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Greater Rochester After-School Alliance (GRASA)

 The Greater Rochester After-School Alliance is a volunteer committee comprised of funders, policymakers, researchers, and after-school family and provider representatives.

GRASA's goal is to strengthen the quality, quantity, and accessibility of out-of-school-time programs in Monroe County for school-age youth through community collaboration.

This group, convened by Rochester Area Community Foundation and one of its initiatives, serves as:

  • A central point for information on the needs and strengths of out-of-school-time programs;
  • A community-wide, priority-setting body on issues relating to out-of-school-time programs;  and
  • A coordinator of responses to state and national funding opportunities.

Its Vision

Every school-aged child in our community (who chooses) will be participating in high quality, out-of-school-time programming. Our community will support this through:

  • United community philosophy and approach;
  • Increased stakeholder involvement;
  • Sustained program funding and resources;
  • Quality programs based on best practices and research; and 
  • Strengthened professionalism of youth work field.

Its Goals

  • High quality out-of-school-time programs
  • Leverage, coordinate, and advocate for accessibility, availability, and sustainability of high quality, out-of-school-time programs
  • Ensure GRASA's effectiveness and efficacy

Quality Recommendations

In order to achieve the goals of the 2011 GRASA strategic plan related to youth program quality, a Quality Working Group was formed in 2012. Eleven members of GRASA representing a variety of funders, researchers, advocates, and providers recommended a set of out-of-school-time program standards for endorsement in the community.

It is believed that this set of quality youth program standards provides a shared foundation and benchmarks for all youth programs and will help out-of-school-time providers communicate their values as well as hold  themselves accountable for the programs they provide. Youth and families can use standards as a reference when observing a program for the first time or to help understand what to expect from a program in the long run. Quality standards also help educate the community about what high-quality programming involves and how it can be achieved. Standards are one component of a multi-component quality system that needs to be developed.

Click here  to review the GRASA Quality Working Group’s recommendations to GRASA, which were adopted in December 2012.

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    GRASA News and Reports

    Quality Working Group report  outlines standards for out-of-school time, which were approved by GRASA in December 2012.


    Rochester is highlighted 5 times in New York State Afterschool Network's 23-page report on The Role of Expanded Learning Opportunities in New York State School Reform.

    The 2011 Inventory of After-School Providers for Monroe County  looks at the availability and types of programs in our community.

    The 2011 report (above) updated information collected on after-school providers in 2007 by The Children's Agenda.

    The 184-page report, "Municipal Leadership for Afterschool: Citywide Approaches Spreading Across the Country," highlights Rochester and 26 other cities for their successes in developing quality after-school and out-of-school time programs.

    Read more about the Children’s Institute’s assessment of the quality of after-school programs using High/Scope’s Youth Program Quality Assessment tool and other important research.

    GRASA History

    Find out how the Greater Rochester After-School Alliance  was started and what it has accomplished since its inception.