In this episode, host, Phil Tower, welcomes Erin Skene-Pratt, Executive Director at The Michigan Afterschool Partnership.
The Michigan Afterschool Partnership advocates for equitable systems that support and expand quality out-of-school time experiences for all youth in the state. Out-of-School Time (OST) refers to youth development programs that occur before and after the school day, as well as programs that occur during school breaks.
Comprehensive OST programs ideally include both expanded learning opportunities to support the school day and school-age care to support working families.
Online: The Michigan Afterschool Partnership
The Michigan Afterschool Partnership advocates for equitable systems that support and expand quality out-of-school time experiences for all youth in the state. Out-of-School Time (OST) refers to youth development programs that occur before and after the school day, as well as programs that occur during school breaks.
Comprehensive OST programs ideally include both expanded learning opportunities to support the school day and school-age care to support working families.
Online: The Michigan Afterschool Partnership
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is iHeartRadio's West Michigan Weekend. West Michigan Weekend is
a weekly program designed to inform and enlighten on a
wide range of public policy issues, as well as news
and current events. Now here's your host, Phil Tower.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
It's West Michigan Weekend from iHeartRadio. Thank you so much
for tuning in across whatever iHeartRadio station you may be
listening to. We remind you that each of these conversations
you hear on the radio is available as a podcast
at Woodradio dot com on the left hand side of
the page. Just look for West Michigan Weekend under the
(00:37):
podcast tab. We have hundreds of episodes. As a matter
of fact, close to five hundred episodes that you can
listen to on demand anytime. It's my pleasure to welcome
in this segment back to the program, Aaron skeen Pratt,
executive director of the Michigan After School Partnership. They're all
about advocating for equitable systems that support and expand out
(01:00):
of time school experiences for those youngsters in school here
in our great state of Michigan. You can learn more
at AMI Afterschool dot org, AM after School dot r G,
and Aaron, it's good to welcome you back to the program.
Thanks for joining us, thanks for.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Having me back.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Well, this is still an issue for a lot of
states struggling with what we call out of school time,
the time when kids are released from school, especially today
with the economy being a challenged it seems like it's
always a challenge a lot of parents, if you are
in a dual parent household, are working when school is out.
(01:42):
They're working all day long. They may be what we
used to call latchkey kids. By the way, do we
still even use that term anymore?
Speaker 3 (01:49):
We don't, but definitely when I was a kid, we did,
but we try to steer away from it. And he's
either out of school time or after school it's kind
of a catch all term. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
And so when we talk talk about out of school time,
first of all, let's talk about what we're specifically targeting here,
because this is not just a kid sitting alone waiting
for a ride after school, you know, plunking around on
their phone, or just you know, just wasting time at school.
What is out of school time all about? When it
(02:18):
comes to programs that are helpful for youth here in Michigan.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Yeah, it's really all about making sure that youth are
in a safe environment, that they're engaged, that they are
being enriched, that they are having really the support from
another adult who isn't at school and who isn't at home,
but as someone who can really be in their corner.
(02:45):
And a comprehensive after school program will often have where
the youth will come in after school and they'll get
a snack, and they might do some homework help and
they will do fun activities. It's not worksheets, it's bans
on kind of activities, maybe some stem or music, whatever
kind of helps to light up their hearts. And then
(03:06):
as they get older, they even will have some career
exposure and some opportunities to try out different kinds of jobs,
which is so great for middle school and high schoolers.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
And this has been a challenge. I'm looking at a
statistic that I have. This was a report from twenty
twenty America After three PM special report. The After School
Alliance shared data providing approving the need for ost programs.
This out of school time programming twenty five million children
(03:36):
nearly twenty five million children who are unable to access
after school programs here in this country. There are a
lot of reasons for that, but what are some of
the biggest reasons.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Yeah, that's right, and it's actually about seven hundred and
fifty thousand here in the state of Michigan a lot.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Yeah, So we estimate for every one youth that's in
a program for would be in one form, we're available
for them or they're waiting for one.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Really the challenges are frankly that there's just not enough.
