Intergovernmental Cooperation:
The Park District Advantage

KASPER
Cooperative Efforts Give Latchkey Kids
A Home Away From Home
by Jennifer Miller

For the Schaumburg Park District it all started in 1984 with a concern for the well-being of "latchkey children" and the firm belief that a solution to the problem was waiting just around the comer.

Now it's nine years later, and KASPER (Kids After School Program), the little idea that grew into a big solution, stands as a shining example that cooperative programming can work wonders.

"Latchkey children"—children of working parents who come home from school to an empty house—have been the subject of concern for more than a decade. In 1984 an area-wide task force on latchkey children was established by social service, recreation and education professionals from Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates and Elk Grove Village to examine the need for programs offering supervision for children during the hours after school.

The first needs assessment survey for parents asked if they would support the establishment of these programs. The survey was distributed throughout the area, and the results pointed out the definite need for adult supervision of children after school in all three villages. It was also evident that quality care was needed at low cost. Next a working group within the Village of Schaumburg was formed to address the problem on a local level.

By December 1985 formal guidelines and procedures for KASPER had been drafted which set administrative responsibility for conducting the program and provided guidance for program staff in conducting the program in its initial stages. In January 1986 School District #54 gave permission to hold an after-school KASPER program in gymnasiums at two of its schools and at the District's Program Service Center in Schaumburg. From September through May of the first year, 49 students were registered in KASPER. The size of the gyms at the two schools was the determining factor in setting the size limit for the groups. Programs at the Program Service Center were merged with those at the Campanelli School because of traffic congestions at the time the after-school program was scheduled to end.

During the summer of 1987 the working group made significant strides in expanding KASPER's direction and service delivery. A KASPER Policy Board was established, made up of a member of the District #54 School Board, a member of the Twinbrook YMCA Board of Directors, a member of the Schaumburg Park District Board of Commissioners and a member of the Village of Schaumburg Board of Trustees. This group was asked to provide additional administrative input about the operation of KASPER.

A Mission and Objectives Statement was drafted by the working group which provided the framework for the operation of the program including duties and responsibilities. The first meeting of the KASPER Policy Board was held in November 1987.

The goal set for KASPER was to provide a relaxed, protected, home-like environment for afternoon kindergartners through sixth graders when parents cannot be home during the hours after school. Under the program, children are permitted new experiences, according to their individual needs and personalities. The program is not tightly structured as it is understood that children need a chance to unwind, to relax and to play with their peers after a day in school. The KASPER program offers both structured and unstructured activities each day. Activities include arts and crafts, sports and games, creative play and board games. Any child who needs to do homework has a quiet area available. The staff realizes that some children may be keyed up after school and may need to run off their tension, while others may need a quiet place to relax. Staff members make every effort to assure that the individual needs of each child are met appropriately.

Expansion of service delivery was limited. During the summer, the working group learned from School District #54 that only one site would be available to KASPER for the 1987- 88 school year. The reduction was once again due to space limitations and commitments made to outside community groups. Campanelli School served as the single program site and could only serve children from four area schools. However, the limitations imposed on KASPER did not dampen community enthusiasm for the program.

The KASPER Policy Board and the working group secured a commitment in December 1987 to expand the program to five sites for the 1988-89 school year. Demand had been

sufficiently high throughout 1986 and 1987 to make this expansion feasible.

The growing need for extended after-school supervision was evidenced continually in surveys which were conducted locally. The KASPER Policy Board developed a survey which was distributed throughout School District #54 in December 1987 seeking data on interest in before and after-school participation, child drop-off times, weekday child care times, provision of food for participants, marital status of parents and supervision arrangements.

The survey results once again pointed out an overwhelming need for the program, in fact a need that was far greater than that identified in previous years. KASPER had evolved from its pilot state in 1986-1988 into a successful on-going program which filled crucial needs for 160 children during the 1988-89 school year.

The administrative group next looked for ways to provide continuity of care for the after-school children during the summer. A pilot summer program was offered in 1989. One site provided full day care from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for children in grades one through six. In a heartening display of both support and need, 189 children participated in five (5) two-week sessions.

In 1989 the administrative group expanded its service area, and the administration of the program was divided between two of the cooperative agencies. The Schaumburg Park District administered those schools which are located primarily within its boundaries; the Twinbrook YMCA administered those programs which lie primarily outside the boundaries of the Schaumburg Park District. The program was expanded to service all schools within School District #54, and approximately 300 children were served during the school year. The summer program was also expanded to include three sites.

In 1989 the administrative group which first assessed the need for after-school care began to look into the need for before-school care and the possible expansion of the after-school program. A survey was conducted through School District #54 during the school's November parent conferences, and the results showed an increasing need for supervised care in both time slots.

KASPER responded by initiating a morning program, and piloting a three-day after-school program in addition to the five-day program which was already in place. Both programs were well used; KASPER provided before-school care for 140 children at seven sites and after-school care for 330 children at ten sites. All of District #54's elementary schools were served. The three- day afternoon program was also a popular options with many KASPER parents.

In 1991 KASPER expanded its summer program to five sites.

The Schaumburg Park District, School District #54, the Village of Schaumburg and Twinbrook YMCA agreed to work together and to share in the responsibility of the KASPER program. The Schaumburg Park District agreed to shoulder the following responsibilities:

•Program registration

•Provision of one bus

•Hiring and training of bus drivers

•Ordering and purchasing of program equipment

•Printing of program materials

•Organization of day-off trips (not including winter and spring breaks)

•Hiring and supervising of the Program Coordinator

•Maintaining the program payroll

•Keeping daily attendance records

During the 1990-91 school year, a survey of KASPER parents looked at the demographics of the population served by the program in order to determine the needs for the future. As a result, the KASPER Policy Board directed the administrative group to research and develop an adjusted fee scale to be implemented during the 1991-92 school year. It was decided that a scholarship fund raising campaign would be started to help finance the adjusted fee scale. A slide presentation and an official KASPER letterhead were developed to aid this campaign.

The constant growth and development of the KASPER program is an inspiring example of agencies in partnership and a testament to the fact that. through cooperative efforts, a dream of innovative service to the community can become a reality.

About the Author

Jennifer Miller is the Public Information Coordinator for the Schaumburg Park District.