation for school-age care is me really want to come here." can pick where I want to be." to provide a strategic opportunity to impact the lives Are the staff warm and compassionate? Are they of millions of children and youth by improving the A good program has space that feels cozy and com- actively involved with children? Do staff treat quality of school-age care programs available to them. fortable and has interest areas. Every space can be children with respect? Do staff help children improved with imagination and enthusiasm. Those With the appropriate training, these standards for without taking control? Do they work with the who run programs located in "dedicated" space are quality school-age care can be used as part of a con- children every day to build positive relationships free to shape that space as they wish. Programs that tinuous program improvement model that combines and model communication? Do they help children share space can make the curriculum mobile. assessment and program improvement. Depending make informed and responsible decisions? Do Stackable containers, large pillows, moveable stor- on the results of the assessment, program improve- staff have realistic expectations of children? age cabinets, and furniture will help. Design the ment can take the form of training in staff develop- space around the needs of children and the goals of Do staff-child ratios and group sizes allow staff to ment in child and adolescent development, team- the program. Look for the following to see if your meet the children's needs? Are children given work, director management, age-appropriate activi- program has a quality indoor environment: enough staff time so they are not rushed? Are ties, utilizing volunteers, or other activities. there enough staff to handle both an emergency Are the space, furniture, and equipment organized The revised National Improvement and Accreditation and regular child care? to support a wide range of program activities? System pilot standards will soon be available. Are there areas for active play, quiet work and Do the staff and families work together to make the Changes to the standards focus on sensitivity to cul- play, messy activities, eating, and various social transition between home and child care go smooth- tural diversity, allowing more flexibility in activities, groupings? Can several activities go on at the ly? Are the diverse needs of families recognized and and community partners focusing on community ser- same time without disrupting one another? viewed as strengths rather than burdens? Are staff vice. Upon completion of the pilot phase, the quality responsive to issues affecting the children's lives standard will provide the basis for a national accredi- Can children get materials out and put them away outside of the program? Are families welcome at tation process applicable to a wide variety of OST on their own with ease? Does the space reflect the program and do they feel well informed? the interests of the children? programs. Following are the key concepts from the Assessing School-Age Child Care Quality 1997 SACCP Do the staff and host work well with each other Are there soft, comfortable spaces for relaxation Project that were used to develop the national stan- to meet the needs of the children they serve? Are and/or privacy for children who have been in dards. They are divided into the six elements of qual- they cooperative, communicative, and respectful large-group settings all day? ity and provide guidelines on what constitutes a qual- of each other? Is there a generally pleasant tone ity school-age care program. when staff interact in front of children? Is it comfortable? How is the room temperature, ventilation, and lighting? Can people with disabili- 2. Indoor Environment ties get around the space? Can they use the equip- ment? "I like being able to move around to different places. 6 Service as 0 Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual 3. Outdoor Environment to perform it for our families at a potluck dinner!" missed snack and I'm hungry at the end of the day, "The first month I was here I met my friends and we they always let me have an apple." One of the wonderful aspects of school-age child played hopscotch every day. That was the best. Now care programs is their ability to give children the School-age children do a lot of running, jumping, I'm building a clubhouse with some wood and recy- freedom they long for. The children have probably falling, and bumping! Children take risks. It can be a cled material. When it's finished, we're going to been in a fairly structured environment all day. struggle to look out for their safety and health and make a club." When they get to an OST program they are looking still provide a program that allows them to take the To promote healthy development, children need to for flexibility and opportunities for exploration and kinds of risks that are natural for them. Children have room to move and run and play. They need a development. A quality program will provide chil- need to be supervised by staff who are trained to full range of outdoor experiences. These can include dren with the chance to choose what they want to handle emergencies. gardening, camping, exploring, climbing, running, do and allow them to do it at their own pace. With many programs open until 6:00 p.m., children and jumping. Ideally, there should be as many out- Is the daily schedule flexible? Does it meet chil- need a substantial, nutritious snack to keep them door choices as there are indoor choices. There dren's needs for security, independence, and going until they can eat their dinner at home. should also be places for quiet play. These are not stimulation? Does it give children the opportunity Children who seem to present behavior problems always easy to provide. to relax and let off steam? Do children have time may be lacking in a healthy diet. Sometimes the way Programs in urban areas may not have an outdoor to socialize? Can they pursue hobbies and learn to a child's heart is through the stomach. play area. Even if there are outdoor spaces, they new skills? Can children move from one activity Are the safety and security of the children pro- may not be safe. Staff and families may need to to another at their own pace? tected? Do staff know the people the children are work together to find an outdoor play area that is Are there many different activities for children to released to? Are entrances and exits supervised? safe, and use transportation to get the children to it. choose from? Do the choices include active play, Are there any observable safety hazards? Is all Is the space clean and comfortable? Is it suitable creative arts, quiet times, and enrichment activities? play equipment safe for active play? Are staff for a wide variety of activities? Can various activi- Do the activities give children the opportunities to trained to handle emergencies and equipped with ties take place at the same time without crowding? learn in different ways and test out new ideas? first-aid materials? Does the equipment allow children to be indepen- Are the children involved in planning their own 0 Do staff know how to spot signs of child abuse dent and creative? Is it appropriate for the inter- activities? Do activities develop in response to and know how to report it? Are they able to iden- ests and abilities of all children? Does the space children's interests? (For example, drum-playing tify other issues with health and development? provide safe challenges for children of all ages, can lead to the formation of a band; a clay activi- Are steps taken to protect and improve the health including those with special needs? ty can lead to a pottery class; an interest in base- of children? Is the facility clean? Is food served ball cards can lead to learning about statistics.) under sanitary conditions? Are practices such as 4. Activities hand washing in place to help prevent the spread "I like it best when my friends and / get to plan what 5. Safety, Health, and Nutrition of germs? we want to do. Last week we made a play and the "They have the best food here. / especially like it staff helped us with costumes, and now we're going when I can help with cooking projects. Also, if I've 7 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Does the program serve healthy foods? Is there Are staff given an orientation to the job before most critical variable throughout childhood and ado- enough food to meet the needs of children of all working with children? Are staff asked about their lescence (Bernard, 1991). In addition, service-learning ages and sizes? Is the food available at times training needs? Do they receive at least ten hours can be a vehicle for children and youth to partici- when children are hungry? Do the children seem of training per year provided to meet these pate and be meaningfully involved and have roles of to like the food? needs? Do staff receive appropriate support (ben- responsibility within a community-again, another efits, wages, discussion time, input into the pro- powerful predictor of resiliency in children. 6. Administration gram) to make their work experience positive? You won't hear children saying, "I really like the It is also important to note that quality standards Does the financial management of the program apply to all individuals who interact with children budget this quarter; I really like your staff hiring support the program goals? decisions; I'm glad Mary has been here for three and youth. For example, volunteer tutors or mentors years. but you can be sure that the children will require appropriate screening and training to ensure Staff turnover may seem like an administrative issue, benefit if there are adequate resources, low staff proper placement. Volunteers often have the best but it affects other areas of the program: turnover, and professional development for staff. intentions, but may lack the skills necessary to the children's ability to feel secure and experi- relate well with children. Thus, it is important to At the core of a quality program is an administration ence long lasting relationships with staff; train volunteers, service members, and program staff with both experience in school-age child care and on quality standards of OST programs. strong administrative skills. Good administrators the staff's ability to work well as a team; There are several resource guides available to help struggle every day to build and maintain programs the director's ability to keep staff fully trained, even that are accessible and affordable. The director providers and program staff understand more about on basic procedures for safety and health; and plays a key role in supporting staff and developing including service members in OST programs. Some relationships with families and the community. The staff knowledge about children's interests and are addressed in the following chapters. Please refer to the appendixes for additional resources. director also manages program finances and main- ability to plan activities that will be exciting. tains records. It is usually the director who supervis- BIBLIOGRAPHY es support services such as transportation. SERVICE AND QUALITY STANDARDS Bernard, B. Foster Resiliency in Children: Protective Sometimes, though, administrators can't meet their The next three chapters present several ideas about Factors in Family, School, and Community. Northwest own high standards because of systemic problems. how service and service-learning activities can be Regional Educational Laboratory, 1991. The administrative aspirations of a program might important tools to help enrich out-of-school time Love, J., Schochet, P., and Mechstroth, A. Are They in Real require considering the following: programs. In many ways, these ideas also demon- Danger? What Research Does-and Doesn't Tell Us about strate how service can support the school-age stan- Are staff salaries adequate to reduce turnover? Child Care Quality and Children's Well-Being. Mathematica dards for quality. For example, adult service mem- Policy Research, Inc., Princeton, N.J., May 1996. Are program fees affordable for families? The bers who serve as mentors can provide caring and answers to these questions often reveal a delicate Vandell, D. L., Shumow, L., and Posner, J.K. "Children's supportive relationships-a powerful predictor of balancing of resources. After-School Programs: Promoting Resiliency or resiliency in children. Some researchers believe that Vulnerability." Chapter in unpublished paper, University of Are the staff-child ratios low enough? a caring and supportive relationship remains the Wisconsin, Northern Illinois University, 1996. 8 Service as Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Chapter 3 WHAT IS SERVICE? people of all ages can be involved in serving their round the country, parents, teachers, community communities. SERVICE AS A members, business leaders, and students are As a strategy for OST, national and community ser- engaging in service as an important tool to meet the A STRATEGY vice can be used to: needs of children and youth in the out-of-school time hours. Service is people taking responsibility provide additional resources to increase organiza- IN OUT-OF- for meeting community needs by giving their time tional capacity and support the delivery of quality and talents to help solve problems. Examples of ser- care; and SCHOOL vice include a wide range of activities-from the occasional community volunteer who participates in integrate service-learning as an enrichment activi- TIME a neighborhood clean-up, to a part-time retiree car- ty for children and youth to improve academic ing for a home-bound elderly person, to a full-time learning and develop personal skills in the OST stipended corps member who organizes others in hours. volunteer activities. This chapter broadly defines the concept NATIONAL SERVICE IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME When students engage in service activities as a The Corporation for National Service, created by the of service and service-learning and provides method to improve academic learning and develop National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, personal skills, this process is called service-learn- engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in ser- a summary of national service resources ing. Service-learning activities often take place as an vice to their communities. Through its three main pro- integral part of a student's coursework, such as an grams-AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, and the available to out-of-school time programs. environmental science class that tests water samples National Senior Service Corps-the Corporation pro- for lead in a low-income community. In other cases, Fore more detailed information on national vides a broad range of service opportunities for service-learning occurs as an extra-curricular activi- Americans of all ages and backgrounds. The efforts service resources, see the appendixes. ty, such as an after-school tutoring program in which supported by the Corporation address the nation's students become better readers by assisting younger challenges in the areas of education, public safety, children in learning to read. Chapter 5 provides an the environment, and other human needs-with a in-depth look at the limitless possibilities of youth strong emphasis on achieving demonstrable results. service-learning opportunities. The Corporation for National Service combines the As demonstrated by thousands of people around the best aspects of local control with national support. country, service can be an important strategy in Programs are selected through a highly competitive meeting the needs of children and youth in the OST process and are held to rigorous quality standards hours. For example, community service volunteers designed to measure impact. The Corporation's pro- can provide extra helping hands; college work study grams are public-private partnerships with national students can serve as tutors and mentors; and young and community-based service organizations; corpora- 9 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual tions and foundations; colleges and universities; and program for men and women age eighteen to twen- ties for elementary and secondary students. Schools local police districts. More than two-thirds of national ty-four. While the primary focus is on the environ- also use Learn and Serve America grants for adult service programs work to address the needs of chil- ment, AmeriCorps*NCCC members also work in edu- volunteer programs and teacher training. dren and youth, a significant portion of which operate cation, public safety, and other areas of community In Learn and Serve's community-based programs, outside the regularly scheduled classroom hours. needs. AmeriCorps*NCCC combines the best practices nonprofit community organizations implement, of civilian service with key aspects of military ser- AmeriCorps is the national service movement that expand, and multiply service-learning programs in vice, including leadership and teambuilding. engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in local communities. Participants are between the ages Campuses are located in Charleston, South Carolina.; service to address the most critical problems in our of five and seventeen and include students and Denver, Colorado; Perry Point, Maryland; San Diego, nation's communities in the areas of education, pub- youth who are not in school. California; and Washington, D.C. lic safety, the environment, and other human needs. In Learn and Serve America's higher education pro- In exchange for a year of service, AmeriCorps mem- AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) grams, colleges and universities help create and bers earn a living allowance and an education award serves economically challenged communities. For strengthen community service and service-learning to pay back student loans or to finance college, more than thirty years, AmeriCorps*VISTA members initiatives. A wide array of students and organiza- graduate school, or vocational training. Through have helped increase the capability of people to tions collaborate to address community needs. AmeriCorps*VISTA, AmeriCorps*NCCC, and improve the conditions of their own lives through Grants also support technical assistance for expand- AmeriCorps*State and National programs, AmeriCorps literacy programs, housing assistance, health educa- ing the field of service-learning. involves more than 30,000 committed men and tion, entrepreneurship, employment training, and women in results-driven community service. neighborhood revitalization. Members of The National Senior Service Corps, or Senior Corps, AmeriCorps*VISTA work full-time and live in the engages a half million Americans age fifty-five and Through AmeriCorps*State and National programs, communities they serve, creating programs that will older in results-driven service as Foster members serve in more than 400 national, state, and continue after they complete their service. Grandparents, Senior Companions, and volunteers in local nonprofit organizations. AmeriCorps*State pro- the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). grams are administered by bipartisan state commis- Learn and Serve America engages students from The Senior Corps taps the vast wealth of experience, sions appointed by governors through grants from, kindergarten through college in community projects skills, and talents of older Americans to meet com- and in partnership with, the Corporation for National that integrate service and learning. Learn and Serve America builds on the grassroots service-learning munity challenges. Service. Most members serve in local nonprofit orga- nizations or education institutions, others serve in movement by promoting service as a learning oppor- Through the Foster Grandparent Program, some state or local government-sponsored programs. In the tunity and providing models and resources to schools, 24,000 older Americans serve as extended family AmeriCorps*National program, members serve in universities, and community groups. Students use aca- members to nearly 80,000 children and youth with national or multi-state nonprofits that receive grants demic skills to solve real-world problems and learn exceptional needs. Usually working at least twenty directly from the Corporation for National Service. the value of service, citizenship, and responsibility. hours a week, Foster Grandparents serve in schools, hospitals, correctional institutions, and Head Start AmeriCorps*NCCC (the National Civilian Community In Learn and Serve America's school-based programs, and day care centers. They help children who have Corps) is a ten-month, full-time residential service schools plan, implement, and expand service activi- been abused or neglected, mentor troubled 10 Service as Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual teenagers and young mothers, and care for prema- Foster Grandparents and volunteers in the Retired Spread the benefits of service by engaging chil- ture infants or children with physical disabilities. and Senior Volunteer Program provide unique dren and youth in service activities and develop- one-to-one support for young children in schools, ing a new generation of service leaders. National Senior Companions-some 12,000 strong-provide child care centers, and Head Start programs. service programs will play a leading role in achiev- assistance and friendship to seniors who have diffi- ing a key goal that emerged from the Presidents' culty with daily living tasks, helping them live inde- Integrate service within academic curricula enabling Summit for America's Future-to ensure that all pendently in their homes instead of moving to more college and university students to serve as tutors young Americans have an opportunity to give back costly institutionalized care. They usually serve two and mentors in neighboring K-12 schools. The to their communities through their own service. to four clients during their twenty hours of weekly America Reads Challenge-ensuring that all children service. Senior Companions receive monthly training can read well and independently by the end of third YOUTH SERVICE in various medical topics-and alert doctors and grade-will require a mobilization of appropriately A study on volunteerism recently released by Indepen- family members of potential health problems. trained reading tutors and partners from all walks of dent Sector showed that young people who were asked life, working closely with teachers and schools to RSVP is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the to serve were three to four times more likely to do enhance children's learning. As part of the effort, nation-matching programs that need volunteers so than their peers who were not asked. Of the 51 colleges and universities will devote significant por- with some 450,000 older Americans serving part- percent of teenagers who were asked in 1996, 93 per- tions of federal work study resources to enable col- time and unpaid. Volunteers organize neighborhood cent volunteered. Of the 40 percent of teenagers who lege students to tutor and to provide quality OST watch programs, tutor teenagers, renovate homes, were not asked in 1996, 24 percent volunteered. programs for young children. teach English to immigrants, assist victims of natural These findings demonstrate that young people are disasters, and do whatever else their skills and inter- Provide the tools and skills necessary to build the willing to apply their energy, enthusiasm, and new est lead them to do. capacity and sustainability of volunteer organiza- ideas to help meet some of our nation's most press- tions serving children and youth. AmeriCorps mem- ing needs, such as the need for quality OST programs. NATIONAL SERVICE GETTING THINGS DONE IN bers work directly with families, children, child Many young people already serve. According to THE OST HOURS care providers, and the community by serving in Independent Sector, 59 percent of twelve- to seven- Thousands of AmeriCorps members, Learn and Serve child care settings; providing trainings to child care teen-year-olds, and 38 percent of eighteen- to twenty- America students, and Senior Corps volunteers serve in providers; consulting with child care centers on four-year-olds say they did some service last year. out-of-school time programs. National service programs program improvements; providing resource materi- The average teen who served volunteered approxi- have developed several effective and replicable models als to families; and helping families obtain educa- mately 3.5 hours per week, or a total of 182 hours for using service as a strategy to expand and enhance tion, health care, and other services. per year. In the last two decades, the array of ser- OST programs. For example, national service programs Involve parents and community volunteers in OST vice opportunities has expanded as schools, commu- operating during the out-of-school time work to: activities. Most programs have as a basic goal the nity organizations, religious institutions, and colleges Tap the skills and talents of retired and senior involvement of individual community members have integrated service into their programming. volunteers, fostering intergenerational relation- and, through that involvement, sustainability of Youth corps and national service programs such as ships rich in diversity and positive role modeling. programs over a long-term basis. AmeriCorps and faith-based service corps have " Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual expanded dramatically, and young people themselves High-quality service is a vital way to teach citizen- have played a leadership role in creating opportuni- ship, responsibility, and discipline; to build skills; ties to serve. to enhance self-esteem; to develop problemsolving abilities, introduce new career options and Not every service opportunity will yield the kind of prepare young people for future work; to improve results that high-quality experiences provide, and academic motivation, school attendance, and much of service today is not directed toward solving performance; and to establish a pattern of future the serious problems our communities are facing. service that will continue through adulthood. Research suggests that several factors should be pre- sent in order to have the maximum impact on the Service answers the need of all young people, participant and community. The key elements of a rich and poor, for practical experience and an high-quality program are as follows: understanding of democratic values in action; an the need to learn how to work with people of dif- Service should be sustained over a period of time ferent backgrounds and experiences. (twelve weeks or more). Service should have identifiable results and help solve real community problems. Service should be structured to include prepara- tion, action, and reflection. Providing more quality opportunities for young peo- ple to serve will pay multiple dividends: The 60 million students from kindergarten through colleges represent a powerful resource. There are some functions that especially allow young people to make a contribution. Research shows that engaging older students, including those in high school and middle school, in tutoring younger stu- dents improves both students' performance; college students mentoring at-risk youth encourages young people to set higher aspirations; and peer media- tion and conflict resolution can be effective in pre- venting violence among young people. 12 Service as Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Chapter 4 O ne of the most common ways of using service EFFECTIVE PRACTICES resources in OST is through the recruitment and Following are some examples of effective practices SERVICE AS placement of community volunteers. With proper that incorporate service and out-of-school time training and assistance, volunteers of all ages and activities. The information in this chapter was gath- PART OF backgrounds can become valuable assets as extra ered through phone interviews, and effective prac- helping hands in OST programs. Volunteer responsi- tices were based on recommendations from the DELIVERY bilities may include direct service to children Corporation for National Service. Programs were not through tutoring, mentoring, coordinating group assessed using the national standards of quality IN OUT-OF- activities, or making special presentations. school-age care. Volunteers can accommodate individualized atten- SCHOOL tion for children, and some volunteers can be trained to relieve full-time care providers so that TIME providers can attend staff trainings. Through the Learn and Serve America program, col- lege and university students serve in OST programs as tutors and mentors. When combined with degree This chapter demonstrates some programs like teacher training or school-age care of the specific ways service resources provision, these valuable service-learning opportuni- ties for college students not only meet the needs of can help support organizations in the children in OST programs, but also ensure more highly trained and qualified professionals upon grad- delivery of OST care. Several examples uation. of existing service programs are Indirectly, the extra helping hands of volunteers can also support the delivery of care by helping perform highlighted, with information on various administrative and outreach functions of the organization. For example, an AmeriCorps* project goals and results. member could serve as a community liaison with the responsibility of fundraising or finding equipment donations. AmeriCorps members may also serve as "volunteer generators" by recruiting, training, placing, and supervising volunteers from the community. 13 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual PARENTS UNITED FOR CHILD CARE (PUCC), MAKING THE Reduce staff turnover and improve service quality. Collaborate around infant/toddler and school- MOST OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME (MOST)/BOSTON age care. SCHOOL-AGE CHILD CARE PROJECT (BSACCP), AND Build a professional field of out-of-school time ACTION FOR CHILDREN TODAY (ACT) providers. Extend the involvement of child care resource In 1995, AmeriCorps Action for Children Today (ACT) and referral agencies in activities of related members began working with Parents United for Child Improve services for children and youth. groups. Care to enhance the quality of after-school programs Increase access to out-of-school time programs throughout the Boston area for children age five to Catalyze diverse groups of individuals to par- for Boston families. fourteen from low- and middle-income families. ticipate in planning, training, and program activities. Sponsored by PUCC, MOST/BSACCP staff and communi- Goals and Objectives of Action for Children Today ty members evaluate proposals from local programs (ACT): Results: and place ACT members in after-school programs Community Service throughout the city. ACT members work with the Between January I and March 31, 1997, five ACT mem- after-school programs to improve different aspects Increase the number of infant/toddler and bers served 239 children in child care programs that need enhancement. The Boston program is part school-age slots. throughout Boston and trained 466 parents in various of a national initiative of the National Association of areas. The members completed special projects with- Improve the quality of child care programs Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. in their programs. One member presented a "fun through training, on-site consultation, and reading" literacy class to the students in her program. modeling. Goals and Objectives of Parents United for Child Care: Why It Works: Connect families to comprehensive services in Increase the supply of quality, affordable child Service Members/Volunteers PUCC places well- communities. trained and dedicated ACT members in out-of- care in Massachusetts. Participant Development school time programs to enhance quality. There is Provide a parent voice on public policy issues a competitive process among area programs to related to families, children, and the workplace. Receive professional training and experience take advantage of the helpful resources of the in school-age and infant/toddler care. ACT members. Create an organized constituency for improve- ments in child care and family policy by empow- Develop leadership skills. In addition to their after-school program place- ering parents to effectively advocate in their own Improve parenting and advocacy skills of ments, ACT members work on projects to improve interest. AmeriCorps members. child care in Boston. One member's project involved giving technical assistance to before- Work on community and workplace initiatives Community Building school programs, while another member worked that guarantee access to quality services and on an inclusion initiative to place children with assist parents in their roles as workers and care- Contribute to the development of community special needs in after-school programs. Projects givers. child care. may include recruiting and managing volunteers, 14 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual curriculum design and evaluation, or creating a Constant communication between service mem- ENERGY EXPRESS WEST VIRGINIA AND AMERICORPS parent involvement manual. This coupling of bers and supervisors is vital. Energy Express is a six-week summer reading pro- direct service with work on city-wide reform ini- gram for first- to sixth-graders in low-income com- Include only the number of members that is man- tiatives gives members an opportunity to impact a munities in West Virginia. Established in 1994 in two ageable by the program staff. large segment of the community. public schools, the program operated in fifty-five Creative problem solving is essential. mostly rural schools during the summer of 1997. As Evaluation: ACT members evaluate their progress AmeriCorps members, college students work with toward their goals on a weekly basis, and produce It is important for host agencies to consistently children in Energy Express in small groups on activi- quarterly and yearly reports. They also have regu- view service members as a valuable resource and ties involving literacy that make reading fun. lar meetings with their after-school supervisor to project this to the community. assess the program. Although each after-school Immediate Goals and Objectives: program has its own system of evaluation, ACT For more information, contact: Help children maintain a healthy diet during the members encourage the use of the National Kate Kuvanlanka, Project Coordinator summer by providing two nutritious meals per day. Institute on Out-of-School Time's Assessing Parents United for Child Care School-Age Quality Standards. 