There's an accessibility issue, there's not enough openings. A lot
of times you'll see weight lists. Whether the program is
free or whether the program is low cost, or whether
the program does have a cost, they're often fill up
very very quickly. Transportation is another issue, you know, certainly
(04:27):
in some areas we'll see you know, in rural areas,
and obviously urban areas is an issue as well, but
you know, in northern Michigan, we've certainly heard stories about
youth traveling two hours to get to a program from
school just because of the distance. But then there's also
you know, just the transportation issues of getting to and
(04:49):
from and then getting home and whatnot. But then there's
also the funding issue, and so for a lot of families,
the cost is just unfortunately out of their reach and
there's not enough opportunities to have no cost or low cost.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
When did we realize, Aaron, this is kind of a
broad question. When did we realize this was so important,
the importance of focused and productive out of school time
and the need to really expand this area, especially legislatively,
to make sure there's enough money to pay for these
programs and have people to staff them. When did we
(05:27):
begin to realize this was a critical issue. We've known
about childcare being a challenge for it seems like decades,
but when did we know that this after school issue
was a challenge.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yeah. I think that's one of the funny things because
with childcare, oftentimes will think about younger kids, but you
obviously can't leave a five year old alone at home either,
and so a lot of them refer to that as
school age care, and there's just as much of a
need to make sure that kids have a safe place
to be as when they're younger as well. So I
(05:58):
would definitely say that, you know, mass been around for
twenty plus years, this has consistently been an issue, but
really I think during COVID it really helped to shed
light on this issue because you know, normally there's a
significant amount of time that kids aren't at school, but
(06:18):
certainly during COVID it was even larger, and a lot
of these programs really stepped up and made sure that
families were fed, made sure that kids had the resources
that they need to be able to connect with school,
made sure that they had a safe place to be,
and so I think that really helped to kind of
shed a little more light on it, and we've really
(06:41):
seen an uptick in support since then.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Well, speaking of that uptick in support, by the way,
we're speaking with Aaron skin Pratt, executive director of the
Michigan After School Partnership. You can learn more at AMI
Afterschool dot org, Ami after School dot org. Let's do
an update in terms of how Michigan is doing. We
talk to you last July on this program. There's always
(07:05):
issues challenges with state budgets, although we seem to have
at least enough funds. It seems to go around lately
with a lot of post COVID funding still available, but
talk about them. I after School Partnership and the funding
that you've requested from the State of Michigan how's that
going and what are some of the needs that you
(07:26):
still have.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Yeah, we are incredibly grateful to the governor and the
legislature as well for their ongoing support of out of
school time program There's a specific line item that allows
for funding that will go to out of school time programs,
particularly to support math, science and reading learning recovery, as
(07:51):
well as enrichment and safe places. And really this is
actually going on year four of the work and the
first year the legislature supported it at about five million,
and this past year it was about at fifty seven million.
And yeah, the fifty seven million has already been used
(08:14):
as a or been part of a competitive grant process
run by my leaf, which is a state department, and
we're accepting about fifty six thousand used to be served
with that funding. I will say, however, that the demand
and the need always is there and continues to grow.
And so for that fifty seven million that was available,
(08:37):
there was one hundred and twenty two million in our
quests for funding. So we're going back to the Legislature
and the Governor for this next budget year and asking
to go to one hundred million to again continue to
help to address this need in the state.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Aaron, there might be parents listening who aren't aware of
their app school opportunities, specifically focused out of school time opportunities.
Maybe they're new to a school district. What do you recommend?
How do people know and become aware of what kind
of resources are available in their community for after school programs.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
We do have a map on our website that can help,
but I also encourage folks to check with their school districts,
check with local parks and recreation departments, if there's a
boys and Growth club or a y or they're familiar
with an independent program that might be there in the community,
(09:40):
and really check in with them and see if they
have if they are offering, you know, especially right now,
a lot of them are starting to open registrations for
this summer, and see when that's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Aaron Skiing Pratt is with us. Aaron is the executive
director of the Michigan After School Partnership am I Afterschool Dorg.
