The New Britain After-School Initiative for Middle School Youth was launched in 2005 by the American Savings Foundation. The Foundation seeks to make a positive measurable impact on 1) teen pregnancy rates 2) academic achievement and 3) the school drop-out rate.  The Foundation is funding multi-year grants for local agencies to expand and improve programs that serve middle-school youth. The initiative includes an evaluation developed and implemented by the Yale Consultation Center.  Grantees are expected to:

• Substantially increase the number of youth served.
• Increase outreach to at-risk youth.  Expand services to underserved neighborhoods.
• Improve program quality as it relates to best practices (as articulated in Dr. Beth Miller’s Critical Hours report).
• Improve coordination and utilization of resources among after-school programs.

The New Britain Youth Network

A key feature of the initiative is the establishment of a permanent network of youth agencies in New Britain, convened and supported by the American Savings Foundation.  These agencies are working together to ensure that every child in our city has access to high quality after-school programs.  The network members are working together on program issues that have community-wide implications, such as transportation, staff training, recruitment of underserved youth, and leveraging additional funding for programs.