30 Winter Street Continue academic learning to prevent children Boston, MA 02108-4720 from "losing ground" during the summer months. PUCC stresses the importance of engaging commu- (617) 426-8288 nity members in the allocation of resources to out- Improve reading skills while making reading mean- of-school time programs. Their input is invaluable. ingful and fun. Partnership: Many of the after-school programs that Encourage and support community service. the ACT members work in have established partner- ships with other community organizations and busi- Encourage children to develop positive relation- nesses. ACT members facilitate connections of indi- ships with college student mentors. vidual programs to community organizations as well as policymakers and other advocacy groups. Long-Term Goals and Objectives: Promote school success of children living in rural Funding: The many funding sources of PUCC and low-income West Virginia communities. enable the organization to manage the ACT pro- gram as part of their regular work. PUCC is par- Results: tially funded by the MOST initiative, while out-of- Energy Express engaged 326 AmeriCorps members school programs in which ACT members work and served more than 2,500 youth in fifty-five have their own funding sources. sites during the summer of 1997. Advice from the ACT Project Coordinator: Based on pre- and post-test measures, Energy Supervision of service members is important. Express youth have shown significant increases in 15 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual reading comprehension and word identification Why It Works: organizations and businesses. Community partners after participating in the summer program. Service Members/Volunteers: Each AmeriCorps donate money and in-kind supplies, including member has his or her own group of five to eight staff trainings, newspapers, and library resources. In 1997, a survey of AmeriCorps members showed youth for three and a half hours per day for six The program director says the synergy of all the that members made large gains in feelings of per- weeks. Children develop positive relationships Energy Express partners is one of the things that sonal efficacy and dedication to community service. with trusted adults. The AmeriCorps members are makes the program work. Energy Express is also changing parents' percep- at Energy Express six hours per day. In addition to Funding: Energy Express had a budget of over $2 tions of their children. Before their children's working with the children, they make home visits, million in 1997. The program receives funding from participation in Energy Express, many parents had call parents, and do additional community service many diverse local, state, and federal sources. The lost hope and felt that their children had "fallen projects. program director says the great partnerships at through the cracks" at school. Energy Express Energy Express encourages community input into the state and local levels enable Energy Express to gives children the individual attention they need, its program. They have many parent and commu- succeed. In addition, diversified funding strength- and parents see their children as learners. nity volunteers, including high school and junior ens the program and builds ownership. In order for a school to be eligible for an Energy high students. In partnership with the Foster There is a lot of collaboration at the local level Express program, more than 50 percent of the chil- Grandparent Program, senior citizens volunteer at with city and county boards of education, commu- dren at that school must be eligible to receive free Energy Express. In 1996, Energy Express had an nity action groups, businesses, and social welfare or reduced-price school lunches. The schools select average of 400 hours of volunteering at each site agencies. About 30 percent of Energy Express' children most in need of Energy Express program- over a six-week period. The project director feels total costs were funded by local sources in 1997. ming, and they attend free of charge. Selection is that when people join Energy Express, they are The program also receives funding from the based on low reading scores, special needs, and committed to making a difference in the lives of state-West Virginia University, the Department of other high-risk factors. West Virginia youth. Education, the Department of Education and the At Energy Express, the children spend time reading Evaluation: Energy Express designed an intensive Arts, the Department of Health and Human aloud, silently, and one-on-one with their group evaluation system using both qualitative and quan- Resources, the Bureau of Employment Programs leader. Acting stories out and doing art and nutrition titative measures with assistance from professors and others. Six colleges provide work-study fund- activities associated with books helps reading at West Virginia University. Graduate students and ing to support the AmeriCorps members. become more meaningful for them. Energy Express other professionals complete case studies of the encourages children to start their own book collec- program by visiting the program and interviewing Advice from the Energy Express Director: tions by giving each child one book a week to keep. participants and staff. The central staff of Energy A strong and tested model is important, but a pro- The children and staff have family-style breakfasts Express visits every site, and weekly site assess- gram must be open to change and committed to and lunches focusing on nutrition education. The ments are done to monitor goals. continuous improvement. AmeriCorps members serve as adult models for try- Partnership: Energy Express is housed in the A strong evaluation system makes a program work ing new foods, sharing, and healthy eating. schools and has good partnerships with local and provides evidence of the impact of the program. 16 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Having lots of partners and community members AMERICORPS SCHOOL'S OUT KIDS CLUB OF ball, hockey, and dance; and community service. involved adds strength to the program and pro- NEW YORK CITY Recent projects included a neighborhood clean-up vides leadership opportunities. The School's Out Kids Club is an after-school pro- and a History of Harlem Program in which children gram for second- to fourth-graders housed in twelve interviewed older members of the neighborhood Multiple funding sources is preferable to relying schools in Manhattan, Harlem, and the Bronx, with about the history of the community and created a on one single source of funding. six AmeriCorps members per site. The partnership book that was donated to the local library. Include funding for transportation, particularly in with AmeriCorps began in 1995. The School's Out Kids Club is part of the School Success Program-a com- The School's Out Kids Club has been very successful a summer program. prehensive program that focuses on youth in low- in recruiting community volunteers to assist the income communities, helping students achieve staff, including parents. About ten parents contribute For more information, contact: an hour of their time each week to tutor and coach Dr. Ruthellen Phillips, Director school success with an emphasis on literacy. All chil- Energy Express West Virginia dren in the program live in urban New York City, in the after-school program. Community members 704 Knapp Hall most are African American or Latino, and the majori- also volunteer for special events. In addition, older P.O. Box 6031 ty come from families with incomes below the youth who have graduated from the School's Out Morgantown, WV 26506-6031 national poverty line. The after-school programs Kids Club often return to donate their time to help incorporate academic and physical activities and children with homework or sports. (304) 293-2694 community service. Each site has a monthly newsletter that informs par- ents about the activities their children participate in Immediate Goals and Objectives: and encourages parents to become more involved. Improve the academic achievement of the youth The newsletter also recognizes children's achieve- in the School's Out Kids Club. ments in the program. Increase the physical fitness and health of the youth. Why It Works: Promote community service. Service Members/Volunteers: The AmeriCorps members are at the children's schools throughout Long-Term Goals and Objectives: the entire day as assistants to teachers and con- Increase parent involvement, especially among tinue to work with the same children in the after- men. school programs, building strong relationships with the children. The project director of the Results: School's Out Kids Club says the impact of the Currently fifty to sixty children attend after-school AmeriCorps members is immeasurable. The suc- programs at each site. The children participate in cess centers around the mentorship role played academic activities including homework assistance, by the members. tutoring, and chess; physical activities like basket- 17 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Evaluation: The School's Out Kids Club regularly Advice from the School Success Program's Project CITY YEAR BOSTON LEFTY PROGRAM monitors and evaluates progress toward its goals. Director: Begun in 1996, LEFTY (Learning Environments For A parent committee provides continuous feedback The cooperation of schools and principals ensures Today's Youth) is an out-of-school time program for and completes biannual program evaluations on the success of the program. middle-school students facilitated by City Year the program. In addition, local school principals, AmeriCorps members. The program runs from 6:00 Receptiveness of the schools is key. teachers, and AmeriCorps members complete p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and is housed in the internal evaluations. The program is also required It is important to have a general understanding of YMCA in Roxbury, Boston. Most of the sixth- to by AmeriCorps to present quantitative results on national service. eighth-grade students are African Americans from its goals of increasing math and reading test low-income and lower-middle-class families. The City scores and improving physical fitness. So far, the It is crucial for children to have positive adult Year members, age seventeen to twenty-four, work program has consistently met these goals. role models. with LEFTY youth on developing communication skills and learning to live in a pro-active fashion. Partnership: Schools in the community have been For more information, contact: Programming includes conflict resolution, violence very receptive to the School's Out Kids Club. The Julie Arce-Morales, AmeriCorps Project Director prevention, educational sports, and creative expres- schools benefit from having the AmeriCorps mem- Vanderbilt YMCA sion through arts awareness. bers in the classrooms as assistants to the teach- 224 East 47th Street ers. Schools have expressed a desire to have more New York, NY 10017 Immediate Goals and Objectives: AmeriCorps members working in the program. (212) 756-9600 Reach middle school youth previously untouched Funding: The School's Out Kids Club receives by City Year and the Roxbury YMCA and introduce funding to incorporate AmeriCorps members into them to both organizations in the partnership form. their after-school programs. The grant is matched Provide a safe space where middle-school-age with donations from local and national organiza- youth can feel ownership and pride. tions, both public and private. The School Success Program was also able to secure donations from Educate LEFTY youth through fun and innovative national sports teams. The program's activities programming, allowing the youth options they include a Junior Knicks Team and NHL Street may not have in school. Rangers. The New York Knicks recently donated tickets for children on the after-school Junior Teach LEFTY youth how to think, communicate, Knicks Team to attend a basketball game at and produce in a creative, positive, and self- Madison Square Garden. empowering manner. Engage surrounding community organizations, parents, and local businesses through LEFTY events so that as many people as possible can become involved in out-of-school programming. 18 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Long-Term Goals and Objectives: ship that they aspire to finish school and become and one-third by corporate sponsorship. There is Produce a solid foundation for the LEFTY program City Year AmeriCorps members. also a five-dollar registration fee per participant, in order to replicate across the City Year network which is designed primarily to give the youth a in Boston. (In 1997-98, the program will expand to Why It Works: sense of ownership. three locations in the Boston area.) Service Members/Volunteers: The combination of dedicated City Year AmeriCorps members and cre- Advice from LEFTY's Program Leader: Provide more LEFTY youth with leadership oppor- ative programming make LEFTY a popular program Do as much research as possible before starting tunities. for middle school youth in inner-city Boston. To an after-school program. Teach the youth more about real-life issues help the youth remain connected and involved, Constant evaluation is very important. through leadership experiences. AmeriCorps members contact youth by phone on a daily basis. Accessing volunteer opportunities is key. Create a partnership between City Year teams and students where students run parts of programs Evaluation: LEFTY's inception began with a needs Actively pursue people for resources. Be clear and service members provide support through assessment of the community. Results of the about goals of the program, what is needed, and guidance and supervision. assessment shaped the design of the program. the benefits of volunteerism. With input from staff and youth, LEFTY continues Young people are the resource, not the client. Results: to provide a safe, fun, and educational place for In the first year of operation, approximately sev- middle school students in the evenings. Regular internal evaluations take place to update the For more information, contact: enty youth attended LEFTY's out-of-school pro- after-school curriculum. Alexandra Moore, Project Leader gram. City Year Many presenters and outside instructors from the Partnership: LEFTY is very resourceful in design- 285 Columbus Avenue area have come to LEFTY and volunteered their ing programming and in recruiting organizations Boston, MA 02116 services and time. and people to donate money, time, and supplies. (617) 927-2500 Space for LEFTY is provided by the YMCA and the Parents often visit the program and have become programming is financially sponsored by the more involved. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Teachers have also been very supportive of City New and innovative programming has been devel- Year and have promoted the program in their oped to meet the needs of the youth. schools. LEFTY is hoping to increase support from The project leader says the best thing about LEFTY schools and form collaborations with other com- is the relationships the youth develop with the munity organizations during the next year. AmeriCorps members. Funding: One-third of City Year Boston is funded Some youth have been so inspired by the mentor- by AmeriCorps, one-third by private donations, 19 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual WEST PHILADELPHIA IMPROVEMENT CORPS-TURNER Results: often return during the school year to work in the MIDDLE SCHOOL Approximately 100 students are enrolled in school's before- and after-school programs. Since 1990, the West Philadelphia Improvement Corps Turner's summer program each year. (WEPIC) has sponsored a summer program at Turner Evaluation: Evaluation occurs throughout the pro- Middle School in Philadelphia for sixth- to eighth-grade Turner Middle School began as the pilot site for gram. Service members keep journals and the youth. As part of a twelve-week summer service-learn- WEPIC programming in Philadelphia. There are program gets feedback from teachers. now thirteen WEPIC schools. ing course at the University of Pennsylvania, college Partnership: The partnership between the students spend five weeks interning at the program. Youth who come to the summer program before Philadelphia school district, the University of Turner Middle School's program receives funding from entering sixth grade are more prepared to handle Pennsylvania, and WEPIC is key to the successful Learn and Serve America, and the college student the transition to middle school and are more program. In order to reach the program goals, interns are partially funded through AmeriCorps. The comfortable at school during the year. WEPIC, Turner Middle School, and the University program engages middle school students in hands-on of Pennsylvania have remained committed to the learning through curriculums in environmental studies, General school attendance is higher at Turner neighborhood for the past eleven years and health, journalism, conflict resolution, and technologi- Middle School than at any other school in the city understand that longevity and partnership-build- cal competence. Most of the participants in the pro- for both students and teachers. ing are crucial to their success. Turner Middle gram come from urban African-American families The level of violence and the number of serious School is kept open for the summer program, and whose incomes are at or below poverty. incidents, including suspensions, in schools with public school staff are supported through the WEPIC programs has decreased significantly. school district. University of Pennsylvania pro- Goals and Objectives: vides housing for summer interns and AmeriCorps Engage students in real-world problemsolving. Students in the summer program are more likely members, stipends, salary for coordinators, and to become leaders in service-learning activities. course credit for interns. Make education part of community improvement. Improve nutrition and health education within the Why It Works: Funding: A Learn and Serve America grant pro- community. Service Members/Volunteers: The college students vides funds for Turner Middle School and other interning at Turner Middle School are extremely Philadelphia public schools for resources and Increase middle school students' literacy skills. diverse and come from many racial and economic materials on service-learning. Some of the college backgrounds. Some students are part-time students are part-time AmeriCorps members, Revitalize the schools and communities based on AmeriCorps members as Pennsylvania Service while others receive funding from the Scott Paper their own efforts. Scholars. Public school teachers are an integral Company Foundation and other endowments. The Change the learning patterns by using hands-on part of the Turner Middle School summer program, WEPIC summer internship program began with a experience of both the children served and the where they are able to develop and test service- grant from the UPS Foundation. Other supporters University of Pennsylvania students. learning curriculums. The college students help include the Pennsylvania Department of Labor develop the curriculum and serve as teachers and and Industry, the Pennsylvania Department of mentors. They are dedicated to the program and Education, the Corporation for National Service, 20 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual the Ford Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation, the BROWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL'S EDUCATIONAL Build positive social and life skills to help youth DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, and the U.S. OUTREACH PROGRAM achieve their goals. Departments of Labor and Education. The The Educational Outreach Program (EOP) at Brown University of Pennsylvania has provided extensive Elementary School in Denver, Colorado, is an after- Long-Term Goals and Objectives: in-kind support to the program. school program that began in 1994, and first incorpo- Add more activities, volunteers, and youth. rated AmeriCorps Civilian Community Corps Advice from Turner Middle School's Program (NCCC) members in 1996-97. EOP serves low-income Increase parent involvement. Liaison: youth in kindergarten through fifth grade, most whom Add adult education classes in English as a Second Long-term commitment is crucial. are homeless. The program's main purpose is to Language and computer training. increase the academic achievement of homeless youth Maintain optimism! while providing a safe and stable after-school envi- Results: Be able to share praise as well as responsibility. ronment. The AmeriCorps* "NCCC members also help Students who had consistently failed spelling tests the EOP students in their classrooms during the day, are now receiving "A"s. Their reading abilities Match the priorities of your institution with the providing individualized attention and instruction. have improved entire grade levels, and weaker priorities of your community. students have caught up with their classmates. Immediate Goals and Objectives: Assess community needs. Increase academic achievement of homeless Sixty children attended EOP at Brown Elementary Believe that children can be agents of change in youth, particularly in reading and math. in 1996-97, with a waiting list for others who want their community. to participate. Help make homework completion a priority for Maintain strategic and focused programs-recog- after-school students. EOP was able to increase the number of children nize the limits. served by 100 percent with AmeriCorps*NCCC Provide more individualized attention to target members' assistance. students. For more information, contact: The AmeriCorps*NCCC members individually Penny Gordon-Larsen, Liaison for Turner Middle Promote classroom participation. tutored Brown Elementary students 986 hours. School University of Pennsylvania Assist teachers in classroom tutoring and supervi- The program director says that children not only sion. Center for Community Partnerships enjoy the program, but have benefited immensely 133 South 36th Street, Suite 519 Supplement teachers' curricula with innovative in terms of academic improvement and growth. Philadelphia, PA 19104-3246 classroom lessons and learning activities. Teachers at Brown Elementary say many youth (215) 898-4704 would not be doing their homework if it were not Lend emotional support to needy children. for the encouragement and assistance from the after-school program staff. Raise the self-esteem of the children through aca- demic success. 21 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Homework assistance is the primary focus of EOP, Partnership: EOP's most important partners are Training volunteers is a big task, but a necessity. but youth also play board games (which teach fair Brown Elementary and the Denver public schools. play, how to lose well, and math and reading The school district provides the project director Organization is very important. skills), participate in physical education class with (a full-time teacher at Brown Elementary) and a For more information, contact: Denver Parks and Recreation, work on art pro- paraprofessional. Brown Elementary provides the jects, and go on field trips. site for the after-school program. Businesses in Kim Miceli, Project Director the community support EOP through in-kind dona- EOP, Brown Elementary School Why It Works: tions. The Denver Parks and Recreation 2550 Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO 80211 Service Members/Volunteers AmeriCorps*NCCC Department provides a certified physical educa- (303) 477-1611 members are eighteen to twenty-four years old tion instructor to play sports with the youth twice and work in groups of twelve to thirteen for six a week. to nine weeks from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every Funding: EOP does not have a budget or receive day. The expansion of EOP into the school day regular funding, but Brown Elementary provides has had a significant effect on the children's acad- many in-kind resources, and the remaining funds emic performance. The members help with pro- come from donations and grants. Local restau- gramming in the after-school program and assist rants and food banks donate snacks for the after- with lesson planning in the classrooms. They are school program. Currently a grant allows children trained in the psychology of homelessness, atten- who move out of the area to receive free bus tion deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and tokens so they can continue to attend Brown other issues that affect the children in the pro- Elementary and maintain stability in their lives. gram. In addition, EOP has a grant to pay middle This helps immensely with academic achievement school youth volunteers ten dollars a week to as well as social and emotional development. help younger children with homework in Brown Elementary's after-school program. EOP is also Advice from Brown Elementary EOP's Program helping middle school youth set up bank accounts Leader: to learn how to save their money. Creating a program that children want to attend Evaluation: EOP staff members are part of a com- makes all the difference. munity task force concerned with meeting the Parent, teacher, and community support helps to needs of homeless youth. The after-school pro- make a program successful. gram at Brown Elementary uses formal assess- ments on a regular basis to evaluate the progress It is important to establish and maintain commu- of the students and Denver public schools. nity contacts. 22 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual GRANDMA PLEASE-RSVP OF GREATER CLEVELAND received from younger children who were home Please program in Chicago, which provided impor- Established in 1995, Grandma Please is an RSVP alone. tant technical assistance and guidance. (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) activity Many youth trust their "Grandparent" as a reliable Partnership: Grandma Please has been a successful coordinated through the intergenerational resource adult they can speak to in confidence. collaboration with the Intergenerational Resource center, an RSVP volunteer station in Greater Center of Fairhill Center for the Aging-a respected Cleveland. Senior volunteers speak via telephone The RSVP executive director says the best thing and well-known organization in the community. with children who are alone at home during after- about Grandma Please is that it meets a signifi- Grandma Please received a grant from a Cleveland school hours. Grandma Please serves fourth- to cant community need, and volunteers are happy phone company (Ameritech), which provided funds sixth-grade students, mostly African Americans, from to know they are making a difference in the lives for the first three years, a central switchboard, a twenty-two urban schools in Cleveland. of these children. volunteer switchboard operator, and a large initial publicity campaign. The local schools also invited Immediate Goals and Objectives: Why It Works: volunteers to come in, talk about the program, and The main purpose of Grandma Please is to serve Service Members/Volunteers: The unique nature organize parent information meetings. lonely children home alone who want someone to of a phone program allows seniors who cannot talk to about problems, concerns, and events that leave their homes to contribute to their communi- Funding: Ameritech continues to provide a switch- happened during the day, and to help with home- ty. Grandma Please gives seniors an opportunity board and volunteer operator for the Grandma work. to remain productive, contributing members of Please program. Grandma Please is a station of their community while sharing their wisdom, RSVP, 40 percent of which is funded as a Senior Although the "Grandparents" are trained to deal skills, and experience with younger generations- Corps program by the Corporation for National with crises, Grandma Please is not a crisis hotline. and in the process, alleviate their own loneliness. Service. Volunteers are thoroughly screened and receive Long-Term Goals and Objectives: extensive training before becoming official Advice from Grandma Please: Grandma Please's goal is to expand the program "Grandparents." The training is key to the success Be aware of the potential effects of welfare into the summers and into more schools in the of the program. "Grandparents" learn how to ini- reform on increasing numbers of children who area. tiate conversations with youth, improve their lis- need programs like Grandma Please. Children RSVP would like to recruit more volunteers of tening skills, and deal with crises. A part-time who once had a parent at home may now be ethnic diversity, particularly African Americans. social worker is on staff at the Intergenerational home alone because their parents are working or Resource Center in case a volunteer needs addi- doing community service. Results: tional assistance. Many older adults work well with children. Both In 1996-97, eighteen volunteers received approxi- Evaluation: Extensive research of the community generations can benefit emotionally and socially mately 2,700 calls from children home alone. and publicity for the program were done before from the relationship. Although it is unlawful in Ohio to leave children Grandma Please set up its phone lines. The pro- Extensive research is important before starting a under fourth grade alone at home, calls were gram was modeled after a successful Grandma program to understand the needs of the commu- 23 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual nity and how best to reach them. AMERICORPS VISTA AND BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF munity programs, including adult GED classes, SANTA FE parent classes, community college extension For more information, contact: The Boys and Girls Club provides out-of-school pro- classes, and mentoring. Margaret McCarthy, Executive Director gramming for children and youth ages six to seventeen after school and in the summer. Programming takes Encourage adult community service. RSVP of Greater Cleveland 2611 Church Avenue place in a central facility in Santa Fe and five satellite Build a bigger central facility in Santa Fe. Cleveland, OH 44113 sites in suburban and rural areas outside the city. The (216) 566-9192 children served are of all backgrounds, though a high Create and implement a more extensive evalua- percentage are Hispanic or Native American youth or tion system incorporating parents, youth, and from single-parent homes. Programming is often free community members. or very inexpensive and includes arts and crafts class- es, athletics (including a basketball court and swim- Results: ming pool), karate classes, two libraries (one for The central facility in Santa Fe serves 500 to 600 younger children and one for teens), computers, and youth per day during the summer and 250 to 300 field trips. In a partnership that began in 1993, the youth every day in the after-school program. Each Boys and Girls Club of Santa Fe and AmeriCorps 'VISTA satellite facility serves approximately 100 to 150 members work to improve services for families and each day in the summer and 100 in the after- children in Santa Fe and surrounding areas. The school programs. AmeriCorps*VISTA members helped create new parent The crime rate in county housing areas where the and family programs to expand the Boys and Girls Club Boys and Girls Club satellites have been estab- into a community center. lished has dropped by 50 percent. Immediate Goals and Objectives: The Boys and Girls Club has a scholarship pro- Maintain a positive place for youth to go during gram that sent thirteen students to college in out-of-school time. 1997. Six Boys and Girls Club scholarship award recipients have graduated from college and are Give youth opportunities for positive behavior now working for the Boys and Girls Club or other and life skills to be productive in the community. agencies in the Santa Fe area. Continue to attract and keep teenagers involved The director of the Boys and Girls Club says the in the program. program works because it serves and tailors programming to youth who need help and Long-Term Goals and Objectives: attention. Expand the Boys and Girls Club-especially in the satellite centers-to include more family and com- 24 Service as A Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Why It Works: and Girls Club also provides meals for other PlusTime NEW HAMPSHIRE Service Members/Volunteers: The four youth programs in the area, serving 2,000 to PlusTime NH was formed in 1990 to help communities AmeriCorps*VISTA members at the central facility 3,000 meals per day. A school provides its cafete- build coalitions to start school-age child care programs in Sante Fe spend the majority of their time ria and kitchen for free. and support existing programs. In September 1997, the expanding