Here's some interesting words you'd like to hear people that
want to help. Maybe we have some empty nesters listening,
some people who have been active in their school system,
(10:14):
they want to get involved. They want to support after
school programs in their area or maybe somewhere across the
state of Michigan. Maybe they're willing to go wherever you
need them. What kind of resources do you and your
team need at the am I After School of Partnership. Yeah,
I love that.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
We definitely need folks voicing their support for this work.
Definitely need and they can go to We have a
not just our website, but we also have a campaign
that we've launched calls all in Michigan After School for
Every Child. And the goal there is that we will
someday be able to make sure that every single child
(10:52):
has access to quality out of school time experiences. And
so if they go to All in Michigan and sign
up and see where there's resources. So we also just
really need folks to get out the word about the
need and the power of these program.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Give that website again, will you please erin?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah, All in Michigan after School for every Child.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Okay, All in Michigan. You can check that out and
most importantly understand that this is an issue that is
constantly going to be a need. And I'm glad to
know that the state of Michigan has has really stepped
up to fund these very important programs. Again, seven hundred
and fifty thousand plus youth on wait list to join
(11:38):
after school programs in Michigan. For every one child enrolled
in an after school program, as you heard say Aaron
say earlier, roughly three children are on a waiting list.
Anything I didn't ask you about, Aaron Skiin Pratt, you
wanted to share with our listeners.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
No, I really appreciate the opportunity to be here.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
Well, I appreciate the opportunity as well. This is something
I feel very strongly about. And obviously, when we can
have great out of school time programs for our kids,
it just make sure we have a better future a
lot of Obviously there's research there that says these programs
are beneficial, they're important, and just to give this more
(12:21):
time for people to understand that this is an important issue.
I'm all about that, Aaron. I'm all about that. I
appreciate your time so much. Continued success, and again, if
you want to learn more, it's AMI after School dot org,
M I the letters M and I Afterschool dot RG.
(12:43):
Aeron skin Pratt, Executive director of the Michigan After School Partnership,
Hey Erin, Thanks again for joining us.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Thank you you've been listening to iHeartRadio's West Michigan Weekend.
West Michigan Weekend is a production of Wood Radio and
iHeartRadio
This is iHeartRadio's West Michigan Weekend. West Michigan Weekend is
a weekly program designed to inform and enlighten on a
wide range of public policy issues, as well as news
and current events. Now here's your host, Phil Tower.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
It's West Michigan Weekend from iHeartRadio. Thank you so much
for tuning in across whatever iHeartRadio station you may be
listening to. We remind you that each of these conversations
you hear on the radio is available as a podcast
at Woodradio dot com on the left hand side of
the page. Just look for West Michigan Weekend under the
(00:37):
podcast tab. We have hundreds of episodes. As a matter
of fact, close to five hundred episodes that you can
listen to on demand anytime. It's my pleasure to welcome
in this segment back to the program, Aaron skeen Pratt,
executive director of the Michigan After School Partnership. They're all
about advocating for equitable systems that support and expand out
(01:00):
of time school experiences for those youngsters in school here
in our great state of Michigan. You can learn more
at AMI Afterschool dot org, AM after School dot r G,
and Aaron, it's good to welcome you back to the program.
Thanks for joining us, thanks for.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Having me back.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Well, this is still an issue for a lot of
states struggling with what we call out of school time,
the time when kids are released from school, especially today
with the economy being a challenged it seems like it's
always a challenge a lot of parents, if you are
in a dual parent household, are working when school is out.
(01:42):
They're working all day long. They may be what we
used to call latchkey kids. By the way, do we
still even use that term anymore?
