Across the country, more and more communities are forming community collaborations to address the out-of-school needs of children and youth of all ages. When different segments of the community join together, share ideas, and pool their resources and efforts to create OST initiatives, children and youth benefit. What one organization or program may not be able to accomplish alone, is often achievable when partnerships and collaborations among diverse groups and individuals are formed.
When OST professionals are knowledgeable about what it takes to create and sustain successful collaborations, they can play an important leadership role in creating OST initiatives and programs that will meet the needs of children and youth in their communities now and in the future.