Mission, Vision, and Strategy
The Mission
Out 2 Learn will expand access to high quality out-of-school time (OST) services to all families in the Greater Houston region through a coordinated, youth-centered approach to professional development, community investment, and community awareness of the importance of quality services and youth voice.
The Vision
All families in the Greater Houston region will have access to high quality out-of-school time (OST) opportunities!
The Strategy
Out 2 Learn is built on 3 foundational pillars: Access, Connections, and Quality.
ACCESS
Out 2 Learn addresses pronounced gaps in OST services by making strategic investments into historically underserved communities with high populations of youth in lack of quality programming. Funded projects are enrolled into Out 2 Learn quality efforts to improve youth outcomes while allowing the overall provider community to glean insights. Through a coordination of funding streams, Out 2 Learn leverages resources to systematically serve more families and allow OST program to strive towards program scalability and sustainability.
Our current focus is on 6 communities in Greater Houston which have been recognized as “OST deserts” where OST programs and opportunities are scarce:
- Acres Homes (77088)
- Central Southwest (77045)
- East End (77023, 77087)
- Fifth Ward (77026)
- North Forest (77016, 77028, 77078)
- South Acres/Crestmont (77047)
CONNECTIONS
Out 2 Learn is committed to making information on OST programs accessible to the community. Consequently, Out 2 Learn launched the Out 2 Learn website to serve as a free comprehensive searchable database that Houston parents and families can use to locate OST programs in their area. Alternatively, OST program information listed on the Out 2 Learn website is also available in over 150 languages via the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE.
Out 2 Learn also hosts quarterly meetings for OST professionals to discuss quality, OST trends, best practices, as well as provide opportunities for OST agencies to network and collaborate. Lastly, Out 2 Learn conducts outreach throughout the Greater Houston area to raise awareness of the importance of OST.
QUALITY
Out 2 Learn is committed to helping organizations deliver high-quality programming. All agencies associated with Out 2 Learn are encouraged to join the Out 2 Learn Quality Network, where program providers learn how to utilize the nationally-recognized Youth Program Quality Intervention tool in order to assess and improve the quality of their programs. All CQI trainings and resources are provided to the network at no cost.