Speaker 3 (01:49):
We don't, but definitely when I was a kid, we did,
but we try to steer away from it. And he's
either out of school time or after school it's kind
of a catch all term. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
And so when we talk talk about out of school time,
first of all, let's talk about what we're specifically targeting here,
because this is not just a kid sitting alone waiting
for a ride after school, you know, plunking around on
their phone, or just you know, just wasting time at school.
What is out of school time all about? When it
(02:18):
comes to programs that are helpful for youth here in Michigan.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Yeah, it's really all about making sure that youth are
in a safe environment, that they're engaged, that they are
being enriched, that they are having really the support from
another adult who isn't at school and who isn't at home,
but as someone who can really be in their corner.
(02:45):
And a comprehensive after school program will often have where
the youth will come in after school and they'll get
a snack, and they might do some homework help and
they will do fun activities. It's not worksheets, it's bans
on kind of activities, maybe some stem or music, whatever
kind of helps to light up their hearts. And then
(03:06):
as they get older, they even will have some career
exposure and some opportunities to try out different kinds of jobs,
which is so great for middle school and high schoolers.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
And this has been a challenge. I'm looking at a
statistic that I have. This was a report from twenty
twenty America After three PM special report. The After School
Alliance shared data providing approving the need for ost programs.
This out of school time programming twenty five million children
(03:36):
nearly twenty five million children who are unable to access
after school programs here in this country. There are a
lot of reasons for that, but what are some of
the biggest reasons.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Yeah, that's right, and it's actually about seven hundred and
fifty thousand here in the state of Michigan a lot.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Yeah, So we estimate for every one youth that's in
a program for would be in one form, we're available
for them or they're waiting for one.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Really the challenges are frankly that there's just not enough.
There's an accessibility issue, there's not enough openings. A lot
of times you'll see weight lists. Whether the program is
free or whether the program is low cost, or whether
the program does have a cost, they're often fill up
very very quickly. Transportation is another issue, you know, certainly
(04:27):
in some areas we'll see you know, in rural areas,
and obviously urban areas is an issue as well, but
you know, in northern Michigan, we've certainly heard stories about
youth traveling two hours to get to a program from
school just because of the distance. But then there's also
you know, just the transportation issues of getting to and
(04:49):
from and then getting home and whatnot. But then there's
also the funding issue, and so for a lot of families,
the cost is just unfortunately out of their reach and
there's not enough opportunities to have no cost or low cost.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
When did we realize, Aaron, this is kind of a
broad question. When did we realize this was so important,
the importance of focused and productive out of school time
and the need to really expand this area, especially legislatively,
to make sure there's enough money to pay for these
programs and have people to staff them. When did we
(05:27):
begin to realize this was a critical issue. We've known
about childcare being a challenge for it seems like decades,
but when did we know that this after school issue
was a challenge.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yeah. I think that's one of the funny things because
with childcare, oftentimes will think about younger kids, but you
obviously can't leave a five year old alone at home either,
and so a lot of them refer to that as
school age care, and there's just as much of a
need to make sure that kids have a safe place
to be as when they're younger as well. So I
(05:58):
would definitely say that, you know, mass been around for
twenty plus years, this has consistently been an issue, but
really I think during COVID it really helped to shed
light on this issue because you know, normally there's a
significant amount of time that kids aren't at school, but
(06:18):
certainly during COVID it was even larger, and a lot
of these programs really stepped up and made sure that
families were fed, made sure that kids had the resources
that they need to be able to connect with school,
made sure that they had a safe place to be,
and so I think that really helped to kind of
shed a little more light on it, and we've really
(06:41):
seen an uptick in support since then.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Well, speaking of that uptick in support, by the way,
we're speaking with Aaron skin Pratt, executive director of the
Michigan After School Partnership. You can learn more at AMI
Afterschool dot org, Ami after School dot org. Let's do
an update in terms of how Michigan is doing. We
talk to you last July on this program. There's always
(07:05):
issues challenges with state budgets, although we seem to have
at least enough funds. It seems to go around lately
with a lot of post COVID funding still available, but
talk about them. I after School Partnership and the funding
that you've requested from the State of Michigan how's that
going and what are some of the needs that you
(07:26):
still have.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Yeah, we are incredibly grateful to the governor and the
legislature as well for their ongoing support of out of
school time program There's a specific line item that allows
for funding that will go to out of school time programs,
particularly to support math, science and reading learning recovery, as
(07:51):
well as enrichment and safe places. And really this is
actually going on year four of the work and the
first year the legislature supported it at about five million,
and this past year it was about at fifty seven million.
