We have created this manual to make sure you understand what you can expect, and our expectations of you while in an After School Matters program. Please read it carefully because there are some new and exciting changes. Specifically, pay close attention to the sections about signing the Program Acknowledgment and Consent and Release form, the attendance policy, and the new Teen Pay and Stipend Page where you can determine if you are eligible for your stipend. If you have any questions, please speak with your Instructor or contact the number or email listed in each section.
In order to participate in After School Matters programs, you must turn in a signed Program Acknowledgement, Consent, and Release form at the start of programs. Notify your Instructor immediately if you have any questions or problems completing any of the forms.
Teen Intern/Assistant form, English
Teen Intern/Assistant form, Spanish
This list includes more than 20 local organizations, centers and councils that provide resources specifically to LGBTQ youth.
Access this resource here.
Padres y guardianes legales deben firmar este documento si deciden permitir que sus jóvenes menores de edad participen en una excursion con su programa de After School Matters.
Forma de permiso para excursiones
If your check has been lost, stolen or destroyed, fill out this form to let After School Matters know! Click below to access the mobile-friendly form. Once your form has been submitted, a member from our Teen Stipends team will contact you with more information.
If your check has expired, you must mail it back to After School Matters at the below address.
After School Matters
ATTN: Teen Stipends
66 E. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60601
We have been invited to join a program designed specifically for students considering attending City Colleges of Chicago. UtmostU’s Bridges to Success program is meant to complement the assistance you will receive from your City Colleges of Chicago Adviser. UtmostU, founded in 2012, has been supporting young adults toward their two-and-four year degrees. After School Matters has been partnering with UtmostU over the last year, and they do amazing work! We are excited to provide this opportunity! View the UtmostU Bridges to Success_ASM Student.pdf
After School Matters also offers a variety of programs such as “Personal Wealth Management” and “SAT Prep” programs dedicated to assisting young people in some of the more tangible aspects of the college-going process.
Internships, like all ASM programs, are open to teens currently living and attending school in Chicago. Since internships are traditionally paid hourly wages, teens must be at least 16 years old in order to legally “work” in their internship. Teen interns work for organizations and companies across the city such as Boys and Girls Clubs, Millennium Park Grill, Pepsi, Ulta, Helix Café, and many more! Please contact Evon Mikhail to learn more about internship opportunities!
The ASM Launch program is specifically designed for teens who are no longer in high school but still a bit unsure about their next steps. This program (formerly known as ASM Gap Year) is designed to assist teens in making concrete plans for the future. We spend time reflecting on past educational and job experiences and engage in open conversations about some of the barriers (internal and external) that may have prevented the teen from launching after high school. Teens meet daily from 9:00 – 12:00. They spend two days each week working through their ASM Launch curriculum (resume’ writing, mock interviews, interest survey completion, etc.) and the other three days are spent working in a “special interest” course (Culinary, Coding, or Graphic Design). The Launch Fellows also attend weekly workshops from professionals in the field to learn more about the possible pathways available to them. Please contact Jeremy Dionisio at jeremy.dionisio@afterschoolmatters.org for more information about this program!
We are in the process of expanding our Lutz Scholars program to become ASM Scholars. Through this program, ASM will work with a cohort of teens through their junior and senior years of high school to assist in navigating the college landscape. Teens will engage in workshops, have 1:1 meetings with a college/career coach, and continue working through the College Application Timeline. Scholars will create college lists, complete the FAFSA, fine-tune their personal statements, and interact with current college students through panels and college visits. This is a selective program to which teens must apply. Please contact Martina Cohran for more information about this program!
Caring.com is a free resource that understands the demanding lifestyle of teen and student-caregivers and the challenges they may face. The Student-Caregiver Scholarship provides financial assistance to teens and students who are caring for an adult relative while enrolled in college. Learn more here and how to apply.
Find dozens of scholarships from companies and organizations that are eager to help students pay for college. See the full list here.
A.M. Money is now accepting early applicants to a new student loan program. Features of this program include income-based repayment options and affordable rates — without the need for a cosigner. This program is founded and operated by Chicagoans who once struggled to pay for college. Through this new student loan program, they’ve designed a program for you that wish they would have had.
Learn more about the student loan program on their website
Applying to college is a complicated process, so The College Board has created a program that guides you through it. It doesn’t require an essay, application, or minimum GPA. Instead, it rewards your effort and initiative. Starting this December, complete key steps along your path to college for a chance to earn scholarships.
Learn more here.
Global Citizen Year is launching a generation of leaders with the the insight, conviction and courage to move the world ahead.
Each year we recruit and train a diverse corps of our country’s brightest high school graduates and support them through a school-year long immersion in communities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America during a “bridge year” before college. Through a mix of experiential learning and world-class training, our Fellows develop self-awareness, global skills and grit — the foundations for success in higher education, and leadership in our global economy.
Since our launch in 2010, we’ve grown our operation ten-fold. Our 700+ alumni are thriving in college and careers, and have been honored as Fulbright Scholars, Davis Peace Prize winners, Gates Millennium Scholars and Teach For America corps members. We have raised $20M in seed capital from a growing roster of funders and partners, and awarded $15M in financial aid to ensure each cohort reflects our nation’s diversity. We’ve built a talented global team, advisory council and board of directors, and our work has been featured in prominent forums from the PBS NewsHour to the Aspen Ideas Festival, and by thought leaders including Katie Couric and Nicholas Kristof.
Beyond our core program is an even bolder vision. Using our model as a proof-of-concept, we’re partnering with colleges, policymakers, and our own alumni to ensure that one day a “global year” becomes a new rite of passage, and the hallmark of an American education. Ultimately, we’re building a new generation of leaders who will advance human progress on a global scale.
