From Crisis Response to Enduring Partnership: Reimagining Youth Support Through OST Collaboration
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the U.S. education system, it exposed deep systemic gaps—but it also sparked something powerful. Schools and out-of-school-time (OST) organizations came together in unprecedented ways to support young people and their families.
In the second installment of a three-part series, From Crisis Response to Enduring Partnership, Wendy S. McClanahan (McClanahan Associates, Inc.), Brandon Hubbard-Heitz (Chattanooga 2.0), and Tracey Hartmann (Research for Action) explore how OST intermediaries (OSTIs)—organizations that coordinate and strengthen afterschool and summer programs—have evolved from emergency responders to enduring allies in education. These intermediaries played a pivotal role during the pandemic, coordinating multisector responses, disseminating public health information, providing meals and technology, and even helping schools reconnect with disengaged students.
Why These Partnerships Matter More Than Ever
Today, schools face steep challenges: rising mental health needs, chronic absenteeism, and staffing shortages. OSTIs are uniquely positioned to help address these issues—coordinating program providers, serving as trusted community conveners and strategic partners to school districts. Their agility, deep local ties, and collaborative spirit are exactly what schools need to navigate today’s complex landscape.
A Blueprint for Lasting Collaboration
The pandemic may have sparked these partnerships, but their value extends far beyond crisis response. The article highlights how one OSTI, Chattanooga 2.0, has sustained and grown its partnership with Hamilton County Schools to meet evolving needs including addressing student success planning, literacy and chronic absenteeism.
This is more than a temporary fix—it’s a blueprint for enduring collaboration that centers equity, community, and the whole child.
📖 Read the full article: From Crisis Response to Enduring Partnership
Authors: Wendy S. McClanahan, Brandon Hubbard-Heitz, Tracey Hartmann