Find information about the mission, purpose, and services of POST.
The mission of Partners in Out-of-School Time (POST) is to ensure that all school-age children and youth in Mecklenburg County have access to high-quality programs, activities, and opportunities when school is closed. “Out-of-School Time” refers to all of the hours before school, after school, teacher workdays, school holidays, weekends, and summers. Experiences that foster social, emotional, physical, moral, and intellectual development are proven to be essential for children and youth to become capable and effective members of society.
POST’s purpose is to build the capacity of individuals and organizations to provide high-quality out-of-school time programs, activities, and opportunities. To accomplish this mission, POST serves as:
- An advocate for the needs of school-age youth and their families;
- A coach to program practitioners serving youth;
- A clearinghouse for information on programs, quality, funding, policy, and professional development; and
- A catalyst in connecting diverse community elements into a collaboration supporting out-of-school time programs and activities.
POST operates in collaboration with partners in Mecklenburg County, across both Carolinas, and nationally to advance youth development. Its primary constituents are:
- Children, youth, and families;
- Out-of-school time providers;
- Public policy makers and funders (e.g., city, county, federal, public schools); and
- Private funders (e.g., foundations, corporations, United Way, and Arts & Science Council).
POST provides services through the collaborative efforts of its members and professional staff to make steady progress toward its goal of assuring high-quality OST opportunities for every child:
- Provides training and technical assistance to individuals and organizations working with children and youth in their out-of-school time.
- Advocates with government agencies, community leaders, funders, and the public to support quality and quantity in out-of-school time programs.
- Convenes those involved with or interested in out-of-school time programs and helps build networks between provider and professionals.
- Facilitates partnerships between out-of-school time programs and helps these organizations access and leverage resources.
- Researches and promotes best practice in out-of-school time programming.
- Partners with state and national groups to advance the progress of out-of-school time programs and professionals.
- Promotes public awareness of the need for high quality out-of-school time programs.
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