Advocacy Focus and Tools

GRASA partners with local community members, funders, providers, and advocates to bring greater awareness of and support expanded access to high-quality OST programs. We envision a community where every school-aged child will be prepared for success. 

GRASA leads local advocacy efforts, facilitates local awareness and collaborations, and tracks local OST program quality.

Here’s what we are focusing on this year.

1. RECOVERY: New York must safeguard investments, commitments, and protections provided to afterschool, summer, and other OST programs.

2. RESPONSE: To adequately respond to the needs of children and families, OST programs must be nimble to provide a continuum of care and seamlessly adapt, especially during a crisis.

3. RESILIENCE: New York State must make new investments to help OST programs and the youth and families they serve operate safely, securely, and effectively.

Follow us on social media to learn more about any of these priorities and our latest advocacy efforts.

OST Basic Facts

• This Is Afterschool 

• Resources to Promote Belonging and Inclusion 

• The Value of Out-of-School Time Programs 

• A Nation at Hope

  • What Quality OST Looks Like (video library)

• Lights On Afterschool Advocacy Postcards

Check out these sites for even more resources and information: 

• National Institute on Out-of-School Time

• Afterschool Alliance 

• Wallace Foundation

• Every Hour Counts

• New York State Network for Youth Success

• Rand Corporation

• American Institutes for Research (AIR)