The APOST Quality Capacity Grants represent the first effort to demonstrably provide more funding for out-of-school time programs and to help programs realize that a continuous quality improvement process should be the hallmark of how programs approach doing their best to serve children, youth, families, and communities. The APOST Quality Capacity Grants focus on using the APOST Quality Self-Assessment to help programs identify specific areas that need to be strengthened to provide high quality services.

The first round of grants recipients was awarded to the Beverly Jewel Lovelace Children's Program and the Pittsburgh Project. The most recent round of grants, focused specifically on summer programming, has been awarded to Sarah Heinz House and The Schenley Heights Community Development Program. These organizations demonstrated that they used a process to review services that included both lead directors/program coordinators and direct service staff. They also made a clear commitment at both levels that the plan of action reflects what staff at all levels generally agree is needed to benefit the participants. The programs funded also included youth voice and parent input.

Be sure to stay linked to AfterschoolPGH.org for information regarding future APOST Quality Capacity Grant opportunities. To learn more about identifying areas of needed quality improvement in your out-of-school time organization or program
, click here to see the Quality Self Assessment Tool.

  

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