After School Matters is transitioning away from paper checks and will move towards paying teens via two options: direct deposit or Wisely Pay by ADP Card. The Wisely Pay card is a reloadable prepaid card that teens can keep no matter where they work or what program they’re in. It allows them to receive their stipend or pay immediately, giving them the ability to spend and manage their money easily. The card can be used like a regular debit card at any place that accepts Visa or Mastercard, such as grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and retail stores.
If you are a returning teen and have been paid on the Wisely card, chances are, you will be paid on that same card. If you do not have the card, you will need to contact ADP Wisely at 1-866-313-6901 to order a replacement. You can also download the MyWisely app and chat with a live agent or go online to mywisely.com to access your account.
Learn more about the Wisely Pay card, and find answers to frequently asked questions here.
Learn how to activate the Wisely Pay card here.
We have created this manual to make sure teens understand what they can expect, and our expectations of them while in an After School Matters program. Please ensure teens read it carefully because there are some new and exciting changes. Specifically, pay close attention to the sections about signing the new Program Acknowledgment and Consent and Release form, the new attendance policy, and the new Teen Pay and Stipend Page where teens can determine if they are eligible for their stipend.
This booklet is full of instructor-approved icebreaker, energizer and reflection activities for your program that integrate MHA Labs skills!
After School Matters utilizes the Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI) continuous improvement process developed by the David P. Weikart Center of Youth Program Quality. You will see there is much alignment between YPQI and the ACT Now Quality Standards. To clarify, After School Matters will continue to utilize YPQI specifically for our programs. The ACT Now standards are being offered as a resource to provide an additional research-based framework for understanding quality, and to keep the program focused on striving towards excellence.
ACT Now is a statewide coalition that works to ensure that young people in Illinois have access to quality, affordable afterschool and youth development programs. They’ve developed the Illinois Statewide Afterschool Quality Standards to improve afterschool programming around the state. These standards capture the practices that have been demonstrated, through research, to lead quality programs and positive outcomes for youth.
The Standards provide afterschool programs with a common language for describing quality. These standards are not intended to dictate policy and practices, but instead are intended to suggest and encourage a strong baseline of quality. They can be used by programs and local communities to stimulate conversations about quality, what it looks like, and why it matters.
Read the complete ACT Now Illinois Statewide Afterschool Quality Standards here.
Access the webinar info session HERE.
All Liaison documents can be found on Cityspan under the “Documents” tab.
An adult that comes in contact with children (under 18 years old) in a professional or official capacity, is required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act [325 ILCS 5/4] to report reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect, by calling the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-25ABUSE or 1-800-358-5117. Failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect may be grounds for a Class A misdemeanor. The following reference materials stored on Cityspan serve as reporting guides:
The Crisis Management Plan explains how to ensure the physical and emotional safety of teens in emergency situations. The Crisis Management Plan can be found on Cityspan.
If a crisis occurs during an After School Matters program, follow the procedures outlined in the Crisis Management Plan and be sure to:
Incident Reports are used to communicate information to After School Matters Chief Executive Officer, Chief Program Officer, General Counsel, Human Resources, Regional Teams, and other parties after an injury, incident, or illness has occurred. Events that call for an incident report include, but are not limited to: harm to a person (victimization, serious illness/injury, self-injury), harm to property (theft, destruction, auto accident), situations that require emergency response (police, fire department, EMS), hazards (fires, tornados, threats of bombs, shootings, etc.), and other problematic behavior (altercations, illegal conduct, suicidal plan/intent).
The following tools are available on Cityspan to assist you in responding to and reporting incidents:
Only the Communications team may approve requests to visit, film, interview, or photograph After School Matters programs, teens, or their families for media purposes. If you receive a request for a media outlet (e.g. newspaper, magazine, blog), you must submit a Media Request Form to:
Mallory Zapata, Communications Manager
mallory.zapata@afterschoolmatters.org 312-239-5233
A complete Media Protocol is available in the Documents section in Cityspan.
The Liaison Quick Reference Guide provides an overview of the most common Liaison functions, as well as tips for completing specific Liaison responsibilities. Refer to the Liaison Quick Reference Guide when you have questions about teen enrollment, adding/dropping teens, attendance, changing program dates, or how to complete specific tasks in Cityspan. The Liaison Quick Reference Guide can be found on Cityspan under the “Documents” tab.
The Participant Manual outlines all After School Matters policies that guide the daily work of After School Matters Teens. Please refer to the Participant Manual if you or a teen have a question about policies such as attendance, stipend eligibility, or discipline. The Participant Manual can be found on Cityspan under the “Documents” tab.
The Liaison and Instructor manual outlines all After School Matters policies that guide the daily work of After School Matters Liaisons. Refer to the Liaison and Instructor Manual for questions about Liaison responsibilities; program attendance and location policies; media and research policies, etc. The Liaison and Instructor Manual can be found on Cityspan under the “Documents” tab.
Access the webinar info session HERE.
Instructors must be listed on Exhibit B (Budget) in order to be eligible for payment for Professional Development. Compensation is at the Professional Development rate of $25.00 per hour. Instructors must complete required checklist items before attending Professional Development.
Employee instructors must enter their time into ADP using the payroll code provided at the session.
Organizations will receive a reimbursement check in the mail for their instructor’s time, listing the instructor name, training name, and training date. Organizations are responsible for issuing PD Payroll to their instructors accordingly.
For more information, please contact Emily Nott, Manager of Professional Development at 312-702-8591 or via email.
“[I valued] Building relationships and networking with other instructors! Taking their personal successes in areas I’m struggling in and looking forward to applying it.” – After School Matters Instructor
This video is a step-by-step guide for completing the After School Matters application. Share this with a teen or parent who has questions about the process
Use this link to share with applicants: youtube.com/watch?v=lx3xU__bSZA.
Encourage teens to find their futures in an After School Matters program by showing this recruitment video. Feel free to share this video on social media, embed into a website or distribute in an email to encourage teens to apply.
View on Youtube or copy and paste the below link to share!
youtu.be/FftFRzhkph0
The After School Matters Recruitment Guide includes tips for teen recruitment, interview and enrollment strategies, an interview sign-up form and recommend interview questions to help make the recruitment and enrollment stages of running your program easier.
If you have any questions about recruitment or enrollment, reach out to your program specialist for further assistance.
Access the webinar info session HERE.
The Support Services Directory shares various resources in the community for teens who may need additional support.
Read, save and/or download the Support Services Directory or use this link to share with a co-instructor: https://6pk69d.p3cdn2.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Support-Services-Resource-Directory.pdf.
66 East Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
312-768-5200
Terms of Use // Privacy Policy // Copyright 2015–2023After School Matters, Inc.