the Boys and Girls Club into a commu- PlusTime NH program incorporated the Corporation Funding: The budget of Boys and Girls Club has nity center. Service members focus on the logis- for National Service's AmeriCorps, VISTA, RSVP, and increased every year, and in 1997-98 it topped at tics of setting up and finding staff and partici- Learn and Serve America programs with PlusTime NH $1 million. The majority of funding is federal, from pants for GED and parent classes. They also to enhance a statewide organization that directly the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency recruit community volunteers for service in the serves almost 2,000 first- through eighth-grade low- Prevention and the remainder is from state, coun- Boys and Girls Club and in the neighborhood. The income youth in after-school programs. The program's ty, and city governments and private grants. program director says that the Boys and Girls Club focus is on conflict resolution, environmental educa- Members who come to the Boys and Girls Club would never be able to run the community pro- tion, and establishment of new after-school programs. pay according to a sliding fee scale-the lowest- grams without the AmeriCorps*VIST/ members. income families pay $30 per week. However, the The Boys and Girls Club now requires that parents Goals and Objectives: program never turns anyone away for not being give four hours of community service per month able to afford the fee. Encourage and support development of accessi- to allow their child(ren) to attend the programs at ble, affordable, and enjoyable programs for the Club. Advice from the Boys and Girls Club Director: school-age youth throughout New Hampshire. Evaluation: AmeriCorps*VISTA members complete Running a program like the Boys and Girls Club Increase the capacity and/or number of after- ongoing membership needs assessments in the com- takes a lot of time and dedication. school programs. A significant number of children munity. They also have weekly meetings with staff Community involvement is essential. throughout the United States have been identified and write quarterly reports. At the end of their ser- as having no access to licensed after-school pro- vice, they administer an extensive evaluation. The People in the community are the best resources grams. The project will provide the needed tech- Boys and Girls Club is working on a more advanced for assessing community needs. nical assistance to allow communities to open system of evaluation to document progress toward successful programs for youth. goals as well as future needs. For more information, contact: Al Padilla, Executive Director Improve the quality of care in day care settings. Partnership: The Boys and Girls Club has an excel- Boys and Girls Club of Santa Fe Based on three areas of concern (space, human lent relationship with the schools. Occasionally, P.O. Box 2403 relationships, and use of time), many programs when schools have discipline problems, they ask 730 Alto Street are determined to be inadequate. This project will the Boys and Girls Club to come in to present Santa Fe, NM 87504 address these quality indicators, mobilizing a vol- conflict management and other programming. (505) 983-6632 unteer network trained to implement research- When the Boys and Girls Club had to relocate dur- based curriculum. ing renovation of the facility, the public school welcomed the program into the schools. The Boys Prevent morbidity and mortality due to vehicular 25 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-Scl - A To M accidents, suicide, and violence. The project will Why It Works: For more information, contact: start after-school programs for youth and focus on Service Members/Volunteers: The service mem- Cynthia Billings, Director conflict resolution curriculums as an alternative to bers for the PlusTime NH program will be Learn PlusTime NH such behaviors. and Serve America students, AmeriCorps mem- 160 Dover Road, Suite I bers, AmeriCorps*VIS members, and RSVP Chinchester, NH 03234 Decrease the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) volun- Phone: (603) 798-5850 drugs among children and youth. The project will teers. About 400 people are being recruited to Fax: (603) 798-5861 introduce anti-tobacco curriculum, posters, hand- serve in the PlusTime NH program. [email protected] outs, etc., through a volunteer network. The use of alcohol and drugs will be addressed through Evaluation: Needs assessments are distributed prevention programs focusing on areas such as throughout the communities where new PlusTime general life skills, goal-setting, decisionmaking, NH programs are to be implemented. Formal eval- and friendship-making. uations on each piece of the project and curricu- lum are planned. Decrease teenage pregnancy. Additional programs will be created as alternatives to unsupervised Partnership: PlusTime NH's Advisory Board afternoons. includes many prominent citizens of New Hampshire, including the State Commissioner of Establish community coalitions to improve ser- Education. The schools in New Hampshire have a vices to youth. The project will facilitate the com- long-standing, strong relationship with the organi- munication between various community organiza- zation, as do businesses, organizations, and edu- tions such as schools, child care providers, cultur- cators. PlusTime works with the University of New al institutions, libraries, churches, and recreation Hampshire Cooperative Extension, State Parks and departments, thereby expanding and improving Recreation, YMCA, YWCA, Department of after-school programs for youth. Education, Department of Health and Human Services, and Boys and Girls Clubs. The Results: PlusTime NH is the first collaboration of its kind in Funding: PlusTime NH's budget for the first year is the nation. The program will serve 1,000 to 2,000 $250,000 and comes from a state health care youth in thirty to forty new programs, and impact grant, federal sources, foundations, and the another 3,000 to 5,000 youth with its curriculum. Bureau of Substance Abuse. The early success of PlusTime NH is due to partner- ships it has already created with schools, businesses, Advice from PlusTime NH Program Director: and other organizations throughout the state. Collaboration and diversity are key. 26 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Chapter 5 S ervice to the community is a lifelong obligation of edge, and abilities to projects that meet community citizenship. It is an ethic that is learned early in needs. Educators facilitate learning by creating oppor- SERVICE- life and spans the educational, employment, and tunities for students to understand and analyze their social institutions that form the basic building blocks service experiences in the context of their coursework. LEARNING of American society. Teaching and learning through Often, service projects are integrated into all facets of service are fundamental to the educational process the school curriculum. Service-learning facilitates the ACTIVITIES and the development of good citizens. Integrating linkage of theoretical and practical knowledge in service-learning into the curriculum of schools and order to improve both schooling and communities. FOR out-of-school time programs can strengthen commu- In other service-learning programs, youth work nities, enrich the lives of individuals who perform CHILDREN through local organizations to design and implement service, and help solve the nation's most critical community service projects. Community-based pro- problems. AND grams offer youth the opportunity to learn by doing. WHAT IS SERVICE-LEARNING? By playing a significant role in planning and develop- YOUTH IN ing their service projects, youth gain practical skills, Service-learning is a method by which students self-esteem, and a sense of civic responsibility as improve academic learning and develop personal OUT-OF- they work to support important community activities. skills through structured service projects that meet community needs. Service-learning builds upon stu- SCHOOL SERVICE-LEARNING BENEFITS OUT-OF-SCHOOL dents' service activities by providing them with the TIME PROGRAMS IN TWO PRIMARY WAYS opportunity to learn by preparing, leading, and TIME Out-of-school time programs can build their reflecting upon their service experiences. For an capacity to meet community needs by utilizing activity to be considered service-learning, it must be students from schools and colleges who are organized, meet real community needs, have carefully engaged in service-learning projects. Graduate stated learning objectives, and provide for reflection. This chapter defines service-learning and undergraduate students in over 1,000 colleges Additionally, service-learning projects in schools and and universities are involved in service-learning colleges should be integrated into the school curricu- and examines ways that service-learning programs. Many high school students are also lum and be coordinated with the community. engaged in service-learning projects. These stu- can contribute to out-of-school time dents have time and skills that may be available SERVICE-LEARNING TAKES PLACE IN SCHOOL to out-of-school time programs. Programs who activities. AND IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME want to identify these students can contact their In service-learning programs based in schools and col- local college or university community service or leges, service-learning is integrated directly into the service-learning office. That office may be search- academic curriculum. Students in kindergarten through ing for programs to create partnerships with. graduate school apply their academic skills, knowl- 27 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Out-of-school time programs may develop service- b) la method] that is integrated into the students' skills in a real way. This process helps to learning projects with others in the community. academic curriculum or provides structured time for strengthen young people's own skills and helps Service-learning builds both academic and social students to think, talk, or write about what they did them to better meet community needs. Service- skills in young people while helping to meet local and saw during the actual service activity. learning can be an effective strategy in linking community needs. By painting a mural at a local senior center, out-of-school time programs with the school-day tutoring other young people, or cleaning up a curriculum. Young people learning geometry, for The Alliance for Service-Learning in Education river, youth make their communities better places example, can be encouraged to use those skills by Reform (ASLER), a group composed of service-learn- to live. It is also important for young people to making wreaths for senior citizens or by building ing practitioners and advocates from programs think about what they are doing once they get step-stools for a preschool center. across the nation, has defined and described effec- involved. Critical reflection on service activities tive service-learning projects in schools, applicable helps young people see how service connects d) la method] that enhances what is taught in school to out-of-school time as well: them to their neighbors and community and how by extending student learning beyond the classroom they can become engaged in community and pub- and into the community and helps to foster the a) la method] under which students learn and devel- lic life. Structured reflection offers the opportuni- development of a sense of caring for others. op through active participation in thoughtfully orga- ty to review the service completed, discuss prob- Central to effective service-learning programs is a nized service experiences that meet actual communi- lems and obstacles, plan the next phase of a pro- theme of caring. Service-learning programs help stu- ty needs and that are coordinated in collaboration ject, and reward a task well done. It also allows dents develop a sense of caring for others by teach- with the school and community. young people to think about the larger scope of ing them about concepts of concern, empathy, and Meaningful service-learning projects demand their activity-how decisions are made, how diffi- the benefits of service. Above all, effective service- thoughtful and collaborative planning. All of the culties are overcome, and the creative ways they learning programs exemplify caring and the develop- partners in a project should design and organize work together to complete the project. Reflection ment of mutually beneficial relationships between service-learning projects that engage young peo- helps to give young people the skills and informa- young people and others in the community. ple in active, hands-on experiences that improve tion they need to get things done for a lifetime. the community and are relevant to the young peo- The Corporation for National Service promotes ser- ple's lives and developmental needs. An excellent c) la method] that provides students with opportuni- vice-learning through each of its programs- initial step is to conduct a community inventory ties to use newly acquired skills and knowledge in AmeriCorps, the National Senior Service Corps, and that identifies the needs and assets of the neigh- Learn and Serve America. Learn and Serve America real-life situations in their own communities. borhood. This inventory can drive the creation of Effective service-learning programs provide struc- takes as its essential mission the promotion and sup- service-learning projects and can help identify port of service-learning in schools, institutions of tured opportunities for young people to link theo- appropriate partners for the project. In addition, ry with practice-to tie concepts they have higher education, and community-based organiza- this planning phase allows for a thoughtful inte- tions. Learn and Serve America provides funds and learned to the solution of real-world problems. As gration of the program's existing priorities with training and technical assistance resources to students learn new skills-reading, addition, the priorities identified in and by the community. methods of scientific inquiry-service-learning schools, colleges, and community organizations that projects give them the opportunity to apply these create new service-learning programs, replicate 28 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual existing service-learning programs, or provide train- preserve native plants; officials to determine those needs-and then to work ing and development of staff, faculty, students, and with them to determine how to address those needs design neighborhood playgrounds; community partners. Specific programs address local together. needs in at least one of the following areas-educa- teach younger children to read; Another key is to engage young people in the tion, public safety, the environment, and other teach conflict resolution skills to others; process of critical thinking and problemsolving that human needs. Learn and Serve America provides accompanies the creation and maintenance of a opportunities for more than a million young people, provide peer education on AIDS; complex initiative. While an eleven-year-old may not and their teachers and other adult partners, to con- be ready to understand all of the problems that nect meaningful community service experiences with test local water quality; cause high levels of illiteracy in his or her neighbor- academic learning, personal growth, and civic create wheelchair-accessible ramps to their hood, he or she can understand that first-graders are responsibility. schools; having trouble learning to read and help to devise a solution to that problem. Then the young person can SERVICE-LEARNING WORKS install smoke detectors; act to solve the problem. The eleven-year-old can A 1997 study by Brandeis University and Abt Associates shows that students who participate in prepare food for the homeless; become a peer tutor by creating books, taking younger children to the library, reading to and with effective service-learning programs: develop urban community gardens; younger children, and writing with younger children. improve their academic grades; construct community murals; For more information about service-learning and are more committed to service; start school and neighborhood recycling programs; Learn and Serve America, contact: are more aware of community needs; and Learn and Serve America Corporation for National Service are more socially responsible; much more. [201 New York Avenue, N.W. are more accepting of cultural diversity; One key to good service-learning programs is the Washington, D.C. 20525 creation and development of long-term relationships (202) 606-5000 are more positive about their school experience; among the partners in the project. Great service can www.learnandserve.org and be provided when the partners in the project are able to communicate well and trust one another. If a are more likely to want to attend four-year senior citizens' home is uncomfortable with neigh- colleges. borhood youth-perhaps because of a prior experi- ence or ethnic prejudice-steps need to be taken to IDEAS FOR SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS strengthen the bonds between youth and seniors. The possibilities for service-learning activities are What is important is to determine what the commu- endless. During school and in out-of-school time, nity needs by working with community residents and young people in service-learning programs: 29 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual APPENDIXES A. National Service Programs and Application Requirements B. National Service State Offices C. State Commissions on National and Community Service D. State Education Agencies E. School-Age Care Information and Resource Sharing Via the Internet F. Other Out-Of-School Time Resources G. Research and Statistics on Out-of-School Time 30 Service as a-Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Appendix A T he Corporation for National Service, created by the National and Community Service Trust Act of NATIONAL 1993, engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to their communities. Through its main SERVICE three programs-AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, and the National Senior Service Corps-the PROGRAMS Corporation provides a broad range of opportunities for Americans to serve our communities and our AND nation. The efforts supported by the Corporation address the nation's challenges in the areas of edu- APPLICATION cation, public safety, human needs, and the environ- ment-with a strong emphasis on achieving direct REQUIREMENTS and demonstrable results. The Corporation for National Service combines the best aspects of local control with national support. The Corporation operates with a bipartisan board of direc- tors and an entrepreneurial management team and workforce. Programs are selected through a highly competitive process and are held to rigorous quality standards designed to measure impact. The Corporation's programs are public-private partnerships with national and community-based organizations. Corporation for National Service 1201 New York Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20525 www.nationalservice.org 31 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS National Service Program Area Grant Opportunities STATE Funds local and state programs that directly address education, public safety, environmental, and other human needs at the community level. Service activities should reflect a well-developed strategy that is unified programmatically by a mission, theme, and program elements, including training and technical assistance. State Commissions grant Formula and Competitive funding to local and state organizations and agencies. Formula funds are competed for at state level. Competitive funds are competed for at the state level follow by a national competition. NATIONAL DIRECT Funds national nonprofits, multi-state initiatives, and professional corps to directly operate programs, replicate suc- cessful models, or provide subgrants to local chapters for programming in four areas education, environment, public safety and other human needs. All activities should reflect a well-developed national strategy that is unified program- matically by a mission, theme, and program elements, including training and technical assistance. Funding is available through national competition for service activities in two or more states. AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARDS Through a simplified application process, national, state and local organizations can apply for educational awards for their service participants. Education Awards are available through either statewide or national competitions to support community service within organizations that can largely or entirely cover the cost of service programs without addi- tional Corporation support. VISTA Funding is available through the State Corporation Offices for projects in low-income communities that help people improve their lives through education, literacy programs, employment training, economic development, housing assis- tance, health, and public safety. Activities should focus on building organizational and community capacity and mobi- lizing local resources needed to sustain projects long after the grants end. NCCC One or more teams of AmeriCorps "NCCC members led by a team leader are available to help organizations with pro- jects in four areas-environment, education, public safety, and other human needs. RSVP Project grants through statewide competitions. NATIONAL SENIOR SENIOR COMPANIONS Project grants through statewide competitions. SERVICE CORPS FOSTER GRANDPARENTS Project grants through statewide competitions. Project grants through statewide competitions. K-12 LEARN & SERVE AMERICA HIGHER EDUCATION Project grants through statewide competitions. 32 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Eligible Applicants Application Deadline Range of Awards & Match Requirements Administering Total FY96 Budget Agency/Contact States, District of Columbia, Application deadlines are established Approximately $11,000 per full- Applicants must provide a cash State Commissions. Puerto Rico, nonprofit organi- by the state commissions. Generally, time member and education match of 15 percent of members' zations, and professional corps. state commission deadlines are award. Average cost per mem- living allowances and cash or in- between January and February. ber cannot exceed $11,250. kind of 33 percent of the over all operating costs. Multi-state organizations, Application deadline is April 15, 1998. Approximately $11,000 per full- Applicants must provide a cash Corporation for National national nonprofits, and tribes time member and education match of 15 percent of members' Service. and territories. award. Average cost per mem- living allowances and cash or in- ber cannot exceed $11,250. kind of 33 percent of the over all operating costs. State or local government Application deadlines will be set at Approximately $500 per full- All program support costs (except State Commissions (for agencies, nonprofit organiza- the state and national level by State time equivalent and education $500 per full-time equivalent) state level submissions) tions, and institutions of high- Commissions and the Corporation for award. and all member stipends. and Corporation for er education. National Service respectively. National Service (for national competition). Federal, state or local govern- Organizations may apply for funding N/A (Total FY96 est.$41,235,000, No match requirements. Corporation for National ment agencies and private year-round based on the availability plus $5,024,000 for Literacy Service nonprofit organizations. of funding. Corps activities) Federal, state or local govern- Organizations may apply year round N/A Organizations are expected to Corporation for National ment agencies and private based on the availability of teams. cover the cost associated with or Service and its five nonprofit organizations. Note, teams are generally available for provide materials, tools, and AmeriCorps*National projects between November and July. technical training, and on-site Community Civilian Corps supervision as needed to com- campuses. plete the project. State/local govt. agencies or N/A $2,500-$667,480 (Total FY96 est. 10 percent for Year I Corporation for National private nonprofit organizations. $34,949,000) 20 percent for Year 2 Service 30 percent for Year 3. State/local govt. agencies or N/A $20,732-$402,673 (Total FY96 est. 10 percent of total budget Corporation for National private nonprofit organizations. $31,155,000) Service State/local govt. agencies or N/A $12,200-$1,634,993 (Total FY96 10 percent of total budget Corporation for National private nonprofit organizations. est. $62,237,000) Service States, territories, Indian N/A $44,629-$2,283,492 (Total FY96 10 percent for Year I State Commissions (commu- tribes, and nonprofit organiza- est.$32,250,000) 20 percent for Year 2 nity-based programs) and tions. 30 percent for Year 3 State Education Agencies (school-based programs) Institutions of higher educa- N/A $30,000-$300,000 (Total FY96 50 percent or greater Corporation for National tion or public/nonprofit agen- est. $10,750,000) Service cies working in partnership with a higher education. 33 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM CONTACTS Office Programs AmeriCorps AmeriCorps*National Programs 1-800-942-2677 AmeriCorps*NCCC TDD 1-800-833-3722 AmeriCorps*Tribes and Territories AmeriCorps Education Awards Programs (National) Learn and Serve America Learn and Serve America Higher Education Programs (202) 606-5000 Learn and Serve America: Tribes & Territories TDD (202) 565-2799 (school-based programs) National Senior Service Corps National Senior Service Corps 1-800-424-8867 Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) TDD 1-800-833-3722 Foster Grandparent Program Senior Companion Program Corporation for National Service State Offices AmeriCorps*VISTA (see Appendix B) National Senior Service Corps Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Foster Grandparent Program Senior Companion Program State Commissions on National and AmeriCorps*State Programs Community Service AmeriCorps Education Awards Programs (State) (see Appendix C) Learn and Serve America: Community-Based Programs State Education Agencies Learn and Serve America: School-Based Programs (see Appendix D) 34 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Appendix B T he Corporation for National Service's State Offices Arkansas are the main points of contact for many national Mr. Robert Torvestad NATIONAL service programs and activities within each state. Corporation for National Service State offices develop programs, provide oversight, Federal Building, Room 2506 SERVICE and provide funding and technical assistance to 700 West Capitol Street AmeriCorps*VISTA and National Senior Service Corps Little Rock, AR 72201 STATE programs. For information on AmeriCorps" or Phone: 501-324-5234 Fax: 501-324-6949 Senior Corps programs in your state, contact your OFFICES California state office listed below. Ms. Gayle Hawkins Corporation for National Service Alabama Federal Building Room 11221 Mr. John Timmons 11000 Wilshire Boulevard Corporation for National Service Los Angeles, CA 90024-3671 950 22nd Street, Suite 428 Phone: 310-235-7421 Fax: 310-235-7422 Birmingham, Al 35203 Phone: 205-731-0027 Fax: 205-731-0031 Colorado Ms. Gayle Schladale Alaska Corporation for National Service Mr. Billy Joe Caldwell One Sherman Place Corporation for National Service 140 E. 19th Avenue, Suite 120 915 Second Ave. Denver, CO 80203-1167 Suite 3190 Phone: 303-866-1070 Fax: 303-866-1081 Seattle, WA 35203 Phone: 206-220-7736 Fax: 206-553-4415 Connecticut Mr. Romero A. Cherry Arizona Corporation for National Service Mr. Richard Persely I Commercial Plaza, 21st Floor Corporation for National Service Hartford, CT 06103-3510 522 North Central, Room 205A Phone: 860-240-3237 Fax: 860-240-3238 Phoenix, AZ 85004-2190 Phone: 602-379-4825 Fax: 602-379-4030 35 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Delaware/Maryland Illinois Louisiana Mr. Jerry Yates Mr. Timothy Krieger Mr. Willard L. Labrie Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service One Market Center, Box 5 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 442 640 Main Street, Suite 102 300 West Lexington Street, Suite 702 Chicago, IL 60604-1922 Baton Rouge, LA 70801-1910 Baltimore, MD 21201-3418 Phone: 312-353-3622 Fax: 312-353-5343 Phone: 504-389-0471 Fax: 504-389-0510 Phone: 410-962-4443 Fax: 410-962-3201 Indiana Maine/New Hampshire/Vermont Florida Mr. Thomas L. Haskett Mr. Peter Bender Mr. Henry Jibaja Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service 46 East Ohio Street, Room 457 91-93 North State Street 3165 McCrory Street, Suite 115 Indianapolis, IN 46204-1922 Concord, NH 03301-3939 Orlando, FL 32803-3750 Phone: 317-226-6724 Fax: 317-226-5437 Phone: 603-225-1450 Fax: 603-225-1459 Phone: 407-648-6117 Fax: 407-648-6116 lowa Massachusetts Georgia Mr. Joel Weinstein Mr. Mal Coles Mr. David A. Dammann Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service Federal Building, Room 917 10 Causeway Street, Room 467 75 Piedmont Avenue, NE 210 Walnut Street Boston, MA 02222-1038 Atlanta, GA 30303-2587 Des Moines, IA 50309- 2195 Phone: 617-565-7000 Fax: 617-565-7001 Phone: 404-331-4646 Fax: 404-331-2898 Phone: 515-284-4816 Fax: 515-284-6640 Michigan Hawaii/Guam/American Samoa Kansas Ms. Mary Pfeiler Ms. Lynn Dunn Mr. James M. Byrnes Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service 211West Fort Street 300 Ala Moana Blvd, 444 SE Quincy, Room 260 Suite 1408 Room 6326 Topeka, KS 66683-3572 Detroit, MI 48226-2799 Honolulu, HI 96850-0001 Phone: 785-295-2540 Fax: 785-295-2596 Phone: 313-226-7848 Fax: 313-226-2557 Phone: 808-541-2832 Fax: 808-541-3603 Kentucky Minnesota Idaho Ms. Betsy Irvin Wells Mr. Robert Jackson Mr. Van Kent Griffitts Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service Federal Building, Room 372-D 431 South 7th Street, Room 2480 304 North 8th Street Room 344 600 Martin Luther King Place Minneapolis, MN 55415-1854 Boise, ID 83702-5835 Louisville, KY 40202-2230 Phone: 612-334-4083 Fax: 612-334-4084 Phone: 208-334-1707 Fax: 208-334-1421 Phone: 502-582-6384 Fax: 502-582-6386 36 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Mississippi Nevada North Carolina Mr. Roktabija Abdul-Azeez Mr. Craig Warner Mr. Robert L. Winston Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service 100 West Capitol Street, Room 1005A 4600 Keitzke Lane, Suite E-141 300 Fayetteville Street Mall Jackson, MS 39269-1092 Reno, NV 89502-5033 Room 131 Phone: 601-965-5664 Fax: 601-334-4617 Phone: 702-784-5314 Fax: 702-784-5026 Raleigh , NC 27601-1739 Phone: 919-856-4731 Fax: 919-856-4738 Missouri New Jersey Mr. John J. McDonald Mr. Stanley Gorland Ohio Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service Mr. Paul Schrader 801 Walnut Street 44 South Clinton Avenue Corporation for National Service Suite 504 Room 702 51 North High Street, Suite 451 Kansas City, MO 64106-2009 Trenton, NJ 08609-1507 Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: 816-374-6300 Fax: 816-374-6305 Phone: 609-989-2243 Fax: 609-989-2304 Phone: 614-469-7441 Fax: 614-469-2125 Montana New Mexico Oklahoma Mr. Joe R. Lovelady Mr. Ernesto Ramos Mr. H. Zeke Rodriguez Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service 208 North Montana Avenue 120 S. Federal Place 215 Dean A Mcgee Suite 206 Room 315 Suite 324 Helena, MT 596013837 Santa Fe, NM 87501-2026 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Phone: 406-449-5404 Fax: 406-449-5412 Phone: 505-988-6577 Fax: 505-988-6661 Phone: 405-231-5201 Fax: 405-231-4329 Nebraska New York Oregon Ms. Anne C. Johnson Mr. Bernard A Conte Ms. Robin Sutherland Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service Federal Building, Room 156 6 World Trade Center 2010 Lloyd Center 100 Centennial Mall North Room 758 Portland, OR 97232 Lincoln, NE 68508-3896 New York, NY 10048-0206 Phone: 503-231-2103 Fax: 503-231-2106 Phone: 402-437-5493 Fax: 402-437-5495 Phone: 212-466-4471 Fax: 212-466-4195 37 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Pennsylvania Pierre, SD 57501-2452 Jackson Federal Building, Suite 3190 Ms. Jorina Ahmed Phone: 605-224-5996 Fax: 605-224-9201 915 Second Avenue Corporation for National Service Tennessee Seattle, WA 98174-1103 Gateway Building, Room 2460 Phone: 206-220-7745 Fax: 206-553-4415 Mr. Alfred E Johnson 3535 Market Street Corporation for National Service West Virginia Philadelphia, PA 19104-2996 265 Cumberland Bend Drive Ms Judith Russell Phone: 215-596-4077 Fax: 215-596-4072 Nashville, TN 37228 Corporation for National Service Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands Phone: 615-736-5561 Fax: 615-736-7937 10 Hale Street Ms. Lorette de Cordova Suite 203 Texas Corporation for National Service Charleston, WV 25301-1409 Mr. Jerry G. Thompson U.S. Federal Building, Suite 662 Corporation for National Service Phone: 304-347-5246 Fax: 304-347-5464 150 Carlos Chardon Avenue 903 San Jacinto, Suite 130 Wisconsin Hato Rey, PR 00918-1737 Austin, TX 78701-3747 Ms. Jane Balsiger Phone: 787-766-5314 Fax: 787-766-5189 Phone: 512-916-5671 Fax: 512-916-5806 Corporation for National Service Rhode Island Henry Reuss Federal Plaza Mr. Vincent Marzullo Utah 310 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Room 1240 Corporation for National Service Mr. Rick Crawford Milwaukee, WI 53203-2211 400 Westminster Street, Room 203 Corporation for National Service Phone: 414-297-1118 Fax: 414-297-1863 Providence, RI 02903 350 South Main Street Wyoming Phone: 401-528-5424 Fax: 401-528-5220 Room 504 Mr. Patrick Gallizzi Salt Lake City, UT 84101-2198 South Carolina Corporation for National Service Phone: 