Learn more and apply at https://www.globalcitizenyear.org/.
Potential is universal, but opportunity is not. Y.O.U. works to ensure every young person has the opportunity to succeed. They partner with families, schools and community to provide academic, social and emotional support where it is most needed, closing the gap between youth and opportunity. Interested in a job opportunity with this organization? See here and here for listings.
OnlineColleges.net strives to be your main resource in online education, whether you’re an experienced online learner, a current student, or are considering attending college online. We provide:
You can access this resource at onlinecolleges.net.
View their transfer student resource guide here.
Financial Aid Options for Online Colleges
Online College Guidebook for Students
Youth and Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) is searching for their next year-long cohort of AmeriCorps Y.O.U.th Serve Members for their Out-of-School-Time (OST) Programs in Evanston and Niles Township, IL! Y.O.U.th Serve Members will support youth by serving as youth workers and leaders in Y.O.U.’s afterschool programs, provide youth with crucial academic support and help lead workshops on social and emotional enrichment and life skills, and assist the Program in building relationships with parents, families, and community members. Candidates must have a minimum of a high school education to apply.
Learn more and apply here.
Teen Arts Pass (TAP) is a new initiative by Urban Gateways that gives young people ages 13-19 access to $5 tickets to see professional dance, music, and theater performances in Chicago. Teens may sign up for the Teen Arts Pass here.
Bottom Line helps low-income and first-generation college students get to and through college by building strong connections and providing individual support. Learn about their College Access program here.
The Night Ministry’s Crib
Lake View Lutheran Church | 835 W. Addison St. Chicago, IL 60613 | 773.549.4158 | YOT@thenightministry.org
The Crib is open 7 nights a week, 365 days a year, from 8:30 p.m. until 9:00 a.m. We are housed in the basement of Lakeview Lutheran Church in the Lakeview neighborhood, located on Chicago’s north side. The program accepts up to 20 youth, ages 18–24, each night. If more than 20 people arrive, the staff holds a lottery to determine who will stay at The Crib that night.
For students experiencing Housing Instability or Students in Transitional Living Situations please contact:
The Night Ministry
ODS – WT: Interim Housing Program
(773) 506 – 4100
The Night Ministry
RAPPP: Response-Ability Pregnant & Parenting Program
(773) 506 -3120
Thanks to our new parternship with Wintrust Bank, you can now cash your After School Matters stipend check for FREE and avoid fees you would have to pay at a currency exchange. Find participating Wintrust Bank locations here.
Questions? Call our Teen Stipend Hotline at (312) 768-5199.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E Chicago Ave) offers free admission for all youth ages 18 and under.
Free admission gives you access to the MCA’s programs, including:
Learn more about current and upcoming exhibits and special programming at mcachicago.org.
When it comes to college planning, it may seem like there are a million things to think about, but don’t worry. Whether you’re a student or parent, the following college planning timelines will keep you on track and in the know throughout high school. Helpful, step-by-step tips cover everything from taking the right classes, making a list of colleges, to filling out college forms and applications on time!
Peterson’s has planning timelines for freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors to help you on your path to success. Access the College Planning Timeline here.
Use this resources if you’re interested in taking some courses at a local institution and then transferring them to another college later. Learn more about how transferring courses works, how to get in touch with each school’s transfer office to learn about transfer restrictions, and what others steps you need to take so things can transfer smoothly. Begin at collegetransfer.net.
BigFuture is your personal future planner from CollegeBoard — the SAT people! The CollegeBoard website has something to help you at every step of your college planning: take a quiz to help you start mapping your major, search and compare colleges, learn more about financial aid, plus much more. Begin finding your future here: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/
If you’re looking for an outside scholarship (in addition to what your future college could give you) this is the place to search! Complete a brief survey and this website will tell you which scholarships you’re eligible for and how to apply for them. Start your search here.
FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, but the website provides much more than just an application. You can find resources to help you browse and search for scholarships, information on securing loans and tips to help you manage your accounts.
Learn more about preparing for college, the difference between loans and scholarships, and more here: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/
Apply or edit your existing application here: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/
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 are excited to announce that you will now have the option to receive your stipend and wages electronically. Teens can enroll in direct deposit to make your payday an easier and faster experience! This change would eliminate the distribution of paper checks to your program.
In order to enroll in direct deposit, you will need the following information:
To enroll, please click the link below:
Watch the video below and see how easy it is to enroll in direct deposit.
Also, learn more about being payday ready at ASM-Saves.org.
Teen Dashboard (formerly Teen Pay and Stipends page) is a new way to see if you’re on track to get paid for the current program session. You can access your personal page by logging back into the After School Matters application using your Application ID Number. To access your Fall 2020 personal page, enter your Application ID here. Once logged in, you can navigate to the Teen Dashboard and see if you are on track to be paid!
I forgot my Fall 2020 Application ID
I forgot my Spring 2021 Application ID
For inquiries related to teen stipends, please call our Teen Stipend Hotline at (312)-768-5199 or email teenstipends@afterschoolmatters.org.
Looking for your Spring Teen Dashboard?
Use your Spring 2023 Application ID Number to log back in to your Spring 2023 application to access your Teen Dashboard.
Teen Stipend Hotline
312-768-5199
teenstipends@afterschoolmatters.org
Si gustarías ayuda en español, llama al 312-846-5199 o manda un correo electrónico a espanol@afterschoolmatters.org.
It is important that all individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 self-report using the ASM COVID-19 Self-Reporting form or by calling the ASM Contact Tracing Hotline.
312-768-5198
66 East Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
312-768-5200
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