The Wyoming Afterschool Alliance has made some great strides during its first year in existence.

"I think we've made an incredible effort this year to reach a variety of organizations," said executive director Linda Barton.

Since February, Barton and her staff have made 20 different presentations to community organizations about building and sustaining high quality after-school programs.

The alliance is a network of program providers, educators and community groups dedicated to advocating the benefits of after-school programs for families and students. Its mission is to support and help sustain high quality after-school programs that offer positive outcomes for parents and their children.

An estimated 21 percent of Wyoming youth between the ages of 5 and 17 are unsupervised after school, according to the American after 3 p.m. survey. Almost 50 percent of these children would likely participate in after-school programs if they were available.

Problems after-school programs face vary, from finding qualified staff to raising enough money to keep the program around year after year. Barton said it's especially important as the economy tightens to remind legislators that after-school funding shouldn't be seen as discretionary.

"We need to focus on sustainability right now," Barton said, noting that the alliance has roughly $115,000 for three years of operation.

Laurie Latta, coordinator for the Sublette Community Partnership, said the alliance was instrumental in helping Pinedale start its after-school programs. Pinedale is one of the alliance's newest partners.

Sublette County has been an area of considerable growth due to Wyoming's energy boom, though there was little infrastructure in place to offer after-school activities for the growing number of children.

Barton's experience combined with Latta's vision helped kickstart excitement for the programs, Latta said.

Nearly 100 children in Pinedale are now taking part in a variety of activities once school has ended, and it took a number of meetings with community members, the partnership and the alliance to build an after-school program.

"We talked about what we needed," Latta said. "It was consistent. Yes, we need after-school (activities). Yes, we need something for our kids to do."

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com

For more information

To learn more about the Wyoming Afterschool Alliance or to become a partner, contact Linda Barton at (307) 335-9922, or log on to wyafterschoolalliance.org.