801-524-5411 Fax: 801-524-3599 Mr. Jerome J Davis Federal Building, Room по Corporation for National Service Virginia/DC 2120 Capitol Avenue 1835 Assembley Street Mr. Thomas Harmon Cheyenne, WY 82001-3649 Suite 872 Corporation for National Service Phone: 307-772-2385 Fax: 307-772-2389 Columbia, SC 29201-2430 400 North 8th Street, Room 1119 Phone: 803-765-5771 Fax: 803-765-5777 P.O. Box 10066 Richmond, VA 23240-1832 South Dakota/North Dakota Phone: 804-771-2196 Fax: 804-771-2157 Mr. John Pohlman Corporation for National Service Washington 225 S Pierre Street Mr. John Miller Room 225 Corporation for National Service 38 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Appendix C tate Commissions on National and Community Arizona S Service have a front-line responsibility for selecting Ms. Michelle Lyons-Mayer STATE and supporting AmeriCorps*Sta programs and Learn Arizona National & Community Service Commission and Serve America Community-Based programs within 1700 West Washington St., Suite 101C COMMIS- their state. In addition, the commissions work closely Phoenix, AZ 85007 with the Corporation for National Service to strength- Phone: 602-542-3461 Fax: 602-542-3520 SIONS ON en service and volunteerism at the state level. State Arkansas Commissions on National and Community Service are NATIONAL Ms. Betty Hicks directed by bipartisan state boards appointed by the Arkansas Commission on National & Community governor. Most often, the commission offices are Service COMMUNITY housed in the governor's office. For more information Donaghey Plaza South, 7th & Main, Suite 1300 on AmeriCorps*S or Learn and Serve America SERVICE Little Rock, AR 72201 Community-Based programs in your state, contact your Phone: 501-682-6717 Fax: 501-682-1623 state commission office listed below. California Alabama Dr. Linda Forsyth Ms. Elaine Wiggins Calif. Commission on Improving Life Through Service Alabama National & Community Service State 1121 L St., Suite 600 Commission Sacramento, CA 95814 Governor's Office Phone: 916-323-7646 Fax: 916-323-3227 The State House, Suite 224 Colorado Montgomery, AL 36104 Mr. Greg Geissler Phone: 334-242-7110 Fax: 334-242-2885 Colorado State Commission Alaska 1313 Sherman, Suite 500 Ms. Michelle Anderson Denver, CO 80203 Alaska State Community Service Commission Phone: 303-866-4900 Fax: 303-866-4992 333 West 4th Avenue, Suite 220 Ankorage, AK 99501 Phone: 907-269-4659 Fax: 907-269-4635 39 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Connecticut Hawaii lowa Ms. Sandy Santy Mr. Issac Watson Ms. Barbara Finch Connecticut Commission on National & Community Hawaii State Commission on National & Community Iowa Commission on Community Service Service Service 150 East Des Moines St. Dept. of Higher Education Office of Community Services Des Moines, IA 50309 61 Woodland St. 830 Punchbowl Street, Room 420 Phone: 515-281-9043 Fax: 515-281-9033 Hartford, CT 06105 Honolulu, HI 96813 Kansas Phone: 860-566-6154 Fax: 806-566-7865 Phone: 808-586-8675 Fax: 808-586-8685 Ms. Patricia Kells Delaware Idaho Kansas Commission on National & Community Service Ms. Deborah Beris, Acting Director Ms. Kelly Houston 200 Southwest 6th Delaware Commission on National & Community Service Idaho Commission for National & Community Service PO Box 889 Carvel State Office Building-4th Floor 500 South 10th Street Topeka, KS 66603 820 North French Street P.O. Box 83720 Phone: 913-234-1423 Fax: 913-234-1429 Wilmington, DE 19801 Boise, ID 83720-0018 Kentucky Phone: 302-577-6650 Fax: 302-577-6828 Phone: 208-334-2013 Fax: 208-334-2108 Ms. Dwen Chester Florida Illinois Kentucky Community Service Commission Mr. Fred Sanguiliano Ms. Jeanne Bradner State Office Bldg., Room 923 Governor's Commission on Community Service Illinois Commission on Community Service 501 High Street 444 Appleyard Drive Illinois Dept. of Commerce & Community Affairs Frankfort, KY 40622 Tallahassee, FL 32304-2895 100 West Randolf, Suite 3-400 Phone: 502-564-5330 Fax: 502-564-7987 Phone: 904 921-5172 Fax: 904-921-5146 Chicago, IL 60601 Louisiana Phone: 312-814-5940 Fax: 312-814-7236 Georgia Ms. Sara Sims Ms. Lynn Thornton Indiana Louisiana Serve Commission Georgia Commission on National & Community Mr. Joe Smith 263 Third Street, Suite 610 Service Governor's Commission on Community Service & Baton Rouge, LA 70802 2020 Equitable Building Volunteerism Phone: 504-342-2038 Fax: 504-342-0106 100 Peachtree St. 302 West Washington St., Room E220 Atlanta, GA 30303 Indianapolis, IN 46204 Phone: 404-657-7827 Fax: 404-657-7835 Phone: 317-233-4273 Fax: 317-233-5660 40 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Maine Minnesota Nebraska Ms. Maryalice Crofton Ms. Mary Jo Richardson Mr. Thomas Miller Maine Commission on National & Community Service Minnesota Commission on National & Community Nebraska Commission for National & Community Maine State Planning Office/State House Service Service 184 State Street-Station "38 683 Capitol Square Bldg. State Capitol-6th Floor Augusta, ME 04333 Saint Paul, MN 55101 P.O. Box 98927 Phone: 207-287-5300 Fax: 207-287-6489 Phone: 612-296-1435 Fax: 612-296-3348 Lincoln, NE 68509 Phone: 402-471-6225 Fax: 402-471-6286 Maryland Mississippi Ms. Kathryn Shulman Ms. Marsha Meeks Kelly Nevada Governor's Commission on Service Mississippi Commission for National & Community Ms. Kathalie Kohle 300 West Preston St., 6th Floor Service Nevada Commission for National & Community Service State Office Building 3825 Ridgewood Rd. 200 South Third Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Jackson, MS 39211-6453 Suite 448 Phone: 410-767-1216 Fax: 410-333-5957 Phone: 601-982-6738 Fax: 601-982-6790 Las Vegas, NV 89155 Phone: 702-486-2730 Fax: 702-486-2733 Massachusetts Missouri Ms. Kate Mehr Mr. Curtis Hendricks New Hampshire Massachusetts National & Community Service Missouri Community Service Commission Mr. Tim Dupre Commission c/o Lt. Governor's Office, Capitol Bldg. New Hampshire Commission on National & 87 Summer St., 4th Floor 3225 West Truman Boulvevard, Suite 101 Community Service Boston, MA 02110 Jefferson City, MO 65109 64 Old Suncook Rd. Phone: 617-542-2544 Fax: 617-542-0240 Phone: 573-751-7488 Fax: 573-526-0463 Concord, NH 03301 Phone: 603-229-3406 Fax: 603-229-3408 Michigan Montana Mr. Terry Pruitt, Acting Director Mr. Charles W. Briggs New Jersey Michigan Community Service Commission Montana Community Services Advisory Council Ms. Rowena Madden III South Capitol Ave.-Olds Plaza Building State Capitol, Room 219 New Jersey Commission on National & Community 4th Floor Helena, MT 59620 Service Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: 406-444-5547 Fax: 406-444-4418 c/o New Jersey Dept. of Ed.-Office of Innovative Phone: 517-335-4295 Fax: 517-373-4977 Programs 100 Riverview Plaza, CN 500 Trenton, NJ 08625 Phone: 609-633-9629 Fax: 609-633-9825 41 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual New Mexico Oklahoma Rhode Island Ms. Barbara Otto Ms. Nancy Deavers Mr. David Karoff New Mexico Commission for National & Community Oklahoma Community Service Commission Rhode Island Commission for National & Community Service 505 Northeast 13th Street Service Children, Youth & Family Dept. Oklahoma City, OK 73104 P.O. Box 72822 300 San Mateo, NE Suite 602 Phone: 405-235-7278 Fax: 405-235-7036 441 Pine Street Albuquerque, NM 87108 Providence, RI 02907 Oregon Phone: 505-841-2973 Fax: 505-841-2969 Phone: 401-331-2298 Fax: 401-331-2273 Ms. Marlis Miller New York Oregon Commission for National & Community South Carolina Ms. Nikki Smith Service Ms. Jean Moore New York Commission on National & Community PSU/CSC-369 Neuberger Hall South Carolina Commission on National & Community Service 724 Southwest Harrison-P.O. Box 75' Service Division of the Budget Portland, OR 97207-0751 Governor's Office on Volunteerism State Capitol-Room "254 Phone: 503-725-5903 Fax: 503-725-8335 1205 Pendelton St., Room 422 Albany, NY 12224 Columbia, SC 29201 Pennsylvania Phone: 518-473-8882 Fax: 518-486-1217 Ms. Karen S. Fleisher Phone: 803-734-1118 Fax: 803-734-2495 North Carolina PennSERVE: The Governor's Office of Citizen Service Tennessee Ms. Jacquie Kennedy Department of Labor and Industry Ms. Carol White North Carolina State Commission on 1304 Labor & Industry Building, Seventh & Forster Tenn. Commission on National & Community Service National & Community Service Streets Andrew Jackson Bldg. North Carolina Governor's Office of Citizen Affairs Harrisburg, PA 17120 500 Deaderick Street, 14th Floor 121 West Jones St. Phone: 717-787-1971 Fax: 717-787-9458 Nashville, TN 37243 Raleigh, NC 27603 Phone: 615-532-9250 Fax: 615-532-6950 Puerto Rico Phone: 919-715-3470 Fax: 919-715-2972 Dr. Jorge Luis Reyes Texas Ohio Puerto Rico State Commission of Community Service Ms. Barbara DuBose Ms. Kitty Burcsu La Fortaleza Texas Commission on Volunteerism & Community Governor's Community Service Commission Calle La Fortaleza Service 51 North High St., Suite 481 San Juan, PR 00902-0082 Stephen F. Austin Building Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: 787-721-7877 Fax: 787-725-3598 1700 North Congress, Ste 310 (P.O. Box 78701) Phone: 614-728-2916 Fax: 614-728-2921 Austin, TX 78711-3385 Phone: 512-463-1814 Fax: 512-463-1861 42 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Utah West Virginia Mr. Michael Call Ms. Jean Ambrose Utah Commission on Volunteerism WV Commission for National & Community Service 1530 North Technology Way I United Way Square Suite D-o3 Charleston, WV 25301 Orem, UT 84097 Phone: 304-340-3627 Fax: 304-340-3629 Phone: 801-222-2911 Fax: 801-222-2917 Wisconsin Vermont Ms. Martha Kerner Ms. Jane Williams Wisconsin Division of Energy & Intergovernmental Vermont Commission on National & Community Relations Service 101 East Wilson Street, 6th Floor 133 State Street P.O. Box 7868 Montpelier, VT 05633-4801 Madison, WI 53707-7868 Phone: 802-828-4982 Fax: 802-828-4988 Phone: 608-266-2125 Fax: 608-267-6931 Virginia Wyoming Ms. B.J. Northington Ms. Beverly Morrow Virginia Commission on National & Community Wyoming Commission for National & Community Service Service Governor's Office of Volunteerism Herschler Bldg., ist Floor West 73° East Broad St., 9th Floor 122 West 25th Street, Room 1608 Richmond, VA 23219 Cheyenne, WY 82002 Phone: 804-692-1952 Fax: 804-692-1999 Phone: 307-777-5396 Fax: 307-638-8967 Washington Mr. Bill Basl Washington Commission on National & Community Service 515 15th Avenue, SE Olympia, WA 98504-3134 Phone: 360-902-0663 Fax: 360-902-0414 43 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual 44 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Appendix D S tate Education Agencies administer funds for California Department of Education Learn and Serve America's School-Based pro- Mr. Wade Brynelson STATE grams. School-Based programs integrate service- P.O. Box 944272 learning directly into the academic curriculum for Sacramento, CA 94244-2720 EDUCATION elementary and secondary school students. Students Phone number: 916-653-3314 apply their academic skills, knowledge, and abilities Fax number: 916-657-4611 AGENCIES to service projects that meet community needs. Colorado Department of Education Educators facilitate learning by creating opportuni- Ms. Elaine Andrus ties for students to understand and analyze their 201 E. Colfax Avenue service experiences in the context of their course- Denver, CO 80203 work. Schools and school districts interested in Phone number: 303-866-6897 applying for funding should contact their state edu- Fax number: 303-830-0793 cation agency contact listed below. Connecticut State Department of Education NOTE: Local programs and nonprofits should contact Ms. Betty Schmitt their state commission office to inquire about Learn P.O. Box 2219, Rm. #227 & Serve America's Community-Based program funds. Hartford, CT 06145 Phone number: 860-566-1961 Alabama State Department of Education Fax number: 860-566-2957 Ms. Barbara Boland or Dr. Ed Richardson (860) alternate area code P.O. Box 302101 Delaware Department of Public Instruction Gordon Persons Building Dr. Peggy Dee Montgomery, AL 36130-2101 John G. Townsend Building Phone number: 334-242-8199 P.O. Box 1402 Fax number: 334-242-0496 Dover, DE 19903-1402 [email protected] Phone number: 302-739-4667 Arizona Department of Education Fax number: 302-739-2388 Ms. Trudy Rogers 1535 West Jefferson Bin "39 Phoenix, AZ 85007 Phone number: 602-542-2037 Fax number: 602-542-3359 45 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual District of Columbia Public Schools Idaho Department of Education lowa Department of Education Ms. Beverly O'Bryant Mr. Michael Murphy Mr. Joseph P. Herrity Rabaut Administration Building P.O. Box 83720 Grimes State Office Building 2nd & Peabody Streets, NW Boise, ID 83720-0027 Des Moines, IA 50319-0146 Washington DC 20011 Phone number: 208-334-2186 Phone number: 515-281-3290 Phone number: 202-541-5928; 202-576-6171 Fax number: 208-334-2228 Fax number: 515-242-6025 Fax number: 202-576-6178 [email protected] [email protected] Florida Department of Education Illinois State Board of Education Kansas State Department of Education Mr. Joe Follman Mr. Bill Garcia Ms. Hilary Peguero Center for Civic Education 100 W. Randolph, 14th FI. Kansas Office for Community Service 930 West Park Avenue Chicago, IL 60601 P.O. Box 889 Tallahassee, FL 32306-2059 Phone number: 312-814-3606 Topeka, KS 66601 Phone number: 904-644-3342 Fax number: 312-814-2282 Phone number: 913-234-1423 Fax number: 904-644-3362 [email protected] Fax number: 913-234-1429 [email protected] Jim Zabel Kentucky Department of Education Georgia Department of Education Illinois Resource Center Ms. Karen Schmalzbauer Mr. Richard A. Grover 1855 Mt. Prospect Rd. 1732 Capital Plaza Tower School Support Services Unit Des Plaines, IL 60018 500 Metro Street 1762 Twin Towers East Phone number: 847-803-3535 Frankfort, KY 40601 Atlanta, GA 30334-5040 Fax number: 847-803-2828 Phone number: 502-564-9500 Phone number: 404-657-8335 [email protected] Fax number: 502-564-6952 Fax number: 404-651-9416 [email protected] Indiana Department of Education Hawaii Department of Education Ms. Janell Heidenreich Louisiana Department of Education Ms. Judy McCoy Room 229, State House Ms. Kay Bailey 641 18th Ave., 2nd Fl. Indianapolis, IN 46204-2798 P.O. Box 44243 Honolulu, HI 96816-4444 Phone number: 17-233-3163 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4243 Phone number: 808-733-9893 Fax number: 317-232-9121 Phone number: 504-342-3333 or 3937 Fax number: 808-733-9890 or 9147 Fax number: 504-342-1218 [email protected] [email protected] 46 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Maine Department of Education Minnesota Department of Children, Nebraska Department of Education Mr. Ed Maroon Families and Learning Mr. Merle Rudebusch Station "23 Dr. Marlys J. Bucher 301 Centennial Mall South Augusta, ME 04333 652 Capitol Square Building P.O. Box 94987 Phone number: 207-287-5854 550 Cedar St., Rm. "682 Lincoln, NE 68509-4987 Fax number: 207-287-5894 St. Paul, MN 55101-2273 Phone number: 402-471-4812 [email protected] Phone number: 612-297-2481 Fax number: 402-471-0117 Fax number: 612-296-3348 [email protected] Maryland State Department of Education [email protected] Mr. Luke Frazier Nevada Department of Education 200 West Baltimore Street Mississippi Department of Education Ms. Janet Wright Baltimore, MD 21201 Mr. Clarence Lovelady 700 East 5th St. Phone number: 410-767-0356 or 0358 P.O. Box 771 Carson City, NV 89710 Fax number: 410-333-2183 Jackson, MS 39205 Phone number: 702-687-9197 [email protected] Phone number: 601-359-3602 Fax number: 702-687-9101 Fax number: 601-359-3708 Massachusetts Department of Education New Hampshire Department of Education Ms. Debbie Scire Missouri Department of Elementary Ms. Judy Averbach 350 Main Street and Secondary Education 101 Pleasant Street Malden, MA 02148-5023 Mr. Ron Jewell Concord, NH 03301 Phone number: 617-388-3300 ext. 272 400 Dix Road Phone number: 603-271-3719 Fax number: 617-388-3396 Jefferson City, MO 65109 Fax number: 603-271-1953 [email protected] Phone number: 573-526-4894 New Jersey Department of Education Fax number: 573-526-3897 Michigan Department of Education Ms. Maria Rosado Ms. Angelia Salas (Interim) Montana Office of Public Instruction CN 500 Olds Plaza Building Ms. Linda V. Peterson Trenton, NJ 08625-0500 III S. Capitol Avenue P.O. Box 202501 Phone number: 609-633-8014 Lansing, MI 48913 Helena, MT 59620-2501 Fax number: 609-633-9825 Phone number: 517-335-4295 Phone number: 406-444-5726 New Mexico Department of Education Fax number: 517-373-4977 Fax number: 406-444-3924 Ms. Carmen Endlich [email protected] [email protected] 300 Don Gaspar Santa Fe, NM 87501-2786 Phone number: 505-827-6664 Fax number: 505-827-4041 47 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual New York State Education Department Oregon Department of Education South Carolina Department of Education Mr. Stan Hansen Ms. Marilyn Walster Dr. Kathy Gibson Carter Bureau of College, School & Community Public Service Bldg. 906 Rutledge Building Collaboration 255 Capitol Street NE 1429 Senate Street Cultural Education Center, Room 5C64 Salem, OR 97310-0203 Columbia, SC 29201 Albany, NY 12230 Phone number: 503-378-3584 ext. 369 Phone number: 803-734-8451 Phone number: 518-486-5202 Fax number: 503-373-7968 Fax number: 803-734-3525 Fax number: 518-474-7468 [email protected] [email protected] shansen@higher. nysed.gov Pennsylvania Department of Education Tennessee Department of Education North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Ms. Dorothy Hershey Ms. Jan Bushing Dr. Norman Camp, Staff Assistant 333 Market Street 6th Floor Gateway Plaza Office of Instructional Accountability Service Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333 710 James Robertson Parkway 301 North Wilmington Street Phone number: 717-783-7089 Nashville, TN 37243-0375 Raleigh, NC 27601-2825 Fax number: 717-783-6617 Phone number: 615-741-0345 Phone number: 919-715-1504 Department of Education of Puerto Rico Fax number: 615-741-6236 Fax number: 919-715-2237 Texas Education Agency Ms. Janet Santana Ohio State Department of Education Ms. Ande England P.O. Box 190759 Ms. Charlotte Jones-Ward Hatorey, PR 00918 The University of Texas at Austin 65 South Front Street, Rm. "1009 Phone number: 809-759-8910 Charles A. Dana Center Columbus, OH 43215-4183 Fax number: 809-751-6192 NSA Annex 1.202 Phone number: 614-466-8920 2613 Speedway Rhode Island Department of Elementary Fax number: 614-728-3058 Austin, TX 78712 and Secondary Education [email protected] Phone number: 512-232-2290 Ms. Diana Crowley Oklahoma State Department of Education The Shepard Bldg. Fax number: 512-232-2299 [email protected] Mr. Charles Mohr 255 Westminster St. 2500 N. Lincoln Boulevard Providence, RI 02903 Utah State Office of Education Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Phone number: 401-277-2691 x2167 Mr. Harley E. Paulson Phone number: 405-521-4795 Fax number: 401-277-2537 250 East Fifth Street Fax number: 405-521-6205 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Phone number: 801-538-7826 Fax number: 801-538-7882 [email protected] 48 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Vermont Department of Education Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Ms. Sheila B. Bailey Mr. Stanley J. Potts 120 State Street P.O. Box 7841 Montpelier, VT 05620-2501 Madison, WI 53707-7841 Phone number: 802-828-5405 Phone number: 608-266-3569 or 715-425-3759 Fax number: 802-828-3140 Fax number: 608-267-1052 or 715-425-4479 [email protected] [email protected] Virginia State Department of Education Wyoming Department of Education Dr. Neils Brooks Mr. Roger Hammer P.O. Box 2120 Hathaway Bldg., 2nd Fl. Richmond, VA 23218 2300 Capitol Ave. Phone number: 804-225-2847 Cheyenne, WY 82002-0050 Fax number: 804-371-2456 Phone number: 307-777-6198 [email protected] Fax number: 307-777-6234 Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Ms. Melinda Dyer Old Capitol Bldg. P.O. Box 47200 Olympia, WA 98504-7200 Phone number: 360-753-3302 Fax number: 360-664-3575 [email protected] West Virginia Department of Education Mr. W. Jack Newhouse 1900 Kanawha Boulevard Building 6-Rm. "221 East Charleston, WV 25305-0330 Phone number: 304-558-2348 Fax number: 304-558-3946 49 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual 50 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Appendix E INTRODUCTION Wellesley College where we are located. Here you Technology and telecommunication is changing the will find may avenues to travel. Click on the words SCHOOL- way the world communicates. But change can be diffi- highlighted in color to link to documents, calendar of cult. For some, the acceptance of computers into their events, and resource lists on NIOST's computer sys- AGE CARE lives has been slow. Others label themselves "comput- tem or go around the world to other hot web sites erphobic" and maintain a safe distance at all times. As with information about the school-age care field. INFORMATION professionals who work with school-age children, how- ever, it is important to become comfortable with tech- Where can you go? AND nology. While computer software and the Internet can One exciting trip to take is to the MOST Initiative. provide an important learning activity for children and The MOST Initiative was designed in partnership with RESOURCE youth in your program, technology also offers profes- the NIOST, which is serving as national manager for sional growth opportunities for you and your staff. the project. Here you can learn about the national SHARING This paper aims to increase your understanding of how goals for this community based project. Next visit technology is entering the field of school-age care. the 3 MOST cities: Boston, Chicago and Seattle. Each VIA THE site is committed to improving the experiences of Technology is beginning to be used more and more school-age children in their communities. Children, INTERNET in the field of school-age care (SAC). But before we youth and parents can search for out-of-school time discuss these SAC technology developments, let's activities, while program staff can find out about review some of the basic components of this new training opportunities. communication method: the Internet, World Wide Web, E-mail and electronic discussion groups. OTHER PATHS to take from the NIOST home Lillian Coltin page The Internet International- gain new and exciting multicultural Project Associate Join the National Institute on Out-of-School Time perspectives and information by traveling the (NIOST) on a journey along the Information Super MOST Initiative globe. Click on ENSAC and see what an interna- Highway. tional coalition between Sweden, the Netherlands, England and Belgium is doing to improve the Get anywhere from HERE: quality of children's and young people's lives. Our URL is: http://www.wellesley.edu/WCW/CRW/SAC/ Links to CyferNet (Children, Youth, and Family (type exactly as shown, including all capital letters) Education and Research Network) and its net- works. This site includes child care and child Stop at the NIOST home page to learn about our cur- development information in Spanish and English, rent projects, publications and trainings and to and it provides help to Cooperative Extensions in explore the Center for Research on Women and 51 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual disseminating child care information through the Looking for the Children's Defense Fund? Check common interest. You can connect with your col- National Network for Child Care (NNCC). under "SAC Policy Resources." There you will find a leagues instantaneously and get support from people link to the Children's Defense Fund and other orga- who face the same daily challenges of working in the Jump to NCCIC's (National Child Care Information nizations and resources of interest to SAC advocates. SAC field. Keep informed about what is happening in Center) mecca of resources, including: the full The "What's New" feature keeps you informed of public policy. Find out about upcoming conference text of Child Care Bulletin, and a list of organiza- changes since your last visit. events. Learn about funding opportunities. tions serving child care and related professions (including contact information, with Web address- To reach out to the SAC community it is as easy as Stepping out on Your Own: es, where applicable). joining the SAC-L world-wide discussion group. Co- Search Engines-The world wide web provides a multitude of search engines (e.g. AltaVista, Excite, owned by NIOST and the ERIC Clearinghouse on Further your professional education at Wheelock Elementary and Early Childhood Education College, Concordia College, and Child Care Career Infoseek, Lycos & Yahoo) which allow you to (ERIC/EECE) at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Institute (CCIC). explore the inner depths and far reaches of the Champaign, SAC-L is where administrators, care- Internet world. The benefit of using a search E-mail individual members of NIOST. givers/teachers, policy-makers, parents, and others engines is that you can find wonderful informa- interested in school-age care share ideas, resources, tion about curriculum activities, administration, Request information and publications from the problems, and solutions over the internet-24 hours news articles, etc. using your own key words. NIOST clearinghouse. a day, 7 days a week. ERIC/EECE search-This is a great clearinghouse on Designed to help make information of interest to elementary and early childhood education issues To subscribe to SAC-L: SAC professionals easy to find, the NIOST home page which is also available on the web. You can find 1. Send an E-mail message (without your E-mail sig- can help you locate web sites you need. The site cur- information on the physical, cognitive, social, nature, if you have one) to: rently organizes links of interest to SAC profession- educational and cultural development and educa- [email protected] als under six subject areas: tion of children. To journey through their collec- 2. Leave the subject line blank. 1. Resources related to SAC policy tion visit the NIOST home page and click on the ERIC/EECE link. 3. Type: subscribe SAC-L "Your Full Name Here" 2. Resources related to SAC programming The NIOST web site is continually updated. If you (substituting your own name, without brackets, 3. Technical Assistance for those in SAC have comments that you feel would improve the for "Your Full Name Here" above) in the first line 4. Funding resources page, please send them to our webmistress: of the message area, for example, subscribe sac-l [email protected] Jane E. Doe 5. Technology resources E-mail (electronic mail) is your Vehicle to SAC-L 4. Send the message. 6. General resources Not only does E-mail allow you to correspond one- Once the list manager has added your E-mail address on-one with people you know, you can also join "list- to SAC-L, you will receive a welcome message about servs" and discuss, deconstruct, and debate issues of 52 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual the list and can now post messages to everyone on Books and Articles: Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02181 the list at the [email protected] address. Internet for Kids: A Beginner's Guide to Surfing the e-mail: [email protected] Net, by Ted Pedersen and Francis Moss, Price Stern To unsubscribe from SAC-L: In 1994, the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund Sloan, Inc. 1995 made an unprecedented commitment to school-age 1. Send a one-line E-mail message to: A to Z: The Early Childhood Educator's Guide to the child care by launching the MOST Initiative, a $6.5 [email protected] Internet, by the ERIC?EECE staff with an introduction million project aimed at systematic community-based 2. Type: signoff SAC-L by Bonnie Blagojevic, 1995. ERIC Clearinghouse on change to improve the quality and availability of Elementary and Early Childhood Education, out-of-school care for children. MOST was designed You should receive a note confirming your signoff University of Illinois, 805 W. Pennsylvania Ave., in partnership with the National Institute on Out-of- within a few minutes (although sometimes it can Urbana, IL 61801-4897. Tel. (217) 333-1386. School Time (NIOST) at the Wellesley College Center take an hour or two). for Research on Women. The SACCProject, with over NCCIC Internet Guide: How to Access Child Care 15 years of action research and expertise in the field Netiquette: Information on the Internet, compiled by staff of the of school-age care, provides the national scope and Provide your audience with adequate context: National Child Care Information Center, the Guide vision to oversee the effort. This initiative will Use meaningful subject lines, will be available on NCCIC's Home Page on Internet enable communities to utilize collaborative strate- Quote the E-mail to which you are responding, (http://www.ericps.crc.uiuc.edu/nccic/nccichome.htm. gies to address the needs of youth, especially those Avoid pronouns. 1), Print version published August 1996, Electronic from low-income families, during the hours they are version prepared February 1997. Be aware of page layout Issues: not in school and most often at risk. Have short paragraphs, Child Care Bulletin, Child Care Bureau, May/June After a one-year planning process, three cities-Boston, Have lines under seventy-five characters, 1996 (Issue 9). Chicago, and Seattle-were selected in May, 1995, to Have the entire E-mail under twenty-five lines. receive grants of up to $1.2 million for implementation TECHNOLOGY IN THE SCHOOL-AGE CARE FIELD Find replacements for gestures and intonation: of a three-year Action Plan. Action Plans were devel- The following are examples of how technology is Smileys :-) =) =P ;-), oped through an intensive collaborative process that being used to support the school-age field. Asterisks, allowed for providers, parents, foundations, community Capital letters, leaders, educators, children, and other concerned 1. Making the Most of Out-of-School Time (MOST Typed-out vocalizations, individuals to assess needs, develop strategies, and Initiative) White space, generate substantial matching funds. Although each http://www.wellesley.edu/WCW/CRW/SAC/ (case sen- Lower-case letters, plan is unique to the needs of its particular commu- sitive) Creative punctuation. nities, they all focus on achieving the following Contact: MOST Project Director-Joyce Shortt national MOST Initiative goals for school-age care: Archive Feature: 617-283-2526 increased public awareness of the need for out- There is this nifty feature in SAC-L, which archives all of National Institute on Out-of-School Time of-school care the messages, and allows you to access them at any time. Center for Research on Women 53 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual increased numbers of children served national level to better serve the needs of children Internet Database Related to Children and Youth and youth in their out-of-school time. Boston, Chicago A collaborative venture involving Chicago MOST, the program start-up and improvement and Seattle are each working to achieve the national Chicago Youth Agency Partnership, and Children and participation in a national accreditation project MOST goals in their own unique ways. Highlights of Youth 2000 is working to develop a database related (See NIAS/ASQ Description) their activities are described on the following pages. to children and youth in the Chicago area. There are 446 Chicago-based organizations among these collab- increased professional development and in-ser- Boston MOST orating agencies alone. They include child care cen- vice training opportunities for providers Contact: Boston MOST Coordinator: Laura Gang ters, youth-serving agencies, drop-in centers, univer- Parents United for Child Care sities and colleges, health care providers, advocacy development of a college-based academic pro- Boston School Age Child Care Project organizations, religious organizations, corporations, gram culminating in a degree or certificate 30 Winter Street, 7th floor and government agencies. implementation of financial assistance programs Boston, MA 02108-4720 The following list provides a sampling of what this for families in need of school-age care and practi- phone: 617-426-8288 database seeks to accomplish: tioners interested in career development fax: 617-542-1515 e-mail: [email protected] Vastly improve communication efforts required to information and resource sharing via the Internet create system-wide change. http://www.wellesley.edu/WCW/CRW/SAC/most- development of a local school-age conference to boston.html Make available information about professional be held annually competencies for youth workers, child care work- Boston MOST maintains a homepage with links to local fund raising to sustain the project's goals ers, and nonprofit leaders and managers as well some of its collaborative partners such as Boston as advertise the availability of training and educa- The Wellesley NIOST staff work closely with each Public Library, Child Care Careers Institute, and Arts tional opportunities based on these competencies. community to provide technical assistance and com- in Progress. prehensive training support. In addition, the NIOST Provide linkages to information on models and facilitates communication between sites and other Chicago MOST best practices locally, regionally and nationally in interested parties at national conferences and annual Contact: Chicago MOST Coordinator: Leonette Coates such areas as prenatal care, gang intervention, retreats to do problem solving and to share lessons Day Care Action Council of Illinois and other child and youth development topics. learned. DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund has also 4753 N. Broadway, Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60640 Significantly increase the involvement of youth, hired an independent research organization, Chapin Hall Center for Children, to conduct a multi-year eval- phone: 773-564-8872 parents, community members and organizers in uation of the MOST Initiative. At the conclusion of the fax: 773-561-2256 policy/advocacy efforts by making timely informa- Implementation Phase (1998), the NIOST will synthe- e-mail: [email protected] tion immediately available to them and rapid responses possible. size and disseminate a wide range of technical assis- http://homepage.interaccess.com/chgomost/ tance materials for application in other communities, with the goal of initiating systematic changes at a 54 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Provide direct access for parents and youth to Technology and Access to School-Age Care and ASQ Advisor and First Steps Training, the North information such as where to have a child immu- Seattle MOST created a free database for parents Carolina School-Age Care Coalition will also have a nized and what out-of-school activities are avail- and youth to access information about 300 out-of- database which can be used to track inquiries about able in a particular community. school time programs in Seattle. The database is accreditation, responses to individual inquiries, and available via the internet and is also available on- dissemination of materials. Through Internet access Reduce the isolation of workers, parents, and line and in hard copy directories at all Seattle Public and a home page, school-age programs can review other caregivers that each day counsel, challenge Libraries, Public School Libraries and community- information about the accreditation process, stan- and care for children and youth. based agencies serving low-income families, families dards and strategies for program development. The It is anticipated that this database will receive wide- of color and families with children with special home page will include information of interest to spread direct use by parents, youth, and profession- needs. The database features a simple search form parents, potential funders and the public at large. In als through access on the Internet via public schools, which asks users to specify in which neighborhood addition to accreditation information via computer, public libraries, park district programs, and in-home or school area they are searching for a program; and anyone in North Carolina will also be able to obtain computers. Other locations for access are also being what type of activities interest them. The result is a accreditation information through a toll-free tele- explored, such as day care centers, corporations, list of programs tailored to individual needs, which phone number. Contact: Linda Sisson, NSACA, c/o and building lobby directories. In addition to devel- can be displayed and/or printed. Additionally, print- School-Age Child Care Project, Center for Research oping their own database, once the collaborators ed neighborhood directories of programs will be on Women, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02181, and other stakeholders get on-line, they will be able published to give parents a resource guide. Tel: (617) 283-3460, E-mail: TiLSISSON. to access a variety of other local, regional and Community outreach continues to play an important national databases related to children and youth. role in ensuring that this service is widely utilized. 