Efforts, Collaboration Continue to Expand Afterschool Options for Cambridge Families
Monday, March 17, 2025
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Over the last two years, 246 seats have been added across 19 DHSP afterschool programs, leading to a 20% increase in offers.
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The Department of Human Service Programs is committed to creating a more equitable application and enrollment process, while working with partners to expand afterschool options for Cambridge families.
Since 2021, DHSP has introduced changes to its afterschool application and enrollment processes to lower the barrier of access for families and to increase the enrollment of low-income families. The Department offers four models of afterschool programs for Cambridge children in Kindergarten through 8th grade: Childcare Afterschool, Community Schools, King Open Extended Day and Cambridge Youth Programs. All program models foster children’s social–emotional learning and use positive relationships between adults and children to support that learning. For the 2024-2025 school year, 1,486 students received an offer at a DHSP afterschool program and 90% of these offers were for the family's first choice placement. There was also a 7% increase in applicants from the lottery's income priority group, which continues to drive racial diversity in programs.
Meanwhile, over the last two years, 246 seats have been added across 19 DHSP afterschool programs, leading to a 20% increase in offers for the 2024-2025 school year compared to the year before. The Department has also supported an increase of 91 seats for low-income families, funded by the City, in community afterschool programs. In 2024, the Agenda for Children Out-of-School Time (AFCOST), a collaboration of DHSP and Cambridge Public Schools, launched an OST Expansion Study to provide recommendations for continued stabilization and growth at DHSP and community afterschool programs.
DHSP is also committed to centering the caregiver perspective as afterschool programs and processes evolve. In 2024, staff supported the recruitment for the 2nd cycle of the Caregiver Council for DHSP, comprised of 14 Cambridge residents who provide diverse caregiver perspectives. The Caregiver Council meets regularly with DHSP staff to inform afterschool decision-making, amplify voices that are often underrepresented, and encourage caregiver participation to improve programs and processes.
