Chicago Unveils After-School Web site

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By SLJ Staff -- School Library Journal, 10/1/2008 2:00:00 PM

Imagine if you could search all the quality after-school programs in your city with just the click of a mouse.

Chicago parents and caretakers can now do just that, thanks to a new interactive Web site recently unveiled by Mayor Richard Daley. Families with children six years old and over can research and choose from thousands of different after-school programs located throughout the city.

The after-school Web site is one of the most comprehensive of its kind in the nation and includes a diverse variety of afternoon, evening, and weekend options that span organizations including the Chicago Public Libraries, Chicago Department of Children and Youth Services, the Chicago Public Schools, After School Matters, and the Chicago Park District.

“The benefits of after-school programs are far-reaching and can have a significant impact on the safety and development of our children,” says Daley. “They let young people discover new interests or pursue activities such as art or music. They also support parents who are increasingly busy at work, particularly during the hours between 3 and 6 p.m., the peak period for teens to be victims of crime.”

Funded by the Wallace Foundation and powered by Google Maps, the easy-to-use Web site allows users to input their address or zip code and choose from eight program interest areas, including academic, career, creative, health, life skills, religious, community, and sports. Search results are plotted on an interactive map with a brief description of each offering, including information about dates and times, related fees if applicable, and the age range for activities. The search results also include Chicago Transit Authority routes for reference.

Mary Ellen Caron, commissioner, of the Chicago Department of Children and Youth Services, says that the after-school Web site will not only make finding activities easier, but will also “help us to identify gaps in service resulting from a neighborhood’s changing demographics.” For more information, visit www.cityofchicago.org/cys.