3. The Early Childhood & School-Age Forum in the Children, Youth & Families area on HandsNet. Seattle MOST 2. National School-Age Care Alliance (NSACA) http://www.handsnet.org/handsnet/ Contact: Seattle MOST Project Manager: Adrienne The North Carolina School-Age Care Coalition is lead- Founded in 1987, HandsNet links some 5,000 public Bloom ing the nation in the first pilot of a statewide system interest and human service organizations across the School's Out Consortium/YWCA for school-age care accreditation. The system will be United States. Network members include national m8 5th Avenue based on the National Improvement and clearinghouses and research centers, community- Seattle, WA 98101 Accreditation System (NIAS), developed by the based service providers, foundations, government phone: 206-461-3602 National School-Age Care Alliance (NSACA) and the agencies, public policy advocates, legal services pro- fax: 206-461-4860 National Institute on Out-of-School Time at Wellesley grams and grassroots coalitions. e-mail: [email protected] College (NIOST). This pilot project is funded by a grant from the American Business Collaboration for From the NIOST home page you can click on http://www.pan.ci.seattle.wa.us/seattle/dhhs/most/ Quality Dependent Care. HandsNet and visit HandsNet on the web. HandsNet index.htm on the web offers daily news from HandsNet on Besides promoting community awareness of accredi- CONNECT: information about services, forums and tation, the recruitment and training of endorsers, members, the latest Action Alerts and The Weekly 55 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Digest, a sample from the hundreds of policy, pro- sent ERIC at conferences and workshops. See the The National Network for Child Care is part of the gram and resource articles posted each week by ERIC System page for more information. National Cooperative Extensions System under the HandsNet members. The information on HandsNet U.S. Department of Agriculture. Extension's National ERIC/EECE contributes to the database in the areas of on the web is currently available at no charge. In the Network for Child Care is a group of professionals child development, the education and care of chil- future HandsNet plans to offer memberships to an from across the country who have a vision of safe, dren from birth through early adolescence, the expanded service on the web. caring, accessible child care for all children. NNCC is teaching of young children, and parenting and family part of a larger Children, Youth and Family Network For a membership fee you can join HandsNet on life. ERIC/EECE is located at the University of Illinois consisting of National Networks for Child Care, CONNECT, a full-featured network environment with at Urbana-Champaign. ERIC/EECE has provided infor- Science and Technology, Collaborations, Family interactive forums for human service organizations mation for educators, parents and families, and indi- Resiliency and Health Decisions. to exchange information and resources, and collabo- viduals interested in the development, education, rate on a broad range of program and policy issues. and care of children from birth through early adoles- These Networks are committed to improving the out- cence, since 1967. comes for limited resource families and at-risk chil- NIOST is the information provider for the School-Age dren through collaborative efforts. The electronic Folder on the Early Childhood & School-Age Forum. The clearinghouse also operates several Internet- and information service of these Networks is CYFER- Contact: Lillian Coltin at NIOST, Center for Research based discussion groups: NET (Children, Youth, and Family Education Resource on Women, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02181. CAMPUSCARE-L on campus children's centers Network.) e-mail: [email protected]. ECENET-L on early child education CYFERNET can be reached at the following web site: 4. Eric Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early http://www.cyfernet.mps.umn.edu.2400 Childhood Education ECPOLICY-L on early child policy http://ericps.crc.uiuc.edu/ericeece.html 6. National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) SAC-L on school-age care http//ericps.ed.uiuc.edu/nccic/nccichome.html The ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early REGGIO-L on the Reggio Emilia (Italy) approach to Childhood Education (ERIC/EECE) is one of 16 ERIC The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) early education clearinghouses funded by the Office of Educational has been established to complement, enhance and Research and Improvement (OERI), U.S. Department PROJECTS-L on the Project Approach promote child care linkages and to serve as a mech- of Education. ERIC clearinghouses identify and select anism for supporting quality, comprehensive services PARENTING-L on parenting issues documents and journal articles, and then prepare for children and families. NCCIC activities include the entries describing the documents and articles to be MIDDLE-L on middle education dissemination of child care information, outreach to incorporated in the ERIC database, the world's most ACF grantees, publication of the Child Care Bulletin frequently used collection of information on educa- 5. National Network for Child Care and adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse for Child Care. tion. Clearinghouses also publish digests, mono- http://www.exnet.iastate.edu/Pages/families/nnco Technology is vital to improving services for children graphs, and other publications; answer questions; and families. Through the Internet, listservs and disseminate information on the Internet; and repre- audio-conferences, for example, NCCIC connects 56 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual administrators, organizations, and parents regularly Links: National Service on the World Wide Web to discuss child care issues. [email protected] Corporation for National Service ECCAREER-L is a private electronic discussion list http://www.nationalservice.org 7. Center for Career Development in Early Care available only to members of the National Career and Education at Wheelock College: Development Network for the Early Childhood General Service sites http://ericps.crc.uiuc.edu/ccdece/ccdece.html and School-Age Fields. ECCAREER-L provides a AmeriCorps Network Northwest forum for Network members to discuss the http://www.nwrel.org/edwork/direct.html The Center for Career Development in Early Care progress and challenges of their work on early and Education at Wheelock College is devoted to AmeriCorps Resources childhood and school-age career development improve the quality of early care and education for http://ksu.edu/jeffreyj/acorps.index.html issues, to ask questions of one another, to share children by promoting the definition of early care successes, and to solve problems. Bay Area Volunteer Information Center and education as a professional field and a field of http://www.meer.net/taylor/index.htm study. Through their technical assistance, research 8. Concordia College and information about conferences happening http://www.csp.edu/Dept_Pages/sac/sac.html Campus Outreach Opportunity League (COOL) around country, they are able to bring about change http://www.coolzserve.org/cool/home.html that meets the needs of families, children and the The Concordia College in St. Paul, Minnesota pro- child care field. vides a number of services and information via their C.O.R.E. Susquehanna AmeriCorps Web page. They offer information about workshops http://home.ptd.net/coresusc/ The Center offers week-long intensive seminars for that they offer, access to their library catalog of child care professionals that focus on practical, up- Habitat For Humanity Internet Resources school-age care materials, descriptions of their pub- to-date information that can be put to use immedi- http://www.cwru.edu/CWRU/Org/habhum/wwwhalb lications and links to many other home pages that ately. The Advanced Seminars in Child Care .htm discuss issues around school-age child care. One of Administration, administered in partnership with the the many features that Concordia College offers is Hands On Atlanta Wheelock College Graduate School, offer exceptional the Studying by Distance Learning (BA or MA http://www.handsonatl.org opportunities for networking and sharing with other Program), which allows people through Internet practitioners, administrators, and policy-makers. For Impact Online communication, discussion groups and video and information about the Advanced Seminars in Child http://www.impactonline.org/info/index.html audio tapes to earn their degree without attending Care Administration contact: Advanced Seminars in traditional on-campus classes. Institute for Global Communications Child Care Administration, The Center for Career http://www.igc.org Development in Early Care and Education, Wheelock LINKS TO INFORMATION ON SERVICE College, 200 The Riverway, Boston, MA 02215. Ph. The following internet links will provide information Invisible College at Portland State Univ. (617) 738-5200 ext. 279. Fax: (617) 738-0643. about service at the federal, state and local level. http://www-adm.pdx.edu/user/invcol/ic.htm LibertyNet http://www.libertynet.org 57 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual National School & Community Corps Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources Campus Compact National Center for Community http://www.woodrow.org/urban-ed http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/wch Colleges http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/academic/compact National Service Resource Center Youth and Service-Related Sites: http://www.etr-associates.org/nsrc CASE (Citizenship and Service Education) City Year http://www.city-year.org http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/case/case.html Points of Light Foundation http://www.bilkent.edu.tr/inet- The Council of Chief State School Officers National Association of Service and Conservation non/pointsoflight/welcome.html Corps (NASCC) http://www.ccsso.org/ Project STAR (Support and Training for Assessing http://www.hooked.net/dbiggs/nascc.htm Diversity University Results) SERVEnet http://hacker.smy.com/tour/ira/data/sect72/list8.html http://www.projectstar.org/STAR.html http://www.servenet.org Eastern Michigan University Office of Academic SERVEnet The Youth Source Service Learning http://www.servenet.org http://youth.village.com/ http://www.emich.edu/public/office_asl/home.html. Support Centers of America Indiana Department of Education Service Learning http://www.supportcenter.org/sca/ Service-Learning and Education-Related Sites: http://ideanet.doe.state.in.us/srvlrn America Goes Back to School ValleyNet http://www.ed.gov/Family/agbts Lafayette College Community Outreach Center http://www.valley.net/ Programs American Association of Community Colleges http://www.lafayette.edu/millerg/outreach.html VISTA Link- Electronic Recruitment http://www.aacc.nche.edu/spcproj/service/service. http://bcn.boulder.co.us/community/vistalink htm Tech Corps http://www.ustc.org VISTA Web AmeriCorps Early Childhood Technical Assistance http://libertynet.org/zelson/vweb.html Center SCALE (Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Volunteer and Volunteer Management Resources http://ericps.ed.uiuc.edu/nccic/amercorp/ectac.html Education) http://www.unc.edu/depts/scale/index.html http://www.halcyon.com/penguin/sym.htm Association for Experiential Education http://www.princeton.edu/rcurtis.aee.html University of Colorado Service-Learning Center West Coast LISC AmeriCorps http://csf.colorado.edu/sl http://www.garlic.com/tam/LISC Berkeley Service Learning http://www-gse.berkeley.edu/research/slc/service- University of Michigan Office of Community Who Cares learning.html Service Learning http://www.whocares.org http://www.umich.edu/ocsl 58 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual University of Pennsylvania Program for Student- The Texas Commission on Volunteerism and Community Involvement Community Service http://dolphin.upenn.edu/psci http://www.txcncs.state.tx.us/ US Department of Education Utah Commission on Volunteers http://www.ed.gov http://www.volunteers.state.ut.us/commission.htm Virginia Tech Service Learning Center We want to hear from you.. http://ccserver.phil.vt.edu/www/SL/index.html The National Institute on Out-of-School Time's (NIOST's) mission is to improve the quantity and State Commissions on National Service: quality of school-age child care programs nationally California Commission on Improving Life Through through collaborative work with communities, indi- Service viduals, and organizations, and to raise the level of http://www.impactonline.org/caameric public awareness about the importance of children's Florida Commission on Community Service out-of-school time. NIOST concentrates its efforts in http://www.fccs.org four primary areas-research, education and training, consultation, and program development. The Kentucky Community Service Commission http://www.occ.uky.edu/kcsc.html Do you have a MOST-like initiative in your communi- ty? Interested in starting one up? Please talk to us The Maine Commission For Community Service about it-let's share ideas and collaborate! http://www.state.me.us/spo/mccs/mc_home.htm Lillian Coltin, Project Associate The Maryland Governor's Commission on Service NIOST, MOST Initiative http://www.mgcos.state.md.us/mgcos Center for Research on Women 106 Central Street The Missouri Community Service Commission Wellesley, MA 02181-8259 http://services.state.mo.us/ltgov/homepg.htm (617) 283-2539 Fax: (617) 283-3657 The New Hampshire Commission on National and e-mail: [email protected] Community Service http://www.americorps.nh.com/ The North Carolina Commission on National and Community Service http://www.nccu.edu/tbaker/welcome.html 59 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual 60 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Appendix F NATIONAL RESOURCES ON OST National Child Care Information Center National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) 301 Maple Avenue West, Suite 602 OTHER Vienna, VA 22180 Center for Research on Women Tel.(8oo) 616-2242 OUT-OF- Wellesley College Fax (800) 716-2242 106 Central Street http://ericps.ed.uiuc.edu/nccic/nccichome.html SCHOOL Wellesley, MA 02181 Tel.(781)283-2547 NCCIC provides linkages to school-age care resources TIME Fax (781)283-3657 and published The Child Care Bulletin. http://www.wellesley.edu/WCW/CRW/SAC RESOURCES National 4-H Council Resources include The School-Age Fact Sheet, Southern Region Spotlight on MOST, and ASQ Resource Manual. The Alcorn State Cooperative Extension Institute provides training, technical assistance, con- P.O. Box 479 sultation, and resource materials. Lorman, MS 39096-9402 Tel.(601) 877-6556 School-Age Notes Fax (601) 877-6219 P.O. Box 40205 e-mail: [email protected] Nashville, TN 37204 Tel.(615)242-8464 Western Region Fax (615)242-8260 University of Idaho Cooperative Extension 103 Morrill Hall School-Age Notes is a newsletter for the field, and University of Idaho distributes many other publications. Moscow, ID 83844 Tel.(208) 885-6321 Search Institute Fax (208) 885-6198 Thresher Square West e-mail: [email protected] 700 South Third Street, Suite 210 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Northeast Region Tel.(612)376-8955 University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension Fax (612)376-8956 1376 Storrs Road Storrs, CT 06269-4036 Resources on developing programs for youth based Tel. (860) 486-0101 on developmental assets. Fax (860) 486-4128 e-mail: [email protected] 61 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual North Central Region America Reads: A National Challenge To Learn and Grow Kansas State University Corporation for National Service Corporation for National Service Justin Hall 1201 New York Avenue, N.W. 1201 New York Avenue, N.W. Manhattan, KS 66506 Washington, DC 20525 Washington, DC 20525 Tel.(913) 532-1484 Tel. (202) 606-5000 Tel. (202) 606-5000, ext. 280 Fax (913) 532-5055 Fax (202) 565-2784 Fax (202) 565-2784 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.nationalservice.org http://www.nationalservice.org National School-Age Care Alliance (NSACA) U.S. Army's Credential for School-Age Care Boys and Girls Clubs of America 1137 Washington Street Providers 1230 West Peachtree Street, N.W. Dorchester, MA 02124 Headquarters Department of the Army Atlanta, GA 30309 Tel.(617) 298-5012 CFSC-SFCY Tel. (404) 815-5778 Fax (617) 298-5022 2461 Eisenhower Avenue, Room 1408 Fax (404) 815-5789 e-mail: [email protected] Alexandria, VA 22331-0521 http://bgca.org Tel. (703) 325-0710 Making the Most of Out-of-School Time e-mail: [email protected] Campfire Boys and Girls MOST Initiative 4373 Westover Place, N.W. National Institute on Out-of-School Time Save the Children Out-of-School Time Washington, DC 20016 Center for Research on Women Rural Initiative Tel./Fax (202) 364-3240 Wellesley College National Institute on Out-of-School Time http://www.campfire.org/ 106 Central Street Center for Research on Women Wellesley, MA 02181 Wellesley College Project Spirit Tel. (781) 283-2526 106 Central Street African American Family Institute Fax (781) 283-3657 Wellesley, MA 02181 555 South Dakota Avenue, N.W. e-mail: [email protected] Tel. (781) 283-3497 Washington, DC 20011 http://www.wellesley.edu/WCW/CRW/SAC/most.html Fax (781) 283-3657 Tel. (202) 269-0049 e-mail: [email protected] Fax (202) 269-9216 American Business Collaboration for Quality http://www.wellesley.edu/WCW/CRW/SAC/SAVE.html Dependent Care (ABC) YMCA of the USA 930 Commonwealth Avenue 101 North Wacker Drive, 14th Floor Boston, MA 02215 Chicago, IL 60606 Tel. (617) 278-4111 Tel. (8oo) 872-9622 Fax (617) 232-5302 http://www.ymca.net 62 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual YWCA of the USA Forum of Educational Organization Leaders 726 Broadway 1001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 310 New York, NY 10003 Washington, DC 20036 Tel. (212) 614-2805 Tel. (202) 822-8405 Fax (212) 290-7362 Fax (202) 872-4050 http://www/ywca.org/ e-mail: [email protected] U.S. Department of Education National Association of Child Care Reference and 600 Independence Avenue, S.W. Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) Building FBIO, Room 4168 1319 F Street, N.W., Suite 810 Washington, DC 20202 Washington, DC 20004 Tel. (202) 401-3132 Tel. (202) 393-5501 Fax (202) 401-3036 Fax (202) 393-1109 e-mail: Adriana de [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Child Care Bureau 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Third Floor, Room 320F Washington, DC 20201 Tel. (202) 401-6947 Fax (202) 690-5600 e-mail: [email protected] Save the Children 54 Wilton Road P.O. Box 950 Westport, CT 06880 Tel. (203) 221-4006 Fax (203) 221-4082 e-mail: [email protected] 63 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual 64 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Appendix G HIGHLIGHTS OF RESEARCH FINDINGS year-olds watches television five or more hours a National Institute on Out-of-School Time day (Carnegie Corporation of New York, 1996). RESEARCH February 1997 Research indicates that watching more than three hours per day or watching violent programming AND Child Outcomes places children at risk for a number of negative What children do during out-of-school time will have outcomes. STATISTICS a major influence on their academic achievement and Several studies have found that children who are life success. The kinds of relationships they develop ON OUT-OF- heavy television viewers perform poorly on litera- with adults and peers are also important factors in cy-related skills compared to their peers. their development. Research has shown that children SCHOOL who spend many hours without adult supervision are Watching television may increase aggressive at risk for a number of negative outcomes. behavior and have other negative consequences, TIME including desensitivity to violence and the belief The three desired outcomes for children in out-of- that the world is a more violent place. school time are: Watching educational television may increase Developing emotionally supportive relationships prosocial skills. with adults and other children. Out-of-school time is an opportunity for children to Developing skills and interests. develop their social competence and make lasting Having access to a place that supports develop- friendships. Children who spend more time with ment of positive relationships and enriching expe- friends may have more opportunities to develop riences. social skills, which have been related to higher lev- els of both self-esteem and academic skills (Miller, Highlights of the research on how out-of-school time 1995). In addition, research indicates that children affects children's development include: who have the opportunity for social connections in Out-of-school time activities provide opportunities the after-school hours are more well-adjusted and for children to build on what they have experi- happier than those who do not (Belle & Burr, 1989). enced in school, develop areas of skills and inter- Research repeatedly demonstrates that the intel- est, and develop relationships with caring adults. lectual growth of young children depends greatly Research on resiliency has found that these factors on the interactions they have with their parents are related to adult success (Miller, 1995). or caregivers, particularly the verbal interplay Television is the most frequent activity during that takes place in the context of affectionate children's out-of-school time: one in four nine- relationships (Carnegie Corp. of New York, 1996). 65 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Children who spend out-of-school time "hanging handle conflict better, develop an interest in Children's feelings about their school-age program out" with peers may be less likely to achieve in recreational reading, and get better grades as a were heavily influenced by their experiences with school and more likely to engage in a range of result of program involvement (Riley et al., 1994). the staff. For example, when staff were more neg- risk-taking behaviors. Children under adult super- Principals note that vandalism in the schools ative in their interactions with children, children vision during out-of-school time are less likely to decreased as a result of the programs. reported that staff were emotionally nonsupport- be susceptible to peer pressure (Miller, 1995). ive. Furthermore, the children indicated that they Quality of programming did not want to be at the program (Rosenthal & Certain groups of children are at increased devel- Defining a high quality school-age program is not an Vandell, in press). opmental risk when they spend time in self-care, easy task, especially in a field with as much variation particularly low income children who reside in Positive behavior management and sensitive in program models and goals as school-age care. urban areas (Miller, 1995). However, a number of recent studies indicate charac- interactions are associated with staff's ability to meet the needs of children regardless of gender, Latchkey children are at significantly greater risk teristics of programs that are linked to higher quality temperament, or family circumstances (Vandell et of truancy from school, stress, receiving poor experiences for children, and some of the ways in al., 1996). When staff members understood family grades, risk-taking behavior, and substance use which children benefit from attending good programs. situations, they were better able to provide emo- (Dwyer et al., 1990). Existing studies show that when staff are well-trained tional support and instrumental assistance to the and experienced, groups sizes and ratios are low, and When school-age programs are well-designed, children in their care. a variety of enriching experiences are offered, chil- they can raise academic achievement, but when dren do well and enjoy school-age programs. Staff turnover affects program quality. Staff who they are of low quality, with poorly trained staff Highlights of the research on quality and school-age had worked in a school-age program longer knew and few age-appropriate activities, participants the children better, knew more about their home may do worse in school than children who are programs include: situations, and were more likely to seek out chil- cared for by a parent or a sitter or even left A recent study of school-age programs emphasizes dren when they started skipping the school-age alone (Carnegie Corporation of New York, 1996). the importance of well-trained staff. program (Halpern, 1992). Children attending quality school-age programs As the ratio of children to staff increased, staff Child and community-centered philosophy, staff may have better peer relations, emotional adjust- had more negative interactions with children characteristics, and age-appropriate activities are ment, and better grades and conduct in school (Rosenthal & Vandell, in press). important components of a successful school-age than their peers in other care arrangements program (Vandell et al., 1996). (Posner & Vandell, 1994). These children are When staff lacked formal training and education, exposed to more learning opportunities, spend interactions were more negative (Rosenthal & Children were much more positive about attend- more time in academic activities and enrichment, Vandell, in press). ing school-age programs when there was a greater and spend less time watching TV. diversity of activities and when they had some When school-age programs offered a great variety choice in selecting activities (Halpern, 1992; Teachers indicate children in good quality school- of activities, staff-child interactions were more Rosenthal & Vandell, in press). age programs become more cooperative, learn to positive (Rosenthal & Vandell, in press). 66 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Barriers out-of-school time, yet communities cannot meet Support and create collaborations at the commu- Despite the potential benefits of school-age pro- their goals for children without adequate nity level. Areas for collaboration include: 1) grams, only a small percentage of school-age chil- resources. At the state level, administrators need informal resources for leisure time, including dren-an estimated II percent of all children ages to work across agencies to create an optimal parks, playgrounds, museums, libraries, and com- five-to-twelve in 1990-are currently enrolled environment for communities and children, munity festivals; 2) child care programs; 3) lessons (Hofferth et al., 1991). Many barriers exist, from including funding, access to information, and and recreational activities, including drop-in and lack of awareness of the benefits of programs to incentives for collaboration. community center programs, and 4) summer pro- affordability and transportation issues. grams (Miller, 1995). Create structures for inter-agency collaboration at The overwhelming dependence of programs on the state level between agencies working on Promote high-quality educational television and income from parent tuition fees places school-age issues related to recreation, youth development, access to other electronic media for improving programs out of reach for many families parent education, family support, child care, and instruction (Carnegie Corporation of New York, (Seppanen et al., 1993). related areas. 1996). Children may not be able to attend school-age Increase funding of community out-of-school time Promote parent involvement and parenting skills programs because parents do not feel trusting of resources to increase quality of existing services, through parent support and educational pro- the staff and program (Gravett et al., 1987; Miller expand services as necessary, and increase access grams. et al., 1996). for low-income children. Encourage continuity of relationships with staff Children may not participate in school-age pro- Improve the quality of existing services, where and other adults that will facilitate relationships grams because they are needed at home where such improvement is needed, and through system- that result in supportive learning communities they serve as caregivers for younger siblings atic methods of assessing and improving quality (Carnegie Corporation of New York, 1996). (Miller et al., 1996). of out-of-school time for children in formal set- Develop and disseminate materials to help par- tings (Miller, 1995). Children who attend schools outside their neigh- ents with their children's out-of-school time borhoods may not be able to participate in school- Expand and improve out-of-school time programs, (Miller, 1995). age programs because of transportation problems. so that program activities are linked to what chil- dren are learning in school (Carnegie Corporation REFERENCES School-age programming is often not available for of New York, 1996). Promulgate licensing stan- Belle, D. & Burr, R., 1989. Alone and with others: The older school-age children, and what is available is dards designed to ensure that at least a minimal context of children's after-school experiences. not always well designed to meet the needs of quality of care is provided to children, and ade- Unpublished paper, Department of Psychology; older children. quately fund enforcement to ensure timely moni- Boston University. toring. In addition, use public funds as an incen- Policy and Community Recommendations Carnegie Corporation of New York, 1996. Years of tive for programs to increase quality. Community action is the key to expanding and Promise; A Comprehensive Learning Strategy for improving opportunities for children during their America's Children. New York, NY: Carnegie 67 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Corporation of New York. Riley, D., Steinberg, J., Todd, C., Junge, S., & McClain, I., 1994. Preventing Problem Behaviors and Raising Dwyer, K.M., Richardson, J.L., Danley, K.L., Hansen, Academic Performance in the Nation's Youth: The W.B., Sussman, S.Y., Brannon, B., Dent, C.W., Johnson, Impacts of 64 School Age Child Care Programs in 15 C.A., & Flay, B.R., 1990. Characteristics of eighth-grade States Supported by the Cooperative Extension students who initiate self-care in elementary and Service Youth-at-Risk Initiative. junior high school. Pediatrics, 86, 448-454. Rosenthal, R. & Vandell, D., in press. Quality of Care Gravett, M., Rogers, C.S., & Thompson, L., 1987. Child at School-aged Child Care Programs: Regulatable care decision among female heads of households Features, Observable Interactions, Child with school-age children. Early Childhood Research Perspectives, and Parent Perspectives. Quarterly, 2, 67-81. Seppanen, P.S., Love, J.M., deVries, D.K., Bernstein, Halpern, R., 1992. The Role of After-School Programs L., Seligson, M., Marx, F., & Kisker, E.E., 1993. in the Lives of Inner-City Children: A Study of the National study of before & after school programs "Urban Youth Network". Child Welfare League of (Final report to the Office of Policy and Planning, America, LXXI, Number 3, May-June, 215-230. U.S. Department of Education). Portsmouth, NH: RMC Hofferth, S., Brayfield, A., Diech, S., & Holcomb, P., Research Corporation. 