ACF Helps Build Higher Quality Afterschool Programs
Today, ACF joined national leaders in 7,000 communities across the nation at the 5th annual Lights on Afterschool! celebration. The event is designed to call attention to afterschool programs and the resources required to keep the lights on and the doors open.
ACF is the largest source of federal funding for out-of-school time services, providing safe places for kids while their parents are working. High quality afterschool programs engage children and youth in a range of activities that promote healthy development and support learning.
As communities across the country participate in the event, ACF’s Child Care Bureau (CCB) announced the availability of new tools to help states and communities work with other public and private sector partners to support quality afterschool programs.
Developed by the Bureau’s Afterschool Investments Project, CCB is providing key data, descriptions and information of the afterschool landscape as a resource for policymakers, administrators and providers.
ACF awards child care funding to states, territories and Indian tribes through the $4.8 billion Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). While these resources support eligible children of all ages up to 13, almost half of the children served are school or kindergarten-aged. CCDF provides child care subsidies for low income families who are working or attending training or education—thereby helping families to pay for cae with a provider of their choice. Other ACF resources, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), also fund afterschool services. The new tools developed through the Afterschool Investments project will help states and communities to invest these resources wisely and effectively.
To help publicize today’s Lights On Afterschool!, Joan Ohl, Commissioner for the Administration on Children, Youth and Families participated in a Lights On Afterschool! celebration at the U.S. Department of Education.
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