VOOST Network, P.O. Box 627, Montpelier VT 05601 (802) 229-9151 Fax (802) 229-2508
Email us at info@voost.org
We are administered by the Wash.Co. Youth Service Bureau/Boys & Girls Club
About Us
Our Mission
To build the capacity and sustainability of both emerging and established out-of-school time programs so that all children and youth in Vermont communities will have access to quality out-of-school time learning opportunities.
History
The VOOST Network began in 1999 as the OOST (Out-Of-School Time) Coalition. Coalition members included the Child Care Services Division, the Vermont School Age Care Network, and the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Network. Housed at the Washington County Youth Service Bureau/Boys & Girls Club, the primary function of the OOST Coalition was the placement of AmeriCorp and A*VISTA members in out-of-school time programs throughout Vermont.
In the Fall of 2001, a training grant was obtained from the U. S. Department of Justice to provide training at little or no cost to those Vermonters who work with children and youth in out-of-school time.
In March 2002, the VOOST Network was established and in the Fall of 2002 we were awarded a three year grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to establish a statewide after-school network.
Goals and Strategies
To foster statewide, regional and local partnerships at all levels by…
- Expanding the number of active key partners in the VOOST Network;
- Improving coordination in the areas of resources, programming, and advocacy between various elements of the afterschool community; and
- Creating an active forum for communication and the dissemination of ideas and resources by facilitating regional meetings and a statewide conference.
- Increasing advocacy efforts to support and promote afterschool programming.
- Implementing a significant number of trainings available to afterschool providers throughout the state;
- Expanding our current training program to include a "Best Practices" Institute that will be offered annually; and
- Developing a peer support system so that afterschool program
providers throughout Vermont have access to mentorship.
- Securing funding to continue and expand the network and its
efforts to strengthen afterschool programs throughout the state;
- Increasing the allocation of state funds for school-based and
school-linked afterschool programs;
- Leveraging additional public and private resources for afterschool programs; and
- Securing funds to support a statewide effort to build public will
that will result in increased resources to support afterschool programs.
- Promoting the concept of positive youth development to out-of-school time providers throughout Vermont.