1991. The National Child Care Survey, 1990. Vandell, D.L., Shumow, L., & Posner, J.K., 1996. Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press. Children's After-School Programs: Promoting Miller, B.M., 1995. Out-of-school time: Effects on Resiliency or Vulnerability. Chapter in unpublished learning in the primary grades (Action Research paper, University of Wisconsin, Northern Illinois Paper ed., Vol. 4). Wellesley, MA: SACCProject, University. Wellesley College Center for Research on Women. Miller, B., O'Connor, S., Sirignano, S., & Joshi, P., 1996. "I Wish the Kids Didn't Watch So Much TV"; Out-of-School Time in Three Low Income Communities. Wellesley, MA: SACCProject, Wellesley College Center for Research on Women. Posner, J.K. & Vandell, D.L., 1994. Low-income chil- dren's after-school care: Are there beneficial effects of after-school programs? Child Development, 65, 440-456. 68 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual FACT SHEET ON SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN'S OUT years living in the U.S. Of these children, 21.2 million School-age children of employed mothers are most OF SCHOOL TIME lived with a mother who was employed, and an addi- likely to be cared for by a parent (33%), followed by hildren spend less than 20 percent of their wak- tional 953,000 lived with an unemployed mother (cur- care by a relative (23%), lessons (15%), center-based C ing hours in school. rently seeking employment) and 999,000 lived with a after-school program or day care center (14%), family mother enrolled in school. An estimated 912,000 chil- day care (7%), self-care (4%), and in-home provider Schools are typically open less than half the days of dren in this age range lived with a single father who (3%), according to the NCCS. the year, and when open provide care only until was employed, 61,000 with an unemployed father, and mid-afternoon. What happens during the other 80 These percentages reflect the primary care arrange- 9,000 with a single father enrolled in school. percent is critical to children's development. ment-the one where the child spends most of his or An estimated 17 million parents need care for their her non-school hours during a typical week. What children do during non-school hours has a critical school-age children during their hours of work. Secondary care arrangements are as follows: care by impact on school achievement and long-term success. a parent (55%), lessons (19%), relative (14%), self-care In 1991, the Census Bureau found that 14.9 million Whether or not their mother is employed, research (4%), family day care (3%), center care (3%), in-home employed mothers had children between the ages of indicates that the activities children engage in, as provider (1%) and other (1%). 5 and 14. An additional 681,000 mothers were unem- well as the quality of adult supervision they receive, ployed and 642,000 were enrolled in school. An esti- Experts estimate that nearly 5 million school-age are as important as family income and parents' edu- mated 728,000 employed single fathers lived with children spend time without adult supervision during cation in determining academic success. school-age children, in addition to 50,000 unem- a typical week. Children spend more of their out-of-school time ployed fathers who were seeking employment and Exact figures are not available, due to parents' reluc- watching television than in any other single activity. 9,000 fathers who were attending school.. tance to report that they leave children alone. Older Children's television viewing has been associated children are much more likely to spend time on their Child Care Arrangements of School-Age Children with lower reading achievement, behavior problems, own than younger children. Data from the NCCS sug- Unlike preschool children, school-age children are like- and increased aggression. Television is not necessar- gest that less than 5% of children under age 8 are reg- ly to spend time in many different care arrangements. ily harmful to all children, but when they watch ularly in self-care at any time during the week during more than three hours a day and/or watch programs According to the National Child Care Survey 1990 the week compared to nearly 35% of twelve-year-olds. with violent content, negative outcomes are increas- (NCCS), 76 percent of school-age children with an Approximately 1.7 million children in kindergarten ingly likely. employed mother spend time in at least two child through grade 8 were enrolled in 49,500 formal before- care arrangements during a typical week, in addition and/or-after-school programs in 1991, according to the School-Age Children with Employed Parents to their time in school. Based on a nationally repre- National Study of Before and After School Programs. Approximately 24 million school-age children require sentative sample of parents of children under the child care. age of 13, the NCCS examined both primary and sec- The study found that 83 percent of those enrolled in ondary care arrangements for school-age children, in after-school programs are in the pre-kindergarten According to the Bureau of the Census, in 1991 there addition to the hours they spend in school (see through third grade age range. were 36.7 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 Hofferth et. al., 1991 in references). 69 Service as a Strategy in Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual Effects of Out-of-School Time on Families and more cooperative (34%), learned to handle conflicts Washington, DC: The Urban Institute Press. Community better (37%), developed an interest in recreational Studies have found that latchkey children are more reading (33%), and were getting better grades (33%). Miller, B.M. (1995). Out-of-school time: Effects on likely to engage in risky behaviors, especially urban Over one-third (35%) of the school principals stated learning in the primary grades (Action Research children and those who have little access to adult that vandalism in the school had decreased as a Paper No. 4). Wellesley, MA: SACCProject, Wellesley supervision. result of the programs. In addition, 16 percent of the College Center for Research on Women. program children had avoided being retained in According to one recent large-scale study, latchkey Myers, J. and Kyle, J.E. (1996). Critical needs, critical grade due to program participation, resulting in a children are at significantly greater risk of truancy choices: A survey on children and families in America's savings of over $1,000,000. from school, stress, receiving poor grades, risk-taking cities. Washington, DC: National League of Cities. behavior, and substance use (Dwyer et. al, 1990). Public officials are recognizing the importance of Posner, J.K. & Vandell, D.L. (1994). Low-income chil- These researchers also found that children who school-age care. dren's after-school care: Are there beneficial effects of spend more hours on their own and those who began In a 1995 survey conducted by the National League of after-school programs? Child Development, 65, 440-456. self-care at younger ages are at increased risk. Cities (Meyers and Kyle, 1996), child care and before- Riley, D., Steinberg, J., Todd, C., Junge, S., McClain, 1. A number of studies have found that children who and after-school care together were seen as one of (1994). Preventing problem behaviors and raising aca- attend good school-age child care programs during the most pressing needs for children and families by demic performance in the nation's youth: The impacts the time when their parents are working may experi- 92 percent of all respondents. No other need of 64 school age child care programs in 15 states sup- ence positive effects on their development. received this rating from such a high percentage of ported by the Cooperative Extension Service Youth-at- respondents, such needs included: housing, family Most recently, Posner and Vandell (1994) found that Risk Initiative. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin. stability, drug and alcohol abuse, education, crime, children attending after-school programs had better welfare reform, and a host of other issues. Seppanen, P.S., Love, J.M., deVries, D.K., Bernstein, peer relations, emotional adjustment, and better L., Seligson, M., Marx, F., & Kisker, E.E., (1993). grades and conduct in school than their peers in RELATED MATERIALS National study of before & after school programs other care arrangements. These children were Condry, J. (1993). Thief of time, unfaithful servant: (Final report to the Office of Policy and Planning, exposed to more learning opportunities, spent more Television and the American child. Daedalus, 122, U.S. Department of Education). Portsmouth, time in academic activities and enrichment, and 259-278. NH: RMC Research Corporation. spent less time watching television. Dwyer, K.M., Richardson, J.L., Danley, K.L., Hansen, U.S. Bureau of the Census. (1994b). Current Teachers and principals are recognizing the positive W.B., Sussman, S.Y., Brannon, B., Dent, C.W., Johnson, Population Reports: P 70-36. Who's minding the kids? effects of good quality programs on their students. C.A., & Flay, B.R. (1990). Characteristics of eighth- Child care arrangements: Fall 1991. Washington, DC: The Cooperative Extension Service (Riley et. al., 1994) grade students who initiate self-care in elementary U.S. Department of Commerce. studied the effects of 64 programs that had received and junior high school. Pediatrics, 86, 448-454. Extension assistance in 15 states. Teachers said that Hofferth, S.L., Brayfield, A., Diech, S., & Holcomb, P. the programs had caused the children to become (1991). The National Child Care Survey 1990. 70 Service as a Strategy In Out-of-School Time: A How-To Manual APWA mencan,Public.Welfare Association Statewide Automated Child Welfare Informati Systems Survey of State Progress Acknowledgments T his report and the survey were developed and written by Margaret Trostel, senior analyst in the Family and Child Welfare department of the American Public Welfare Association (APWA), with the support of many partners. Project managers for Statewide Child Welfare Information Systems (SACWIS) (Julia Brady, Division of Family Services FACTS liaison, Delaware Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families; Dave Schneider, FACS project manager, Iowa Department of Human Services; Jean Kendall, Project Manager, Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children; and Debby Wattman, CAPS project manager, Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services) reviewed and commented on an outline for the survey instrument. These individuals, along with other SACWIS project managers (Gene Thompson, KIDS project director, Oklahoma Department of Human Services; and Sheldon Elman, project director, Division of Child and Family Services, Utah Department of Human Services) and APWA policy associate Bob Reeg provided helpful comments on the survey instrument draft. Tom Pomonis, project manager, North Dakota Department of Human Services, and Carrie Friedman, chief of management information systems, Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families, reviewed a draft of the report. Betsey Rosenbaum, director of APWA's Family and Child Welfare Department, and APWA associate executive director Beverly Yanich provided feedback and guidance all along the way. Theresa Finchio, the Family and Child Welfare department's administrative assistant, tabulated data, designed, created, and proofread the report tables, and formatted the final report. APWA Family and Child Welfare staff would like to extend their thanks to the 51 SACWIS project managers who responded to this survey. APWA's work tracking information technology in child welfare is funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. APWA continues its long-standing partnership with these foundations to promote innovation and local and community-based approaches. Table of Contents Highlights of Results vii Introduction and Background 1 Purpose and Background of the Survey 1 SACWIS History 2 Survey Results 5 Status of Automation Before SACWIS 5 Current Status of SACWIS Projects 7 System Components 11 System Interfaces 15 System Integration 18 System Architecture 18 SACWIS Contracting Activity 19 Networks 21 User Access and Security 22 Conclusions and Outlook 25 Appendices 27 Appendix A: Reference Tables 29 Appendix B: Survey Instrument 61 iii List of Tables Table 1: Extent of Automation Before October 1, 1993 5 Table 2: Current Status of SACWIS Projects 7 Table 3: Progress of SACWIS Projects Relative to 1996 Funding Extension 9 Table 4: Statewide Implementation Dates 10 Table 5: System Components 12 Table 6: Out-of-Scope Components 14 Table 7: Risk Assessment 15 Table 8: Interfaces 17 Table 9: Stand-Alone vs. Integrated Systems 18 Table 10: System Architecture 19 Table 11: Use of Contractors 20 Table 12: LANs and WANs 22 Table 13: Internet Connections 22 Table 14: Remote Access 23 V Highlights of Results T his report documents progress made by states since Congress authorized enhanced funding for Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information Systems (SACWIS) in 1993. Following are the highlights of the survey results. In 1993, state child welfare agencies had a long way to go to automate fully child welfare programs and practice. While only two states had no child welfare automation when Congress created the enhanced funding, no state had a statewide system. Moreover, the automation that did exist supported high-level administrative functions rather than frontline casework and planning. The enhanced funding has provided a significant stimulus for development of statewide systems. Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia plan to develop a SACWIS. At the time of the survey, nine states had implemented statewide child welfare information systems. By the year 2001, three- quarters of the states (37 states) will have implemented statewide systems. The addition of a fourth year of enhanced funding in the 1996 welfare reform bill has contributed to states' progress. The number of states with implemented statewide systems will double in fiscal year 1997 (the additional year) to 16 states, while the remaining two-thirds of the states that plan to build a system will have moved closer to their implementation dates. States are building comprehensive systems that support frontline casework as well as administration and policymaking. Nearly every SACWIS includes child welfare service components such as child protection (e.g., intake and investigation), out-of-home care, preventive services, and independent living. A significant majority of SACWIS also streamline administrative functions by handling licensing, as well as financial and staffing functions. Nearly three-quarters of SACWIS include a risk assessment component. To the extent they improve agency or program operations, services such as mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, and juvenile justice are included in a third to one-half of the SACWIS. A smaller number of SACWIS include such services as adult protection and child care. These services were not explicitly outlined in the HHS final rule on SACWIS, and vii some have been paid for by other state and federal funds rather than the enhanced SACWIS match. A majority of SACWIS interface with other systems, including Title IV-A (88 percent), Title IV-D (88 percent), Title XIX (80 percent), and accounting (65 percent). A smaller proportion of the SACWIS include interfaces with family courts, education systems, human resources, and other state systems. A small number of states (12 states, or 24 percent) have integrated their SACWIS with other state systems. Nebraska has the most extensively integrated system, which includes most of the federally funded human service programs and some state ones as well. Most states chose to build stand-alone SACWIS. SACWIS represents the first extensive use of client-server architecture for state human service information systems. Three-quarters of the states (37 states) will have systems with client-server architecture or a combination of mainframe and client-server architecture. States are relying extensively on contracted services to develop and build their systems, and to train staff to use the new systems. Because client-server architecture is new to states and takes much time and resources to support, it is likely that states will continue to use outside help to maintain their systems. The cost implications of this support may be significant. Most states (45, or 92 percent) are connecting SACWIS users with local area networks (LANs). Forty-two of those states are using a combination of LANs and wide area networks (WANs). About half of the states (26, or 53 percent) will allow users access to the Internet, and 20 states (41 percent) will have their own intranets. Remote access to SACWIS applications and e-mail will provide added flexibility for workers in about half the states (26 states, or 53 percent). SACWIS project managers are building in a variety of measures to ensure the security of the system and confidentiality of the information in the system. viii Introduction and Background I n 1993, Congress provided enhanced funding to states to build comprehensive information systems for child welfare programs and services. Congress recognized the critical importance of automation to improve the efficiency and productivity of casework and program management for the nation's vulnerable families and children. With an eye to modernizing the way public child welfare staff do their work, Congress created a generous financial incentive for statewide automation, even extending it for one year beyond the original three-year window. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) subsequently launched a unique partnership with states to plan, design, and build these systems. As the fourth and final year of this enhanced funding for statewide automated child welfare information systems (SACWIS) nears its close, it is time to take stock of the progress states have made. Frontline workers in nearly half of the states-who had little or no information technology in field offices-now see a computer on every desk. Program managers are beginning to see accurate and timely data that will inform their decision-making. But not all states have completed systems, and those that have them now face the challenges of fine tuning, ongoing maintenance and upgrading, and managing the organizational and cultural implications of technology. Information that can help SACWIS project managers with effective planning and problem solving continues to be vital. Purpose and Background of the Survey This report is the fifth in a series that has tracked SACWIS implementation since enhanced federal funding became available in 1993. In July of 1994, APWA released Child Welfare Information Systems: Some Concepts and Their Implications. This publication provided a framework for child welfare and other human service administrators to think about the role of technology in their agencies. In April 1995, APWA published a report on the results of a survey on the status of Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting Systems (AFCARS)¹ and SACWIS. In November of the same year, a report on the organizational impact of child welfare information systems provided case studies from two of the first states to implement SACWIS statewide, Iowa and Texas. Finally, an article in the September 1996 issue of APWA's W-Memo reported on the implications of welfare reform for SACWIS and included a selective survey of 19 states. This survey, conducted in April 1997, was designed to document further the implementation of SACWIS in the states. APWA surveyed SACWIS project managers by mail in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. All 51 project managers responded. (A copy of the survey instrument is in Appendix B.) Many of the questions concern the progress of SACWIS projects, as well as the component parts of each state's system. APWA staff have received calls over the past months about what states are doing or whether any state system includes a particular component or function. The information gathered in this survey can serve as reference material to help answer these questions. The charts in the appendices provide details on such topics as system components, interfaces, and technical architecture. For SACWIS project managers in particular, these charts are meant to provide a resource or referral. For other child welfare and human service administrators, as well as general observers, this report is designed to give a broad overview of what these new systems look like and how the child welfare field office may be changing before our eyes. SACWIS History In the 1993 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (P.L. 103-66), Congress made enhanced funding available to states for three years to plan, design, develop, and install statewide information systems for child welfare. In the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104- 193), Congress extended its offer of enhanced funding for a fourth year. Under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, the federal government will reimburse state agencies for 50 percent of the administrative costs related to foster care and adoptive placements-including costs related to data reporting and information systems-for children who qualify for federal funding. The 1993 legislation increased the federal share to 75 percent for three years for comprehensive statewide child welfare information systems. I AFCARS is a set of data-reporting requirements with origins in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 and a subsequent advisory committee on foster care and adoption data collection. 2 This increased funding level is significant: not only does it supplement state spending, it also applies to systems that state staff use in their work with all children and families in the child-welfare system, including those funded with state-only dollars. It also is the first time that such an incentive-which had been used in other human service programs to stimulate information systems development-has been available for child welfare programs. To qualify for the enhanced funding, a state's SACWIS must: meet AFCARS requirements; be capable of interface, to the extent practicable, with the state data collection system on child abuse and neglect and with the state's eligibility system for Title IV-A of the Social Security Act (cash assistance, now called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF); and be likely to provide more efficient, economical, and effective administration of the programs carried out under Titles IV-B or IV-E. To enable states to access these funds quickly, HHS dispensed with a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), and published an interim final rule on December 22, 1993. On the same day, HHS published its long-awaited final rule for AFCARS.² The timing of the publication of these two rules underscored the importance of information systems to child welfare data collection and decision-making. Comprehensive child welfare information systems, according to the regulations published by HHS, would "to the extent feasible and appropriate, introduce, monitor and account for all the factors of child welfare services, foster care and adoption assistance, family preservation and support services, and independent living services." The SACWIS regulation required that each state's system collect, maintain, manage, and report information on children in foster care, on intake and assessment, and on foster care and adoption assistance eligibility. The rule made clear that these information systems were to be designed as tools for caseworkers as well as for managers and policymakers. It stressed the automation of case and client needs assessment as well as the support of case plan development, review, and management. SACWIS designs were to ensure confidentiality and security and to include quality assurance functions for review of case files. 2 APWA published an analysis of the two rules in the January-February 1994 issue of W-Memo. 3 The interim final rule also listed a number of interfaces that were required "to the extent practicable," such as those to which P.L. 103-99 referred, as well as other interfaces such as Title IV-D (child support), Title XIX (Medicaid), and state child abuse and neglect and data systems. These provisions, included in both the law and the regulation, underscore the importance of integrating or interfacing systems as much as possible to facilitate information sharing, decrease duplicative data entry, and improve program administration. At the same time, both the law and the regulation gave states some breathing room in case resource or technical constraints made it impracticable to link or integrate these systems. Finally, the SACWIS rule outlined some optional system functions that could be covered under the enhanced funding, including a host of administrative tools (for example, resource management or facility and foster home licensing), risk assessment, and other interfaces, such as with a state's juvenile justice system. 4 Survey Results Status of Automation Before SACWIS A PWA's July 1994 report on the concepts and implications of child welfare systems noted that there is a difference between the operations level and the administrative level in the context of information systems. Systems that focus on the operations level are designed with the frontline worker in mind. They facilitate casework functions such as intake, case management, and service planning. Administrative functions, on the other hand, require information for management decision-making, policy development, and research. Policy staff and administrators use the data collected at the operations level for these administrative tasks. The first survey question addressed the extent of information technology in child welfare agencies before October 1, 1993, the day that the enhanced funding became available to states. Forty-six states (90 percent) had some automation (see Table 1). Only two states (four percent) had no automation at all. The majority of the states with some information technology had automated administrative-level functions; the most frequently cited examples include data tracking and reporting, CPS central registries, some financial transactions, and licensing. A few SACWIS project managers commented that their systems did not support case management, that frontline workers had no Table 1: Extent of Automation Before October 1, 1993 Extent of Automation Number Percent in Child Welfare No Automation 2 4 Certain Functions 46 90 Automated N=51 (Percentages do not equal 100.) 5 or limited access to any of the systems, and that the functions that were automated were not necessarily connected to each other. When APWA surveyed 19 states in 1996, it was clear that frontline workers had very little experience in using computers. The SACWIS project managers surveyed reported a steep learning curve and even indicated that there was some resistance to using computers. Workers typically maintained all their case information in paper files, and clerks, not workers, entered the information that did get captured by a system. Some of the worker resistance had roots in this hierarchical structure that defined discretely clerical and professional functions, as well as workers' inexperience with technology. The July 1994 APWA report on concepts and their implications categorized SACWIS as a system that includes both operations- and administrative-level functions. As already noted, the law and regulations stressed the importance of casework support. It also integrated into these systems AFCARS, as well as the National Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting System (NCANDS), which is voluntary for states and therefore recommended but not required of SACWIS. The availability of extra federal funding for such systems presented states with a unique opportunity. Not only could states improve management data, they also could start modernizing field operations and improve workflow, case planning and decision-making at the front lines. The activity in states before enhanced funding became available attests to the need for system improvements. Seventeen project managers (33 percent of all respondents) reported that planning for a comprehensive information system already had begun in their states by October 1993. Nine project managers (18 percent) reported that individual counties already had developed their own systems. In state-supervised, county-administered states, in which counties have a relative degree of autonomy to manage their programs, such an approach is not surprising.³ Obviously, state and local administrators already were looking to new ways to improve program operations and management information. 3 The county-administered states that had individual county systems are: California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin. North Dakota and Virginia are two county-administered states that did not indicate that they had individual county systems. The tenth county-administered state, Pennsylvania, had no automation before October 1, 1993, and also did not plan to build a SACWIS as of the survey date (see the following section for more clarification on Pennsylvania's status). Indiana and Michigan, both with state-administered human service systems, indicated that individual county systems existed before October 1, 1993. 6 Current Status of SACWIS Projects Title IV-E administrative funding for system development and data reporting is not new. The 1993 legislation simply changed the federal matching rate from 50 to 75 percent. The effect of this stimulus, however, has been dramatic. Forty-nine project managers reported plans to build a SACWIS.4 These states are in various stages of progress on their systems. As evident from Table 2, eight states (16 percent) had fully implemented, statewide systems at the time of this survey (April 4, 1997). Thirteen state systems (27 percent) were partially implemented or were in the pilot stage. Many states indicated plans to roll out Table 2: Current Status of SACWIS Projects Stage Number Percent Planning (Preparing 4 8 APD/Awaiting PAPD Approval) Awaiting IAPD 3 6 Approval Released RFP/Awaiting 2 4 Bids Contract Negotiations 3 6 Designing System 4 8 Installing Equipment 4 8 Partial 13 27 Implementation/Pilot Already Implemented 8 16 Statewide Other 8 16 N=49 (Percentages do not equal 100 because of rounding.) 4 It is important to remember that these survey results are based on self reports. HHS' Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of State Systems Approvals, tracks SACWIS implementation based on extracts from state Advanced Planning Documents (APDs), which states submit for approval to receive the 75 percent federal matching funds. Not all states that reported SACWIS activity in the APWA survey actually used the enhanced match for their system development. 5 From this point on, percentages will be based on a total of the 49 states that plan to implement a SACWIS. 7 their systems in stages, by geographic area (e.g., county by county), by system component or functional set of components, or by a combination of both. States that are in this process fall into the partial implementation or pilot category of this survey. The eight states that fall into the "other" category in Table 2 are in stages not captured by the survey question. Illinois, for example, reported that it is working on "systems requirements." The Ohio project manager reported that, at the time of the survey, the state had an approved Implementation Advanced Planning Document (IAPD), but that the state had not released a request for proposals (RFP). Reference Table A-1, in Appendix A, gives more detail on what respondents meant by "other." In some cases, the stages are more iterative than sequential. For example, three project managers indicated that they were both designing systems and installing equipment. In Rhode Island, state information systems staff were designing and installing the SACWIS while at the same time testing the system. In Table 2, these four states are classified in the equipment installation stage. Two project managers reported they were designing their systems, installing equipment, and piloting. These states were classified with the other states in the partial- implementation/pilot category. These classifications in effect place the state at the latest possible stage in the survey sequence. Table 3 presents a different way to look at states' progress. In 1996, Congress overhauled the nation's welfare system with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (P.L. 104-193). The law included a one- year extension of enhanced funding for SACWIS. States had argued that the initial three-year window for SACWIS enhanced federal funding was not long enough given the scope of the projects and did not allow states to take full advantage of the funds. As indicated in Table 1, a minority of states already had begun planning systems in 1996. These are the same states that reported in 1997 that they have implemented a system statewide or have partially implemented or are piloting. In other words, the states that had a head start are those that have completed most of the work within the enhanced funding window. Other states have had further to go, or have had trouble getting funding from their legislatures. Seven states have biennial legislative sessions, for example-if funds for SACWIS did not pass these state legislatures in the first year, officials had to wait another two years to request funding again. 