ARCHS & St. Louis For Kids are leading an important effort to increase access to after school services to benefit youth, families and the community.

In 2007, ARCHS and St. Louis For Kids (SL4K) entered into a community partnership to lead the After School for All Partnership (ASAP).

ASAP is  a community effort that is initially ensuring that by Fall 2007, more than 1,283 St. Louis city students, who currently are not enrolled in an after school program, will be able to spend their after school hours in safe, learning-focused environments.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay asked ARCHS and St. Louis For Kids to spearhead ASAP to address St. Louis’ lack of after school programs. ASAP reports that on a regional basis, there is currently a need for 5,600 more children to be served to meet the national average of 22% access to five day-a-week after school programs.

“Parents want quality after school programs where they know that their children are safe, enriched and active. Unfortunately, only 1 out of 10 children have access to such programs. ARCHS and St. Louis For Kids are uniquely positioned, through ASAP, to increase the supply, access and quality of after school programs in St. Louis,” said Mayor Slay.

ASAP is working to add new programs, expand current locations and provide expertise to support existing after school services. ASAP will foster after school services that provides both academic and social support for grade school students. ASAP will partner with public and private organizations to secure resources to add the additional 5,600 new after school spaces needed to serve city-based public/private schools and community center locations.

“Quality after school programs are well-known to keep youth safe, improve school performance and help working families. Here in St. Louis, we are in critical need of more after school activities to serve the many children and families who currently have no access to non-school hour programs,” said Jama Dodson, Executive Director of St. Louis for Kids.

“ASAP is positioning St. Louis alongside cities such as Baltimore and New York, who are setting the gold standard for offering vibrant after school experiences,” said

Wendell E. Kimbrough, ARCHS’ CEO.

The partnership is not a merger, with both organizations retaining their own staff and boards. Each organization will have specific ASAP duties and provide board members and designated staff support.

A variety of local and state public/ private funding sources are making substantial financial commitments to support ASAP.

Refer to www.stlasap.org.