GENERAL INFORMATIONAbout ARCHS: Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) funds and strategically enhances initiatives that improve the lives of children and families facing disparities and disadvantages in St. Louis’ most impoverished communities. ARCHS works to disrupt cycles of intergenerational poverty by advancing lifelong learning. Learn more at stlarchs.org.
ARCHS' Mission: To improve the lives of Greater St. Louis' residents by convening strategic community partnerships.
Funding Opportunity: ARCHS is seeking to provide funding to qualified service provider(s) to manage after school/out-of-school-time programs as a part of its After School for All Partnership (ASAP). ASAP was created in 2007 and is managed by ARCHS, which serves as the contracting fiscal agent. In this role, ARCHS holds responsibility for issuing, awarding and managing this grant. Grant recipients will be required to sign a performance-based contract. Funding for each contract awarded will be determined by previous contract performance, available funds, and the number of licensed slots projected. The funded after school programs shall serve low-income students in grades K-6 residing in St. Louis City or St. Louis County beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. Eligible afterschool program participants include students whose parents are working, in job training, or in school and qualify economically for free meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) or the school lunch program.
ASAP’s Vision: The vision of ASAP is to establish a coordinated system of high quality out-of-school-time programs serving children in the St. Louis region. High quality programs will be comprehensive and align with ARCHS' core areas by focusing on academic support/enrichment, social and life skills, health and recreation, and parent/family engagement.
Program Implementation Requirements:
- Offer services to eligible families at no cost.
- Operate in-person programming Monday through Friday, based on and in alignment with the school's structure, from school dismissal, and every day that school is in session. Hours of operation should include school holidays and vacation periods, with the exception of legal public holidays, provided that the program has access to the facility in which the program is held.
- Operate in a licensed or license exempt facility and maintain operations according to the Licensing Rules for Group Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Bureau of Child Care
- Maintain staffing ratios in accordance with current Child Care licensing regulations
- Offer comprehensive, trauma informed programming that includes but is not limited to academic support/enrichment, social and life skills, health and recreation, and parent/family involvement. Services must be sensitive to cultural, ethnic, religious and diversity issues, including appropriateness of staff, materials, and approach.
- Align program model with ARCHS' implementation methodologies (i.e. Conscious Discipline).
- Offer daily, nutritious snacks and meals in accordance with the CACFP or school lunch program.
- Provide documents of ownership, lease or memorandum of agreement for use of facility. Programs in public, private and/or charter schools as well as community-based organizations shall be considered.
- Adhere to ARCHS’ performance-based contract/survey/reporting requirements including the use of a web-based data collection system for the submission of after school program data including but not limited to student attendance, student characteristics, staff/personnel, etc. (training to be provided by ARCHS).
- Have the capability to operate within a financial reimbursement model.