8 Table 3: Progress of SACWIS Projects Relative to 1996 Funding Extension Stage As of 9/31/96 As of 4/4/97 As of 9/31/97 Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Planning/PAPD 8 16 6 12 2 4 Approval IAPD Approval 5 10 5 10 3 6 RFP Issued 4 8 3 6 2 4 Contract 8 16 6 12 4 8 Awarded Application 3 6 4 8 1 2 Design Equipment 4 8 8 16 6 12 Installed Partial 2 4 4 8 11 22 Implementation/ Pilot Already 8 16 9 18 16 33 Implemented Statewide Not available or 7 14 4 8 4 8 applicable N = 49 (Percentages do not equal 100 because of rounding.) As of the end of the initial enhanced funding window in 1996, eight states (16 percent) had completed statewide implementation of their systems, and two states (four percent) had partially implemented or piloted their systems.6 By the time of the survey, one additional state (Louisiana) reported it had implemented its system statewide,⁷ and two additional states had completed partial implementation or piloting. The change will be more dramatic by the time the fourth year of enhanced funding expires. By September 30, 1997, 16 states (33 6 The question from which this information was taken asked respondents to report the actual or expected completion date of each stage listed. Apparent discrepancies between Table 3 and Table 2 may indicate either that a state did not give the relevant dates, or that it had not actually completed a given stage by the date indicated in the top row of Table 3. 7 In Table 2, Louisiana reported itself in the "other" category. Louisiana did not claim any of the federal enhanced funding for its child welfare information system, so ACF did not include it on the list of SACWIS projects. The respondent to APWA's survey noted that the Louisiana system is essentially an enhanced version of its existing system. 9 percent) will have implemented their systems statewide, and 11 states (22 percent) will have completed their partial implementation or pilot phase. Table 4 groups states by their implementation dates. It shows even more progress in the last quarter of calendar year 1997. Respondents in 21 states (43 percent) reported that by the end of the year they will have implemented fully a statewide system. By the end of 1998, more than half of the states planning to implement a SACWIS (31) will have done so statewide (63 percent). By the end of the year 2000, nearly three-quarters of states (36) will have a SACWIS (73 percent). About a quarter of the respondents did not give a date for statewide implementation, perhaps because they are uncertain about production schedules, continued state funding, or other outside influences on timing, or because they are not far enough into their planning to know when they will complete their projects. Table 4: Statewide Implementation Dates Year Cumulative Additional States Number Percent Number Percent Currently 8 16 8 16 statewide 1997 21 43 13 27 1998 31 63 10 20 1999 35 71 4 8 2000 36 73 1 2 2001 37 76 1 2 No answer - - 12 24 N = 49 (Percentages do not equal 100.) In Pennsylvania, one of the two states that reported no plans to build a SACWIS, no child welfare automation existed in the state before October 1993. Since then, according to the survey response, 10 of the state's 67 counties-all large counties-"have invested much time and money to develop automated child welfare systems within their own counties." Because the federal funds are for statewide systems that may in fact be difficult to implement once individual counties have developed their own systems, the state decided to forego the 75 10 percent matching funds. To link community-based information systems to create a statewide system poses a particular set of technical challenges and resource demands that may not, in the state's assessment of its relative gains, justify the investment. In this case, the state agency and counties have determined that the individual county systems meet the state's child welfare information technology needs. The project manager in Vermont, the other state that has no plans to build a SACWIS, cited economies of scale and budget constraints. State officials could not justify the kind of budget a full-fledged SACWIS would require, given the size of the state and its child welfare population. The estimated cost of a SACWIS far exceeded anything ever spent in the state on a single information systems project. The state is able to meet its data-reporting requirements, such as AFCARS and NCANDS, without the SACWIS. Its systems do not, however, interface with other program systems, such as IV-A or health care. System Components As noted earlier, the December 22, 1993, regulation outlined a number of functions that a SACWIS would need to perform to qualify for the 75 percent enhanced federal funding, according to ACF's interpretation of the law. An ACF action transmittal issued on February 8, 1995, provided further guidance on expenditures that are eligible for the enhanced reimbursement. As a general rule, enhanced matching funds may be used for activities and system components that serve primarily to improve the operation of programs under Titles IV-B and IV-E. If a given component also supports other programs, the state needs to demonstrate in its APD that the component's primary purpose applies to Title IV-B and IV-E programs. Any modifications necessary to accommodate other programs will make the component ineligible for enhanced funding. In the current survey, respondents checked off a range of services and functions that are included in their states' SACWIS. These services and functions fell into four categories: Child welfare services are core services provided to child welfare clients, as defined in APWA's 1990 Factbook on Public Child Welfare Services and Staff. These services include child protection, intensive home-based services, prevention, and other services related to foster care and adoption. 11 Administrative functions are defined in the December 22, 1993, regulation and include licensing of foster care providers, fiscal functions, and others listed in Table 5. Other services to child welfare clients include non-core services that public agencies provide to families and children within the child welfare system, such as mental health or substance abuse services. Out-of-scope services are those that were not defined by the regulation but that are provided to child welfare clients or to clients of the agency in which child welfare services are located.⁸ Table 5: System Components Child Welfare Services Administrative Other Services Functions Service # % Service % Service % Child 48 98 Licensing 44 90 Mental Health 21 43 Protection (foster family homes) Out-of-Home 48 98 Licensing 38 78 Substance 20 41 Care (facilities) Abuse Intensive 42 86 Payments 43 88 Domestic 18 37 Home-Based Violence Adoption 46 94 Staff and 45 92 Juvenile 25 51 Workload Justice/Youth Rehabilitation Preventive 44 90 Contracts 30 61 Other 4 8 Services Independent 45 92 Criminal 12 24 N/A 14 29 Living History Other 8 16 Cost 21 43 Recovery N/A 1 2 Other 8 16 N/A 1 2 N=49 (Percentages do not equal 100.) 8 States have used other state and federal funds to finance components that are not dedicated primarily to serving child welfare programs under Titles IV-B and IV-E (and therefore are not eligible for the SACWIS enhanced match). 12 Table 5 summarizes the SACWIS components and functions.⁹ Nearly all of the systems include each of the child welfare services listed. Respondents that reported incorporating other child welfare services in their systems listed courts and legal services, health and education passport (a California program for tracking children's health and education status across counties), family preservation services, risk assessment, home studies, contracted services, juvenile services, and financial services. Fewer than half of the respondents indicated that their states' SACWIS would include any of the mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence services that are provided to child welfare clients. Other services mentioned include child care (two states) and contracted and non-contracted services (one state). Juvenile justice services show up in two different categories-other services to child welfare clients and out-of-scope services. A closer look at the structure of human service agencies and at the organization and distribution of program areas sheds some light on this apparent overlap. Juvenile corrections departments often have been located in human services agencies. This kind of organization has emphasized the rehabilitative and service orientation of treatment for young offenders. There is a recent trend, however, toward moving juvenile corrections functions out of human service agencies. Some states are merging them with adult corrections. An APWA study on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and youth bears this trend out. APWA researchers in this study found that in 1994, human service agencies in 29 states housed juvenile corrections departments. In 1996, that number had fallen to 19. Six states currently have departments that provide services for families and children, including child welfare services, independent of the state departments that provide cash and other public assistance and services. Four of these states (Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Tennessee) house juvenile justice and related services in these free-standing children and families agencies. All services considered to be related to juvenile justice are not necessarily located within the same agency. For example, non-incarcerated juvenile offenders may fall under the jurisdiction of the human service (or children and families) agency, while a separate agency oversees incarcerated youth. 9 Reference Table A-2 in Appendix A gives a state-by-state summary of SACWIS components. 13 Services to the former would be listed as "other services to child welfare clients," while the latter group would receive "out-of-scope" services. Twenty-five respondents listed juvenile justice or youth rehabilitation in the array of other services provided to child welfare clients (see Table 5). Eight listed juvenile justice services among the out-of-scope services included in a SACWIS (see Table 6). Three states (Delaware, Rhode Island, and Tennessee) fell into both of these groups. In both groups, not all of the states house juvenile corrections within the human service or child and family services agency. It appears, therefore, that state agencies are trying to incorporate the fullest possible range of services provided to the child welfare population in one information system. By doing so, state agencies can track clients more easily and maintain more complete records.¹⁰ Table 6: Out-of-Scope Components Component Number Percent Adult Services 11 22 Mental Health 3 6 Child Care Licensing 1 2 Other Fiscal 1 2 Juvenile Justice/Youth 8 16 Rehabilitation Child Care 6 12 Investigation 1 2 N = 49 (Percentages do not equal 100. Not all respondents answered.) The administrative functions that qualify for the enhanced federal funding offer states an opportunity to integrate and streamline some program operations. A majority of SACWIS also include most of the administrative functions listed. Other reported administrative functions include eligibility, staff training, legal actions, reports, and administrative reviews of contested investigations. Criminal history checks are included on significantly fewer systems than are 10 Nebraska has a system that is integrated with systems from other human service programs, and thus reported that its system tracks a wide array of services to child welfare clients, including food stamps, job training, and other programs. 14 other functions (12 of the SACWIS, or 24 percent). Depending on state laws and policies, agency staff check the criminal histories of prospective foster care providers or adoptive parents, alleged perpetrators, or other individuals involved in cases. The lack of criminal history components (or interfaces, shown in Table 8) may indicate one of a number of possible circumstances. State laws may not allow direct access to this information by staff outside of the criminal or court system. Technical barriers or cost prohibitions may make such a component unfeasible, or the state already may have adequate procedures in place. A final SACWIS component of interest is risk assessment (see Table 7). Nearly three-quarters of the respondents to the survey (36, or 73 percent) reported that their SACWIS would include a risk assessment tool. Typically, these functions use the information entered by a caseworker and a set of pre-programmed parameters to provide the worker with guidance for determining the appropriate response to a report of child abuse or neglect, including the statutory timelines for CPS response and investigation. As child safety becomes a central focus of debate in Congress, these tools will help frontline workers inform their observations and judgments in individual cases. Table 7: Risk Assessment Risk Assessment Number Percent Yes 36 73 No 9 18 N = 49 (Percentages do not equal 100. Not all respondents answered.) System Interfaces Interfaces allow information systems from different programs to exchange information. The SACWIS regulation listed a number of interfaces that states could develop using the enhanced funding. As noted earlier, the regulation required "to the extent practicable" four interfaces: to programs under Titles 15 IV-A, IV-D, and XIX, as well as the child abuse and neglect data system. 11 Interfaces deemed "not practicable" were those that states could demonstrate were technically infeasible or cost-prohibitive. When they are possible, interfaces can benefit public agencies because they allow for information sharing among programs on common clients or the services provided for those clients. The February 8, 1995, action transmittal noted that "each of the programs supported by the systems which require an interface to SACWIS are intricately related to the title IV-E programs." It offered the following specific rationales for the required interfaces: Eligibility for some programs is based on the calculations made by Title IV- A systems for cash assistance. When Congress passed P.L. 103-66 in 1993, eligibility for Title IV-E foster care and adoption assistance was one of those programs. In addition, the SACWIS final rule specified that enhanced funding would not be approved for components that duplicated already- existing capabilities-in particular, eligibility determination. The 1996 welfare reform legislation, however, altered this eligibility link by allowing states to create their own Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs and by tying IV-E eligibility to past IV-A criteria. The extent to which this change will affect SACWIS is unclear, but ACF has indicated a willingness to consider enhanced funding for additional SACWIS components that would help determine IV-E eligibility.¹² Title IV-D systems may allow state agencies to locate absent parents of children in the child welfare system, benefiting reunification or placement efforts as well as child support collections. Title XIX programs share many clients with child welfare programs. Furthermore, the enhanced funding is available for optional interfaces if state officials can demonstrate in their APDs that these interfaces are appropriate and cost-justified. Table 8 shows that states will take advantage of the opportunity to reduce duplicative data entry and improve links among programs that serve overlapping or related populations.¹³ Forty-three state systems (88 percent) will 11 In reality, states have integrated their child abuse and neglect data systems into SACWIS, making interfaces unnecessary. 12 Project managers in four states (Alaska, Delaware, Iowa, and Nevada) reported including an eligibility component in their SACWIS. 13 See Reference Table A-2 in Appendix A for a state-by-state summary of interfaces. 16 maintain an interface with Title IV-A systems, probably for information shared between the two programs that is not related to eligibility (or perhaps because these interfaces were in place before welfare reform). Most of the systems also will include interfaces with Title IV-D (43 states, or 88 percent) and Title XIX (39 states, or 80 percent). Interfaces with administrative functions, such as accounting (in 32, or 65 percent, of the systems) help streamline an agency's operations. The systems include other interfaces to a lesser degree. Technical difficulties, as noted above, may have outweighed the benefits of creating these connections for some state agencies. Table 8: Interfaces Interface Number Percent Title IV-A 43 88 Title IV-D 43 88 Title XIX 39 80 Juvenile Justice 14 29 Accounting 32 65 Licensing 17 35 Vital Statistics 6 12 Education 11 22 Mental Health 6 12 Criminal History Check 5 10 Personnel/Human 10 20 Resources Other 7 14 N=49 = (Percentages do not equal 100. Not all respondents answered.) Some of the functions listed in Table 8 (such as juvenile justice) also appear as actual SACWIS components. Eleven systems with juvenile justice interfaces also include some juvenile justice component (categorized in Table 5 as "other services to child welfare clients," in Table 6 as "out-of-scope services;" four states with juvenile justice interfaces also fall into both of these categories). These interfaces facilitate connections with other parts of the juvenile justice system- such as family courts-that are not included under the child welfare agency's umbrella. 17 System Integration Interfaces permit data exchange among the information systems used by various programs. State staff and field workers who need the information contained in these systems-to determine program eligibility or participation, for example- can access it through the interface, rather than collect duplicative information. Another way to streamline program operations is to integrate the information systems, creating a kind of mega-system that serves multiple programs. Twelve SACWIS project managers (24 percent) reported building integrated systems, rather than stand-alone child welfare information systems (see Table 9). Table 9: Stand-Alone vs. Integrated Systems Stand-Alone Integrated N/A Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 32 65 12 24 5 10 N=49 = (Percentages do not equal 100 because of rounding.) Sometimes the distinction between integration and interface is not well-defined. In some of the 12 states that reported having integrated systems, project managers indicated that systems were integrated through interfaces, or that SACWIS was integrated with state information databases through interfaces. Other project managers reported that SACWIS was integrated with systems for Medicaid, individual counties, juvenile justice or juvenile courts, public health, and motor vehicle departments, or common intake among human service programs. Nebraska appears to have the most extensively integrated system. The Nebraska SACWIS is integrated with the state's systems for cash assistance, food stamps, child care, medical assistance, and job training. System Architecture In the majority of states, the SACWIS being developed represents the state's first system with a client-server architecture. The term "client server" has come to be used rather loosely. For the purposes of this report, client-server 18 architecture essentially combines some centralized data or processing functions with the capability for local processing and data management (i.e., in local or field offices). With this kind of system, frontline workers, supervisors, and other field staff can work on personal computers (PCs) that collect information and process it for use in case planning and management. This system allows supervisors to use their PCs to review and approve case plans, as well as to oversee their staff's work. At the central state office, staff can access data entered in the field, and provide AFCARS and other management-reporting information. The central office also can use the system to perform other centralized administrative functions (e.g., fiscal, personnel, contracting). Table 10: System Architecture Architecture Type Number Percent Mainframe 8 16 Client/Server 27 55 Combination 10 20 N/A 4 8 N=49 (Percentages do not equal 100 because of rounding.) The client-server structure provides flexibility for system designers to address operations-level needs, introduce the benefits of information technology to field workers, and meet state-agency administrative needs (e.g., data reporting). In April 1995, APWA reported that 20 states were leaning toward using a client- server architecture. In the current survey, project managers in three-quarters of the states (37 states, or 75 percent) reported that they were building either client-server systems or a combination of mainframe and client-server systems (see Table 10 below and Reference Table A-3 in Appendix A). SACWIS Contracting Activity State/contractor partnerships have been essential to the success of SACWIS development. These partnerships have enabled state agencies and vendors to pool their respective expertise. Child welfare is the last program area in public human service agencies to be automated. Child welfare agencies brought 19 program expertise to the table, but very little experience with information technology. With little existing automation in 1993, vendors, for their part, were unfamiliar with the nature and complexity of child welfare programs. Table 11 summarizes state contracting activity for SACWIS.¹⁴ The greatest need for vendor expertise appears in the application development stage, i.e., the design of the system itself: how it collects information, processes it and presents it to the users. This may be the most complex and technologically specialized stage. It is the stage when state staff at all levels provided their knowledge of the child welfare system and its procedures, and technical experts from agencies and private vendors used their expertise to translate that knowledge into an automated system. Twenty-three states contracted this activity out completely, while an additional 18 states combined vendor contracts with in-house work. In all, a total of 41 states (84 percent) used vendors for application development. Table 11: Use of Contractors Activity In-House Contracted Both % # % # % Mainframe/Server 27 55 12 24 5 10 PCs 21 43 14 29 8 16 Infrastructure 22 45 7 14 14 29 Application 4 8 23 47 18 37 Development Implementation 13 27 15 31 16 33 Interfaces 10 20 15 31 18 37 Data Conversion 17 35 14 29 12 24 Training 15 31 13 27 15 31 N=49 = (Percentages do not equal 100. Not all respondents answered.) More than half the respondents reported using vendors-either exclusively or in combination with in-house resources-to implement, or roll out, their systems (31 states, or 63 percent); develop interfaces with other systems, such as Title IV-A/cash assistance (33 states, or 67 percent); convert data from existing 14 For a listing of contractors used, see Reference Table A-1 in Appendix A. 20 systems to the new system (26 states, or 53 percent); or conduct training (28 states, or 57 percent). Anecdotal evidence suggests that states will continue to rely on contracts to ensure that their systems are operating and upgraded properly and to train staff. Staff are on a steep learning curve as they adapt to these new systems, and the ongoing maintenance and upgrading of client-server systems pose a different set of challenges than did the older mainframe systems. A significant minority of states used contractor services-either exclusively or in partnership-for the mainframe or server (17 states or 35 percent); computer terminals (22 states or 45 percent); and the general system infrastructure (21 states or 43 percent). This work involves buying and installing much of the tangible hardware (i.e., computers, monitors, cables, and much of the other equipment that one could actually see or touch). Equipment purchases are ongoing and straightforward tasks that don't require the kind of specialized technical expertise that lends itself to short-term contracts, such as for interface development. Networks With the advent of SACWIS, state agency and frontline staff have gained the ability to communicate with colleagues and access information on line. State information technology staff have a range of options to facilitate these connections using networks. Local Area Networks (LANs) connect multiple work stations (in the majority of the SACWIS, PCs) to each other and to a central server. Caseworkers use the software applications installed on the server to retrieve information and to enter and store data. The network also lets users communicate with each other via electronic mail. Wide Area Networks (WANs) can connect a network of LANs. An intranet is like a private Internet, with a defined universe of users who have access to it. To the user there may be no apparent difference between a LAN and an intranet, except that he or she may use different software to access information. The technology is different, however, and provides system designers with some flexibility in choosing how to set up statewide networks. Tables 12 and 13 summarize the use of networks in states that are developing SACWIS. 15 Forty-five SACWIS (92 percent) are on LANs; 42 of those SACWIS (86 percent) also are on WANs. Four states did not answer the question on LANs (it probably was too early in their projects to know). A little more than 15 Reference Table A-3 in Appendix A summarizes networks by state. 21 half of the SACWIS (26, or 53 percent) are connected to the Internet. Twenty states (41 percent) have built an intranet. Three of these states (Colorado, Michigan, and New York) have an intranet but no Internet connection. Seventeen states (35 percent) have both intranet and Internet connections. Table 12: LANs and WANs LAN WAN Both Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 45 92 42 86 42 86 N=49 = (Percentages do not equal 100. Not all respondents answered.) Table 13: Internet Connections Internet Intranet Both Number Percent Number Percent Number- Percent 26 53 20 41 17 35 N=49 (Percentages do not equal 100. Not all respondents answered.) User Access and Security SACWIS are changing dramatically the look of the child welfare field office. In all but a few states, every system user soon will have his or her own computer terminal from which to access the system. All users, from frontline workers to state central office staff, also will have new tools to improve their efficacy and efficiency on the job-electronic mail, word processing, spreadsheets, and the specialized applications for child welfare programs and services. This survey touched on two important implications of this new way of doing business: remote access and system security. 22 The nature of child welfare work demands that field workers spend a lot of their working hours away from their desks. Many SACWIS plans allow workers and other staff to tap into the system remotely-that is, from someplace other than their desktops. Some states have bought laptop computers that workers can carry out to the field with them. Dial-up access using these laptop computers or computers at home gives workers the flexibility they need to get their work done without having to return to the office every time they need to enter or update a case file. Table 14 shows that workers in more than half the states (26 states, or 53 percent) will have remote access to the systems in their states. In twenty-three of these states, workers' supervisors also will be able to access the system remotely. In an additional six states (12 percent), clerical staff will have remote access. A total of 32 states (65 percent) will provide mobile access to central office and field staff. Table 14: Remote Access Individuals with Access Number of States Percent Clerical 6 12 Workers 26 53 Supervisors 23 47 Management/Admin. 23 47 Other 6 12 N = 49 (Percentages do not equal 100.) In nearly half the states, staff in management or administrative positions also have the flexibility to access the SACWIS system remotely. Among the kinds of staff with remote access that project managers categorized as "other" are state staff, law enforcement, courts, contract employees, system administrators, and hotline workers. With child welfare workers now able to call up and process information on their clients from the office or from home, it is very important to restrict and monitor access to the information stored in the child welfare information systems. SACWIS makes it easier for staff to find, retrieve, and use 23 information. With SACWIS, paper case files stored throughout the state will be replaced by centralized, computerized records. States are trading one set of vulnerabilities for another. But information systems also come with new tools to ensure data security and confidentiality. Reference Table A-5 (in Appendix A) contains information provided by SACWIS project managers on the security measures included in these systems. Log-on identification, restricted access to information or functions that corresponds to a user's job responsibilities, and security at different levels of the system are typical. Some respondents listed software packages or security protocols to provide a snapshot of the kinds of measures system developers are taking to ensure the confidentiality and security of child welfare data. 24 Conclusions and Outlook T he outlook for SACWIS contains a variety of uncertainties. The scope of these projects has proven to be greater than anticipated for many states. Target dates for completion of these systems could change, despite careful planning and diligent effort. States that have implemented or are nearing statewide implementation must consider now the resources-in both staff and money-required to support the systems. State information systems staff are finding their SACWIS to be very resource intensive, unlike the older mainframe systems. In addition, no sooner had SACWIS got underway in most states than Congress introduced dramatic changes to public assistance programs with welfare reform. Staff now must determine how to accommodate some of these changes into SACWIS (such as Title IV-E eligibility), as well as other potential program and data reporting changes anticipated in proposed child welfare reforms. The survey data demonstrate that states have made a great deal of progress in four years. Child welfare agencies have witnessed the appearance of PCs on caseworkers' desks, where once there were virtually none. Frontline workers now have access to many new tools that can improve the flow of their work. The new systems are making it easier to access data for child welfare program management and policy development and improving data quality. The implications of these changes are greater than may be evident at a first glance. APWA's November 1995 report on the organizational impact of child welfare information systems in Iowa and Texas outlined many of these implications, including changes in staff roles at all levels; challenged assumptions based on new and more accurate data; the need to update policies and procedures; and the increased ability to monitor and enforce compliance with agency policies. A unique feature of the SACWIS development process is an approach to system development that has been more flexible and collaborative than in other federal/state information technology projects. HHS has not required for SACWIS the strict and prescriptive certification process associated with other automation projects (e.g., child support). Rather, the federal government has used its regulatory and technical assistance role to outline broadly defined functional requirements and has allowed state agencies the flexibility to 25 determine how to achieve those outcomes. States also have been able to phase in their projects gradually-to buy equipment over time, for example, rather than wait until the end of a project to claim federal funding. This approach recognizes that information system projects of this magnitude are long-term commitments. It allows staff and frontline workers to absorb gradually the changes introduced by the new technology and acknowledges technology's constantly changing nature. As SACWIS continues to take hold in child welfare agencies, administrators, program managers, and frontline staff will face a set of challenges that undoubtedly will be more complex than learning to navigate a graphical user interface. Improved access to more and higher quality data requires better coordination between data users and data gatherers. Policymakers will have improved tools themselves, which they can use to develop the outcome measures and benchmarks to track program success in ways that were not possible before. But the ability of frontline workers to provide that information in their work with clients at the front end of the system will be critical to its ultimate quality and usefulness. The expectations of the system's capabilities must not exceed the capacity of its users. This point-in-time survey can only hint at the fundamental culture change introduced by technology. Past APWA reports have underscored the magnitude of this change. At all levels of child welfare agencies, effective management of these changes will help ensure that users receive the maximum benefit from the substantial investment states and the federal government have made in SACWIS. Challenges range from finding a new role for clerks who no longer need to input information from paper forms to making agency-wide outcome measures real and relevant to frontline practice. States must adapt constantly to new and emerging technologies and incorporate ever more flexibility into systems to heed calls for more streamlined organizations, more integration among programs, and more local control. 