And yeah, the fifty seven million has already been used
(08:14):
as a or been part of a competitive grant process
run by my leaf, which is a state department, and
we're accepting about fifty six thousand used to be served
with that funding. I will say, however, that the demand
and the need always is there and continues to grow.
And so for that fifty seven million that was available,
(08:37):
there was one hundred and twenty two million in our
quests for funding. So we're going back to the Legislature
and the Governor for this next budget year and asking
to go to one hundred million to again continue to
help to address this need in the state.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Aaron, there might be parents listening who aren't aware of
their app school opportunities, specifically focused out of school time opportunities.
Maybe they're new to a school district. What do you recommend?
How do people know and become aware of what kind
of resources are available in their community for after school programs.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
We do have a map on our website that can help,
but I also encourage folks to check with their school districts,
check with local parks and recreation departments, if there's a
boys and Growth club or a y or they're familiar
with an independent program that might be there in the community,
(09:40):
and really check in with them and see if they
have if they are offering, you know, especially right now,
a lot of them are starting to open registrations for
this summer, and see when that's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Aaron Skiing Pratt is with us. Aaron is the executive
director of the Michigan After School Partnership am I Afterschool Dorg.
Here's some interesting words you'd like to hear people that
want to help. Maybe we have some empty nesters listening,
some people who have been active in their school system,
(10:14):
they want to get involved. They want to support after
school programs in their area or maybe somewhere across the
state of Michigan. Maybe they're willing to go wherever you
need them. What kind of resources do you and your
team need at the am I After School of Partnership. Yeah,
I love that.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
We definitely need folks voicing their support for this work.
Definitely need and they can go to We have a
not just our website, but we also have a campaign
that we've launched calls all in Michigan After School for
Every Child. And the goal there is that we will
someday be able to make sure that every single child
(10:52):
has access to quality out of school time experiences. And
so if they go to All in Michigan and sign
up and see where there's resources. So we also just
really need folks to get out the word about the
need and the power of these program.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Give that website again, will you please erin?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah, All in Michigan after School for every Child.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Okay, All in Michigan. You can check that out and
most importantly understand that this is an issue that is
constantly going to be a need. And I'm glad to
know that the state of Michigan has has really stepped
up to fund these very important programs. Again, seven hundred
and fifty thousand plus youth on wait list to join
(11:38):
after school programs in Michigan. For every one child enrolled
in an after school program, as you heard say Aaron
say earlier, roughly three children are on a waiting list.
Anything I didn't ask you about, Aaron Skiin Pratt, you
wanted to share with our listeners.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
No, I really appreciate the opportunity to be here.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
Well, I appreciate the opportunity as well. This is something
I feel very strongly about. And obviously, when we can
have great out of school time programs for our kids,
it just make sure we have a better future a
lot of Obviously there's research there that says these programs
are beneficial, they're important, and just to give this more
(12:21):
time for people to understand that this is an important issue.
I'm all about that, Aaron. I'm all about that. I
appreciate your time so much. Continued success, and again, if
you want to learn more, it's AMI after School dot org,
M I the letters M and I Afterschool dot RG.
(12:43):
Aeron skin Pratt, Executive director of the Michigan After School Partnership,
Hey Erin, Thanks again for joining us.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Thank you you've been listening to iHeartRadio's West Michigan Weekend.
West Michigan Weekend is a production of Wood Radio and
iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!