After School Program
Start-up Tips… with No Fear Factor!
Presented by 4-H Youth Development Specialists
Vanette Grover & Karen Byers

Introduce yourself and share:

A 5-Step Approach….
1) Call a Community Meeting
2) Create Advisory Committee & Conduct Planning Mtgs
• Form Sub-committees and Make Assignments
3) Hold Meetings With Committee Sharing
• Budget, Marketing, Program Plan, Next Action Steps, etc…
• Timeline
4) Finalize & Submit Proposal
5) Implement the Program

Step #1 – Call A Community Meeting
• Who are some of the people you would include?
• How many people would you include?
• When and where would you meet?
• What kind of information would you want to collect from them? Is there a special role you would like each person to play?

Step #2 – The Meeting Agenda
• What kind of research information and/or data would you like to share with them?
• Where do you get this information?
• What is each person’s role on the committee?
• Outline proposed activities.

Step #2 – The Meeting Agenda
• Define after school needs/options, target audience, and other participants.
• Determine goal(s) for the committee & program.
• Are there others to involve in this process?
• Create subcommittees and assignments based on goals.
• Create agenda for next meeting.

Sidebar Tip: Prior to 2 nd Meeting
• Distribute a family survey soon after 1 st meeting so they can be returned and tabulated prior to 2 nd meeting.
• Prepare an outline of proposed activities as discussed in 1 st meeting.

Steps #3 & 4 – Committee Reporting
• Review goals and assignments.
• Have sub-committees report to the group.
• Discuss reports and make any adjustments.
• Set Short-term, Intermediate, and Long-term goals.
• Set future meeting dates and timetables.
• Prepare a final proposal.

Sidebar on Program Financing
• Be prepared to talk about how the after school program will be financed:
• Fee Structure, Grants, Etc…
• Full-time or Part-time Coordinator
• Additional Staff paid or volunteer
• As a guide, you can figure approximately $3 per child if the coordinator is paid other than through fees and
$4-$5 if paid through child fees.

Step #5 – Implement & Evaluate
• Be prepared to DWYSYWD….
”Do What You Say You Will Do!”
• Continue to meet after the program starts to evaluate quality & sustainability.

The After School Program is Up and
Running…Now What?
• What role do we play as Extension Educators?
• What might our long-term outcomes be?
• Is it enough to have a sustainable program?
• How do we impact the after school environment?
• How do we incorporate 4-H into After School?
~Let’s share ideas and thoughts~

Thank You!
Presented by 4-H Youth Development Specialists
Vanette Grover & Karen Byers