Wanted: Parents That Care About Afterschool Programs

DCAYA is recruiting parents and programs to participate and testify at the Childrens and Youth Invetsment Trust Corporation's (CYITC or "The Trust") Budget Hearing on May 5th (starting at 10am).

Please do not hesitate to start talking about this date with your organization’s staff, parents, participating youth and board members now- A more detailed plan of action for the 5th will be out early next week but if people from your community would like to attend and show a strong force and/or would like to testify on behalf of OST and the role of the Trust please do not hesitate to involve them in your efforts as early as possible! You can sign-up to testify on behalf of DCAYA here.

DCAYA Memberorgs Beacon House and City Dance have developed excellent strategies to ensure that the voices of the parents whose children and youth utilize their afterschool programs are heard!

Beacon House has asked that parents sign the attached letter while at the Program and will then be sending them directly to various Councilmembers and the Mayor’s Office.

City Dance has been providing parents with a copy of the letter as well as a stamped, addressed envelope. Please feel free to modify the attached letter for your program and as we move forward, if you or your organization have a strategy that you’re using please feel free to share it with the group- every voice heard is helpful!

Dear Chairman Brown,                                                                                              

I am a parent of a child who attends (insert program name here), an after-school tutoring and mentoring program in Ward (enter what Wards you serve).  The purpose of this letter is to ask you to maintain funding for the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation (“Trust”) at the FY 11 funding level of $4.6 million in your FY 12 budget request to the Council. 

I rely on ________ to help my child do well in school, develop character, and learn new skills. This program opens up opportunities for my child’s growth and development, and I place a great value on the services this organization provides for my child.  I know that (insert organization here) relies heavily on the Trust to fund its programs, and that a significant reduction in the Trust’s funding would have a severe negative impact on both the number of children this program serves and the quality of the services it provides.

I hope you will find a way to maintain the Trust’s FY11 funding level in next year’s budget.

Sincerely,