26 Appendices Appendix A: Reference Tables* Reference Table A-1: General Information/Status 29 Reference Table A-2: System Components 35 Reference Table A-3: Technical Elements 45 Reference Table A-4: Software 53 Reference Table A-5: Security 59 Appendix B: Survey Instrument 61 States for which there is no information provided in these reference tables requested that the survey responses remain confidential. 27 Reference Table A-1: General Information/Status State # Children # System Current Status Expected Contractor(s) in Care Users as of 4/4/97* Statewide Implementation Date AK 1,770 450 Development; 9/97 Brainstorm Tech. Inc. equipment installed AL 3,942 ≈1,500 ConNeg N/A TBA AR ≈2,400 1,200 Pilot 12/97 Memorex/Telex, National Data Source, BDM, Comsys, SCB AZ 6,000 1,500 Design 10/97 Microage, Unisys 29 CA 98,862 ≈12,000 " Pilot 12/97 ISSC, HWDC, various foster care; 5,590 probation; 104,452 total CO ≈7,400 1,500 IAPD 8/99 N/A CT 6,000 2,000 State 7/96 N/A DC 2,673 650 Pilot 10/97 MCSI Technologies, Knowlogy, some TBD DE 828 600 Pilot 9/97 Public Systems Inc. FL 8,970 ≈5,500 Imminent release of 12/00 TBD implementation RFP GA N/A 2,771 Plan N/A N/A HI 2,600 800 Plan N/A Data House, Roses IA 4,197 4,564 State 4/95 BDM Tech. Inc., IA State Univ. *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Reference Table A-1: General Information/Status State # Children # System Current Status Expected Contractor(s) in Care Users as of 4/4/97* Statewide Implementation Date ID 900 450 Design completed; now 4/98 Several in construction IL 51,358 ≈6,500 Systems requirements N/A TBD IN 10,257 + 1,300 State 2/97 Unisys 2,685 CHINS 30 own home KS N/A ≈800- IAPD N/A N/A 1,000 KY 3,800 2,000; State 9/96 Memorex/Telex, Unisys currently 300+ LA 6,082 2,077 Existing system 1/88 enhanced in-house MA 12,208 3,000+ Pilot 8/97 State central office, Deloitte Touche MD 8,268 ≈2,700 RFP N/A N/A foster care; 3,327 kinship care ME *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Reference Table A-1: General Information/Status State # Children # System Current Status Expected Contractor(s) in Care Users as of 4/4/97* Statewide Implementation Date MI 19,176 ≈3,700 Pilot 1/98 Unisys MN MO 10,291 2,000 Install N/A Computers Plus MS 3,200 634 ConNeg 9/98 Comsys MT NC 31 ND 904 N/A Pilot N/A N/A NE 3,440 580 Install 2/98 Andersen Consulting NH 2,800 450 Pilot 6/97 Baystate Comp Gp. Dynamic Research Corp. NJ 8,307 2,500 Plan N/A (4/5/97) NM 1,800 1,200 Pilot 7/97 AMS Inc. NV N/A 750 RFP N/A Dell NY 52,419 ≈14,600 Pilot 9/97 ISSC, Andersen Consulting OH N/A 4,500 Approved IAPD; RFP N/A Hughes Laptop being written OK 5,357 1,250 State 6/95 Deloitte Touche OR =1450- Pilot 1999 N/A 1550 *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Reference Table A-1: General Information/Status State # Children # System Current Status Expected Contractor(s) in Care Users as of 4/4/97* Statewide Implementation Date PA 20,706 No SACWIS RI ≈3,000 700 Install 8/97 AMS, University of RI, Child Welfare Institute SC ≈5,000 ≈1,400 Design 12/98 Compucom Svcs. Inc. SD 526 250 Walter R. McDonald Assoc. 32 Design 7/98 TN 9,500 3,000 IAPD 3/98 Multiple contracts TX 11,000+ 6,000 State 9/96 Andersen Consulting UT 2,333 650-700 Pilot Begun 12/96 Several VA VT 1,372 No SACWIS WA 9,800 2,000; State 9/96 Other state agency, contractors ≈700 concurrent WI N/A N/A Design 2001 Brainstorm WV 3,145 700 Install 9/97 Deloitte Touche WY 1,234 200-225 Development 9/98 Andersen Consulting * A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Abbreviations in Reference Table A-1: General Information/Status Column 4, Current Status as of 4/4/97: ConNeg = Contract negotiations Design = Designing system IAPD = Awaiting IAPD approval Install = Installing equipment Pilot = Partial implementation/pilot Plan = Planning (preparing PAPD/awaiting PAPD approval) RFP = Released RFP; awaiting bids State = Already implemented statewide 33 Reference Table A-2: System Components State Child Welfare Administrative Other Services Out-of-Scope Interfaces* Risk Services* Functions* to Child Services* Assessment Welfare Component Clients* AK CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH, SA, DV, IV-D, JJ, Acc, Y Adop, Prev, IL, Pay, Staff, Con, JJ/YR Lic, Crim JJ Crim, CR, Elig AL CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, CC APS IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, CR XIX, Acc AR CPS, OOH, IHB, Pay, Staff, Con IV-A, IV-D, N 35 Adop, Prev, IL XIX, Acc, Lic, Pers AZ CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH IV-D, XIX, Acc, N/A Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con, Pers CR, Train CA CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, Pay IV-A, IV-D, N Adop, Prev, IL, XIX, Lic Courts, H/Ed CO CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH, SA, DV, IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con JJ/YR XIX, JJ, Acc, Lic, Vital, Edu, MH, Pers CT CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH, SA, JJ/YR MH, JJ JJ, Lic, Edu, MH Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con, CR *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Reference Table A-2: System Components State Child Welfare Administrative Other Services Out-of-Scope Interfaces* Risk Services* Functions* to Child Services* Assessment Welfare Component Clients* DC CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH, SA, DV IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con, XIX, Acc, Pers CR DE CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH, SA, DV, YRS, CMH, Fin IV-A, IV-D, Edu Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con, JJ/YR Crim, CR, Fin, 36 Elig FL CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH, SA, JJ/YR APS IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con XIX, JJ, Acc, Lic, Vital, Edu, Crim, Pers GA CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, APS IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Staff, CR XIX HI CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, APS, CC IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con, XIX, Acc, Lic Crim, CR, Fin IA CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH APS IV-A, IV-D, N Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con, XIX, Acc Elig, Fin, Admin ID CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH IV-A, IV-D, Acc Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Reference Table A-2: System Components State Child Welfare Administrative Other Services Out-of-Scope Interfaces* Risk Services* Functions* to Child Services* Assessment Welfare Component Clients* IL CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH, SA, DV, IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con, JJ/YR XIX, JJ, Acc, Crim Lic, Vital, Edu, MH, Crim, Pers, SA, Fin, Admin, Courts 37 IN CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, JJ/YR IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Staff, Con, CR XIX, Acc, Lic KS CPS, OOH, IHB, Pay, Staff IV-A, IV-D, N/A Prev XIX, Acc KY CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, Pay, JJ/YR IV-A, IV-D, Fin Y Adop, Prev, IL Staff, Crim LA CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, JJ/YR, CC CC N Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff MA CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, Pay, SA, DV, JJ/YR CC IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL, Staff, Con, Crim, XIX, Acc, Edu Legal CR MD N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A ME MI CPS, OOH, LicFH, LicFac, MH, SA, DV, APS Lic Y Adop, IL Pay, Staff, Con JJ/YR *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Reference Table A-2: System Components State Child Welfare Administrative Other Services Out-of-Scope Interfaces* Risk Services* Functions* to Child Services* Assessment Welfare Component Clients* MN MO CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, DV IV-A, IV-D, N/A Adop, Prev, IL, Pay, Staff, Con, XIX, JJ, Crim, FPS Crim, CR Pers MS CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH, SA, JJ/YR IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff XIX, JJ, Acc, 38 Vital MT NC ND CPS, OOH, LicFH, LicFac, SA, JJ/YR IV-A, IV-D, N Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff XIX, JJ, Lic NE CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH, SA, DV, CC IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL, Pay, Staff, Con, JJ/YR XIX, Edu HS Crim, CR, Legal NH CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, JJ/YR JJ IV-A, IV-D, N Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, XIX, Edu Admin NJ CPS, OOH, IHB, Pay, Crim IV-A, IV-D, N Adop, Prev, IL XIX NM CPS, OOH, LicFH, LicFac, APS, CC IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff XIX, Acc *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Reference Table A-2: System Components State Child Welfare Administrative Other Services Out-of-Scope Interfaces* Risk Services* Functions* to Child Services* Assessment Welfare Component Clients* NV CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH, SA, DV, JJ IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con, JJ/YR XIX, JJ, Acc, Elig MH, Pers NY CPS, OOH, LicFH, LicFac, JJ/YR IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con, XIX, JJ, Acc, CR Lic, MH 39 OH CPS, OOH, IHB, Pay, Staff IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Acc, Lic OK CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, Pay, MH, SA, DV IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Staff, Con, CR XIX, JJ, Acc OR CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, IV-A, XIX, Acc, N Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con, Lic CR PA No SACWIS RI CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH, SA, DV, JJ, CC IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con, JJ/YR XIX, JJ, Acc, CR IV-F, Fin SC CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, APS IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con XIX, Acc SD CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, JJ/YR IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff XIX *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Reference Table A-2: System Components State Child Welfare Administrative Other Services Out-of-Scope Interfaces* Risk Services* Functions* to Child Services* Assessment Welfare Component Clients* TN CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, JJ/YR JJ IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con, XIX, JJ, Acc, Crim, CR Edu, Pers TX CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, Staff, APS, MH/MR IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Con, Crim, XIX, Acc. Lic, Fin Admin Vital, Edu, Crim, 40 Pers UT CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, DV IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, CR XIX, JJ, Acc, Lic VA VT No SACWIS WA CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, CC IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, Prev, IL Pay, Staff, Con XIX, Acc, Vital WI CPS, OOH, IHB, LicFH, LicFac, MH, SA, DV, IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop Pay, Staff, Con, JJ/YR XIX, Acc Crim WV CPS, OOH, LicFH, LicFac, IV-A, IV-D, Y Adop, IL Pay, Staff, CR XIX, Acc WY CPS, OOH, IL LicFH, LicFac, JJ/YR JJ, APS IV-A, IV-D, Y Pay, Staff, Con XIX, Acc, Edu *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Abbreviations in Reference Table A-2: System Components Column 2, Child Welfare Services: Adop = Adoption (recruiting, placement, post-adoption services, etc.) Courts = Services related to court proceedings CPS = Child protection services (intake, screening, investigation, disposition determination, crisis intervention/family stabilization, discharge) Fin = Miscellaneous other financial functions (payments, cost allocations, etc.) FPS = Family preservation services H/Ed = A California program to track children's health and education status from county to county HS = Home studies 41 IHB = Intensive home-based services IL = Independent living JJ = Juvenile justice programs Legal = Legal services OOH = Out of home care (foster care, group homes residential placement, etc.) Prev = Preventive services (family support, homemaker services, respite care, etc.) Column 3, Administrative Functions: Admin = Miscellaneous administrative or management functions Con = Contracts CR = Cost recovery Crim = Criminal history Elig = Eligible determination for Title IV-E Fin = Miscellaneous other financial functions (payments, cost allocations, etc.) Abbreviations in Reference Table A-2: System Components Column 3, Administrative Functions (continued): Legal = Legal services LicFac = Licensing of facilities (group homes, child care, etc.) LicFH = Licensing/certification of foster family homes Pay = Payments Staff = Staff and workload administration and management Train = Training 42 Column 4, Other Services to Child Welfare Clients: CC = Child care DV = Domestic violence JJ/YR = Juvenile justice/youth rehabilitation programs MH = Mental health SA = Substance abuse Column 5, Out-of-Scope Services: APS = Adult protective services CC = Child care CMH = Children's mental health Fin = Miscellaneous other financial functions (payments, cost allocations, etc.) JJ = Juvenile justice programs Abbreviations in Reference Table A-2: System Components Column 5, Out-of-Scope Services (continued): MH = Mental health MH/MR = Mental health/mental retardation YRS = Youth rehabilitative services Column 6, Interfaces: Acc = Accounting 43 Admin = Miscellaneous administrative or management functions Courts = Services related to court proceedings Crim = Criminal history check Edu = Education Fin = Miscellaneous other financial functions (payments, cost allocations, etc.) IV-A = Title IV-A IV-D = Title IV-D JJ = Juvenile justice programs Lic = Licensing MH = Mental health Pers = Personnel/human resources SA = Substance abuse Vital = Vital statistics XIX = Title XIX Reference Table A-3: Technical Elements State System Networks* Remote Access Central Operating Database* Architecture* Processing Unit System* AK C/S LAN, WAN N P-5 NT 3.51, NT 4.0, D NT AL M LAN N IBM 9121 Win 3.11, Net C mainframe 3.12, Win 3.11, Net 3.12 AR C/S LAN, WAN, N HP9000 Pb, Ora, Unix, C Inter, Intra Net 4.1 AZ C/S LAN, WAN Y P75 desktop, NT, MVS, NT- C 45 DX486-100 SNA laptops CA C/S LAN, WAN Y Pentium 75-133 Win 95, Win C Wkgps, OS/2, Lan Server CO C/S LAN, WAN, Y TBD TBD B Intra CT C/S LAN, WAN, N IBM 3090 Win 3.1, Ban C Inter DC C/S LAN, WAN, Y Tricord Win 95, WinNT, C Inter, Intra superserver Net 4.X DE C/S LAN, WAN, Y Sun Spare 1000 Win 95, Sol, C Inter, Intra database server Ban FL C/S LAN, WAN, N TBD TBD C Inter, Intra *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Client operating systems are printed in normal text; server operating systems are in italics; network operating systems are in bold. Reference Table A-3: Technical Elements State System Networks* Remote Access Central Operating Database* Architecture* Processing Unit System* GA N/A N/A N TBD TBD B HI M N/A N IBM 30-90-200E MVS/CICS C IA M LAN, WAN, Y IBM 3090(J) Win 95, NT, C Inter, Intra Win NT ID Combo LAN, WAN, Y ES 9000 Win 3.11 C Inter, Intra mainframe IL Combo LAN, WAN Y TBD TBD C 46 IN C/S LAN, WAN, Y Tricord Win 95, NT, NT B Inter, Intra KS N/A Inter N Andahl Win, Net C mainframe KY C/S LAN, WAN N N/A NT 3.51, NT C 3.51, Unix, Sol 2.5 LA M LAN, WAN, Y IBM mainframe N/A C Inter, Intra MA Combo LAN, WAN, Y HP 520(2) Win 95, Ban C Inter MD N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A ME MI C/S LAN, WAN, N N/A Win Wkgps, D Intra Unix, IP Network *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Client operating systems are printed in normal text; server operating systems are in italics; network operating systems are in bold. Reference Table A-3: Technical Elements State System Networks* Remote Access Central Operating Database* Architecture* Processing Unit System* MN MO Combo LAN, WAN, Y IBM OS/2, OS/2, C Inter OS/2 MS C/S LAN, WAN Y Enterprise server Win 3.1, Net B 4.11, Net MT NC ND M LAN N Mainframe N/A C 47 NE Combo LAN, WAN Y IBM ES9000- OS/2W, OS/2 C 720, MVS NH C/S LAN, WAN, Y HP9000 K420 Win 95, HP-VX, C Inter Net 4.0 NJ M LAN, WAN, Y N/A N/A B Inter, Intra NM C/S LAN, WAN N HP, Intel Win 95, HP-UX B 10.10, Net NV N/A LAN N TBD TBD TBD NY Combo LAN, WAN, Y HP9000 T520 MS Win NT C Intra OH C/S LAN, WAN, N/A N/A Win 95, Net or B Inter, Intra HP-UX, Net OK C/S LAN, WAN N HP9000 T-500 Win 3.11, Unix, C Net *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Client operating systems are printed in normal text; server operating systems are in italics; network operating systems are in bold. Reference Table A-3: Technical Elements State System Networks* Remote Access Central Operating Database* Architecture* Processing Unit System* OR Combo LAN, WAN, N IBM mainframe Win 3.1, Syb, B Inter, Intra Net PA No SACWIS RI C/S LAN, WAN Y HP420 Win 95, HP-UX, B Syb, Net SC Combo LAN, WAN Y NAS-XL100 OS/2W, OS/2W, C OS/2W SD C/S LAN, WAN, Y Compaq Proliant Win 95, NT C 48 Inter 5000 TN C/S LAN, WAN, Y Sun Enterprise Win 95, Unix, B Inter server Net, Sol, Com, Sol, Net TX C/S LAN, WAN, Y HP9000 K420 DOS/Win 3.1, C Inter, Intra HP-UX 10.10, Net 4.1 UT C/S LAN, WAN, Y N/A Win 3.1/95, Unix D Inter, Intra VA VT No SACWIS WA M LAN, WAN, Y IBM mainframe Win NT, MVS, C Inter, Intra Sol, Unix, Win NT WI C/S LAN, WAN N/A N/A Win NT, Win NT B *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. $Client operating systems are printed in normal text; server operating systems are in italics; network operating systems are in bold. Reference Table A-3: Technical Elements State System Networks* Remote Access Central Operating Database* Architecture* Processing Unit System* WV C/S LAN, WAN, Y HP9000 Win 95, Win NT, B Inter, Intra Unix WY C/S LAN, WAN, N RS600 model Win, Unix (AIX) B Inter, Intra 595 4.2 49 *A list of abbreviations used in this column appears at the end of the table. Client operating systems are printed in normal text; server operating systems are in italics; network operating systems are in bold. Abbreviations in Reference Table A-3: Technical Elements Column 2, System Architecture: Combo = Combination of mainframe and client/server C/S = Client/server M = Mainframe Column 3, Networks: 50 Inter = Internet connection Intra = Intranet LAN = Local Area Network WAN = Wide Area Network Column 6, Operating System: Ban = Banyan Com = Compaq Net = Novell Netware Ora = Oracle OS/2W = OS/2 Warp Pb = Powerbuilder Sol = Sun Solaris Syb = Sybase Win = Windows Abbreviations in Reference Table A-3: Technical Elements Column 7, Database: B = Both centralized and distributed C = Centralized D = Distributed 51 Reference Table A-4: Software State Application Database Application Ad Hoc Office E-Mail Development Reporting AK VB 4.0 Access Access/VB Crystal Reports N/A MS Exchange AL N/A DB2 Powerbuilder TBD MS Office TBD AR Powerbuilder/M Oracle Powerbuilder Developer 2000 MS Office TAO for F Cobol Windows AZ Composer 3.0 DB2, SQL 6.5 Cobol Esperant MS Office 95 MS Exchange CA IEF, CASETool, DB2 host, N/A SAS MS Word MS Mail C++, Visual DB2/2 server Basic, Cobol 53 CO TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD CT N/A DB2 Powerbuilder Focus, OMF MS MS Mail, Intelligent Messaging DC Watcom SQL Oracle 7 Powerbuilder SQL MS Office Groupwise Reportwriter DE Centura Team Oracle Centura Crystal Info MS Office 95 Shark Mail Developer FL TBD Oracle TBD TBD MS Office cc: Mail GA N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A HI Natural Adabas Natural Natural & SAS N/A N/A IA N/A IDMS N/A N/A N/A MS Exchange ID Natural Adabas Windows N/A N/A MS Mail Lightstorm IL TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD Reference Table A-4: Software State Application Database Application Ad Hoc Office E-Mail Development Reporting IN Powerbuilder Oracle Powerbuilder TBD MS MS Exchange KS IEF generated DB2 Cobol N/A N/A N/A Cobol KY Terrain, Sybase Sys II Gupta, SQL Crystal Info MS Office 4.3 MS Mail; plans Bachman Replication Windows 5.03 to go to MS Groundworks, Servers Exchange Gupta SQL Windows 54 LA Software AG Software AG Software AG Software AG Novel Perfect Futurus Natural Natural Natural Natural Office Team/Groupwise MA Oracle, MQ Oracle 7 Oracle Oracle-Discover Office 97 Beyond Mail Series, C, Word, Developer 2000 Beyond Mail MD N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A ME MI Mapper Mapper Mapper/Visual Data Warehouse MS Suite Novell Basic SPL & Access Groupwise pilot in some counties MN MO Texas Dbase 2 IEF Composer FOCUS MS Suite IBM Office Instruments Vision Reference Table A-4: Software State Application Database Application Ad Hoc Office E-Mail Development Reporting MS Natural Adabas Natural Natural WordPerfect, Groupwise Lightstorm Lotus 123 MT NC ND Natural Adabas Natural Natural N/A Displaywrite 370 NE Composer CASE DB2 Composer CASE N/A MS Office Lotus, cc:Mail Tool, Aion DS Tool, Aion DS Expert System, Expert System, 55 Cobol, C++ Cobol, C++ NH S-Designer, Oracle 7.2 Powerbuilder 5.0 TBD, possibly MS Office 4.3 MS Mail, Lotus Powerbuilder 5.0 MS Access, Notes Crystal R NJ Cobol N/A N/A QRP & Cobol MS Word Banyan Sharkmail NM Powerbuilder, Sybase Powerbuilder, Focus Word, WP, Groupwise Focus, Cobol, Cobol Help Lotus, Excel PVCS, SQA NV TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD NY Foundation/C+ Oracle 7.3.2.1 Foundation/C+ Foundation, MS MS Office 95 MS Exchange Access OH Delphi Oracle N/A Crystal Reports Corel Office Groupwise OK Powerbuilder Oracle Powerbuilder FOCUS MS Host-based Reference Table A-4: Software State Application Database Application Ad Hoc Office E-Mail Development Reporting OR Cincom's Object Sybase, IMS Smalltalk, Cobol TBD, Cobol, EZ WordPerfect Groupwise Studio II Plus PA No SACWIS RI Powerbuilder Sybase Powerbuilder, Infomaker, MS Office, N/A Access SQR-Cobol Novell Groupwise SC Natural Adabas Natural Natural Lotus Smartsuite cc:Mail SD Visual Basic 4.0 MS SQL server N/A Crystal Reports MS Office Suite MS Mail, 56 6.5 5.0 moving to MS Exchange TN ER Win, BP Oracle 7.xx In-house "CCIS" SQR (latest MS Office Suite Novell Win, Oracle), Data Groupwise Powerbuilder, Query Oracle TX FCP Oracle FCP Oracle, MS MS Office MS Mail Access UT Powerbuilder 5.0 Sybase II N/A Infomaker WP Groupwise VA VT No SACWIS WA N/A Adabas, Oracle Natural, Delphi, Info. Advantage MS Office Novell Info Session Groupwise WI Visual Basic SQL server Visual Basic Crystal Reports MS Office Groupwise Reference Table A-4: Software State Application Database Application Ad Hoc Office E-Mail Development Reporting WV Powerbuilder 5 Oracle 7 Powerbuilder 5 Crystal Reports Corel Perfect Groupwise Office WY Natural Adabas Natural Adabas SQL N/A Groupwise server, Esperant 57 Reference Table A-5: Security State Security AK Windows NT AL Novell LAN security; RACF on mainframe; user sign-ons & passwords; physical security for servers AR N/A AZ ACF2 CA RACF (host), built-in security (LAN server) CO TBD CT N/A DC Network security, application security DE Password, Firewall, Encryption, secure ID cards FL TBD GA TBD HI RAC-F IA RACF-ID ID Specified user profiles for LAN, mainframe, application IL RACF & TBD based on infrastructure IN NT & application using power frame KS Top Secret & application KY Security at menu levels & also within the application; based upon case level security LA IBM mainframe RACF v2.1 MA Single log on, password, server detection, application, audit fields, log to social worker MD N/A ME MI Password, no modems, individual classification MN MO RACKF MS centralized MT NC ND N/A NE RACF NH User authentication, screen access by assigned security level 59 Reference Table A-5: Security State Security NJ At network level, at mainframe level NM Physical passwords NV Dependent on system selection NY Windows NT for network access, additional security specific to user role (supervisor, caseworker) within application OH N/A OK Netware security, user ID/password OR RACF application-specific security, mainframe application-specific security, log-on/password- client/server PA No SACWIS RI Combination-Novell security on log-ins, log-ins used w/ application security, security profiles describe individual access to system SC Mainframe: RACF for resources, NATURAL security for programs; LAN/WAN: WARP server advanced security SD Log-on security provided with the federal prototype, SQL server built-in security TN Novell-C2 level, Sun-C2 level TX Network & application access by Novell Netware 4.1 Security; log-in authentication, password, netware directory services, file system security UT N/A VA VT No SACWIS WA Mainframe RACF, network NT security in the application varies by procedure, with some procedures read-only and/or restricted to designated users WI N/A WV Network security-NT; data security-Oracle WY N/A 60 Appendix B: Survey Survey of the Status and Functionality of Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information Systems (SACWIS) Name of SACWIS Project Manager Title Agency Address Phone Fax E-mail address Name and phone number of person completing survey (if different): We would like to use the survey data as a resource for all states. May we attribute information gathered in this survey to your state? Information on current contracting activity automatically will be kept confidential. If you are comfortable with releasing the bulk of the information in this survey but would like to keep single items confidential, please check "Yes" below and indicate your exceptions next to the relevant questions. Yes, may attribute to state. No, please keep confidential. 1. Background 1. To what extent did your child welfare agency have information technology or automation before October 1, 1993 (check all that apply)? No automation Certain functions were automated (please specify: ) Already had begun planning an information system Counties had individual systems Other (please specify: ) 2. How many children were in out-of-home care in your state as of January 1, 1997? Please return this survey by April 4, 1997, to Theresa Finchio, APWA, 810 First Street NE, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20002-4267; FAX: (202) 289-6555; phone: (202) 682-0100, ext. 261. 61 Please return this survey by April 4, 1997, to Theresa Finchio, APWA, 810 First Street NE, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20002-4267; FAX: (202) 289-6555; phone: (202) 682-0100, ext. 261. II. Plans for SACWIS 1. Does your agency plan to have a SACWIS? Yes (please skip to Question 3) No (please complete Question 2) Undecided (please indicate why: ) 2. If your state is not planning to build a SACWIS, please indicate the reason(s). Legislature has not appropriated funds Agency determined there is no need Other (please specify: ) Comments: The rest of this survey concerns states that have a SACWIS or plan to implement one. If your state does not plan to implement a SACWIS, please return this survey (completed pages only) to Theresa Finchio at APWA. Thank you. 62 Please return this survey by April 4, 1997, to Theresa Finchio, APWA, 810 First Street NE, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20002-4267; FAX: (202) 289-6555; phone: (202) 682-0100, ext. 261. 3. What is the status of your SACWIS project? Planning (preparing PAPD/awaiting PAPD approval) Awaiting IAPD approval Released RFP; awaiting bids Contract negotiations Designing system Installing equipment Partial implementation/pilot Already implemented statewide Other (please specify: ) 4. In the right-hand column of the table below, please indicate the date the activity has been completed or will be completed. Stage Actual or Expected Completion Date Planning/PAPD Approval IAPD Approval Issue RFP Bids Due Contract Awarded Application Design Equipment Installation Pilot Statewide Implementation 63 Please return this survey by April 4, 1997, to Theresa Finchio, APWA, 810 First Street NE, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20002-4267; FAX: (202) 289-6555; phone: (202) 682-0100, ext. 261. 5a. How many users are on your state's SACWIS? 5b. Who are the users on your state's SACWIS (check all that apply)? Clerical staff Workers Supervisors Managers Other (please specify: ) 6. In the table below, please check () which activities you have contracted out (or plan to contract out), and which are/will be kept in-house. Also, please indicate the contractor(s) for each activity, where applicable, in the far right-hand column. Activity In- Con- Both Name of Contractor House tracted Mainframe/server PCs Infrastructure Application Development Implementation Interfaces Data Conversion Training 64 Please return this survey by April 4, 1997, to Theresa Finchio, APWA, 810 First Street NE, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20002-4267; FAX: (202) 289-6555; phone: (202) 682-0100, ext. 261. III. System Functions and Interfaces 1. Which child welfare services does your state's SACWIS support (check all that apply)? Child protection (intake, screening, investigation, disposition determination, crisis intervention/family stabilization, discharge) Out-of-home care (foster care, group homes, residential placement, etc.) Intensive home-based services Adoption (recruiting, placement, post-adoption services, etc.) Preventive services (family support, homemaker services, respite care, etc.) Independent living Other (please specify: ) 2. Which administrative functions does your state's SACWIS support? Licensing/certification of foster family homes Licensing of facilities (group homes, child care, etc.) Payments Staff and workload administration and management Contracts Criminal history Cost recovery Other (please specify: ) 65 Please return this survey by April 4, 1997, to Theresa Finchio, APWA, 810 First Street NE, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20002-4267; FAX: (202) 289-6555; phone: (202) 682-0100, ext. 261. 3. Does your state's SACWIS include a risk-assessment component? Yes No 4. Which other services to child welfare clients does your state's SACWIS track? Mental health Substance abuse Domestic violence Juvenile justice/youth rehabilitation Other (please specify: ) 5a. Does your state's SACWIS include any components that are outside the scope of SACWIS, as defined by the interim final rule of December 22, 1993 (e.g., adult services, juvenile justice, child care)? Yes (please complete Question 5b) No (please skip to Question 6) 5b. If yes, please indicate which other components are in your SACWIS. 6. Check all applicable interfaces your state's SACWIS includes: IV-A Mental health IV-D Criminal history Title XIX check Personnel/human Juvenile justice resources Accounting Other (please Licensing specify: Vital statistics ) Education 66 Please return this survey by April 4, 1997, to Theresa Finchio, APWA, 810 First Street NE, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20002 4267; FAX: (202) 289-655; phone: (202) 682-0100, ext. 261. 7a. Is your SACWIS a stand-alone system, or is it integrated with other systems? Stand-alone Integrated 7b. If integrated, what other systems are included? 8. Does your SACWIS provide ad hoc or executive reporting? Yes No Comments: 9. For items (a) and (b) below, please indicate whether you are submitting data to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from your SACWIS or another system. If another system, please indicate how you are submitting the data: a. AFCARS: SACWIS Other System: N/A b. NCANDS: SACWIS Other System: N/A IV. System Architecture 1. What is the system architecture for your state's SACWIS? Mainframe (please describe: ) Client/server (please describe: ) Combination (please describe: ) Other (please specify: ) 67 Please return this survey by April 4, 1997, to Theresa Finchio, APWA, 810 First Street NE, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20002-4267; FAX: (202) 289-655; phone: (202) 682-0100, ext. 261. 2a. Does your state's SACWIS have either of the following networks? Local Area Network (LAN): Network Speed Wide Area Network (WAN): Network Speed N/A 2b. Does your network have an Internet or intranet connection? Internet Intranet N/A 3a. What type of workstation does your system support? Dedicated/desktop workstation (please answer Question 3b, then go on to Question 4) Mobile/laptop workstation (please answer Questions 3c and 3d) Both (please answer questions 3b, 3c, and 3d) Other (please specify: ) 3b. What type of dedicated workstations do users have? Terminal Personal computers 3c. Who in your state has mobile/remote access (check all that apply)? Clerical staff Workers Supervisors Management Other (please specify: ) 68 Please return this survey by April 4, 1997, to Theresa Finchio, APWA, 810 First Street NE, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20002-4267; FAX: (202) 289-6555; phone: (202) 682-0100, ext. 261. 3d. Please place a check mark in the table below under each part of the system to which the users listed at left have remote access. User Application E-Mail Other (please specify) Supervisors Workers Clerical Staff Administration Other (please specify) 4. What central processing unit does your state's SACWIS use? 5. What operating system(s) does your SACWIS use? Client: Server: Network: 6. Is your SACWIS database centralized or distributed? Centralized Distributed Both 69 Please return this survey by April 4, 1997, to Theresa Finchio, APWA, 810 First Street NE, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20002-4267; FAX: (202) 289-6555; phone: (202) 682-0100, ext. 261. 7. Please indicate the software used for the following aspects of SACWIS development and implementation: Application development: Database: Application: Ad hoc reporting: Office: E-mail: 8. What is the user-to-terminal (or PC) ratio in your state? 9. Describe the types of security your state's system has: 10. Is your state's SACWIS Year 2000 compliant? Yes No Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. 70