Useful Documents & Resources
The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) offers afterschool programs designed to develop children’s social and emotional growth and build healthy relationships. Childcare Afterschool programs and Community Schools afterschool programs are open to Junior Kindergarten through 5th graders. Youth Center / Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) Pre-teen / Middle School Programs are open to 4th – 8th graders. The King Open Extended Day program is available to children who attend the King Open School. All DHSP afterschool programs are filled through a lottery process.
Families can apply to Childcare Afterschool, Community Schools afterschool programs, and Youth Center Pre-Teen / Middle School afterschool programs through the DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery. Applications will be accepted May 1 – 26, 2023.
Apply to the DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery
Families who apply after the May 26 deadline will be automatically added to the waiting pool.
If you need help completing your application, view "How to Apply" instructions , get in-person help (see details ), or contact us at 617-349-6200 or askdhsp@cambridgema.gov .
Timeline and Important Dates
Monday, May 1, 2023 2023–2024 DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery Applications Open Thursday, May 4, 2023 View Presentation Mondays, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 2023 In-person application help available at DHSP, 51 Inman St., 3rd Floor, 5 – 7:30 p.m. No appointment needed. Thursday, May 11, 2023, 2023 In-person application help available at Frisoli Youth Center, 61 Willow St., 6 –7:30 p.m. No appointment needed. Thursday, May 18, 2023 In-person application help available at Gately Youth Center, 70 Rindge Ave. 6 – 7:30 p.m. No appointment needed. Friday, May 26, 2023 – Deadline to apply to the lottery. Monday, June 19, 2023 - Beginning this week, families will learn whether their child is offered a seat in a DHSP afterschool program or placed in the waiting pool. Notifications will be sent through documents issues to the applicant’s Viewpoint account. Families can log into their Viewpoint account at any time to check the status of their child’s application.
Eligibility
Applicants must be Cambridge residents or children of City of Cambridge employees.
Children must be entering Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade in September 2023.
Re-Enrollment
Families whose child(ren) are currently enrolled in Childcare Afterschool Programs, Community Schools afterschool programs and Youth Center Pre-Teen / Middle School afterschool programs have the option to re-enroll their child(ren) at the same site and have a guaranteed seat in that site for 2023-2024.
If you are interested in re-enrolling your child(ren), you need to fill out a DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery application for each child in your household. Families will use the same application to apply for each child in their household.
If you wish to apply to a different afterschool program or site, your child will be entered in the lottery after you submit your application.
Community Afterschool Resources
In addition to the DHSP Afterschool Programs, there are six afterschool programs in Cambridge that offer afterschool care five days a week. Please visit their websites for program and registration information: Agassiz Baldwin Community , Cambridge Community Center , Community Art Center , Dragon Fly Afterschool , East End House , Cambridge YMCA .
You can also find afterschool options and many other resources for families at www.finditcambridge.org .
The Agenda for Children Out-of-School Time (AFCOST) is also a great resource for out-of-school time and afterschool opportunities in Cambridge. AFCOST's 2023-2024 Afterschool Resource Guide will be posted on their website when available.
Caregiver Partnership
In response to feedback from Cambridge families, DHSP is working with caregivers to form a new community partnership that welcomes families into decision-making that impacts them. Learn more at www.cambridgema.gov/CaregiverPartnership .
How to Accept Your Child’s Placement
These directions will be relevant if your child is offered a seat in an afterschool program the week of June 19.
Access step-by-step instructions (PDF).
Frequently Asked Questions
What has changed about the DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery process?
In response to family and caregiver feedback, we made the following changes to our process this year:
Families can apply to three of our afterschool programs (Childcare Afterschool Programs, Community Schools afterschool programs, and Youth Center Pre-Teen / Middle School programs) through a single application.
Families whose child(ren) are currently enrolled in Childcare Afterschool Programs, Community Schools afterschool programs and Youth Center Pre-Teen / Middle School afterschool programs have the option to re-enroll their child(ren) at the same site and have a guaranteed seat in that site for 2023-2024.
If you are interested in re-enrolling your child(ren), you need to fill out a DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery application for each child in your household. Families will use the same application to apply for each child in their household .
If you wish to apply to a different afterschool program or site, your child(ren) will be entered into the lottery after you submit their application.
How does the DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery work?
Children who are currently enrolled in a DHSP afterschool program can re-enroll at the same site by completing the application. Re-enrolling students will be guaranteed a seat at that site if they do not have any past due balances. If children are currently enrolled in a DHSP afterschool program and would like to enroll at a different site, they will not get a seat preference and will be re-entered into the lottery.
All applications that are received on time are assigned a random lottery number. Siblings are grouped together and share the same lottery number. The applications are then divided into 2 groups, priority applicants (from households with an income of 65% or less of HUD AMI) and general applicants. 30% of seats in each afterschool program are designated for priority applicants.
My child will be re-enrolling. Do I need to apply?
Yes, if you are interested in re-enrolling your child(ren), you need to fill out a DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery application for each child in your household. Families will use the same application to apply for each of their children.
If you wish to apply to a different afterschool program or site, your child will be entered into the lottery.
What is the difference between each afterschool program?
Childcare Afterschool programs are open to children in Junior Kindergarten through 5th grade. Programs offer project-based learning curriculum that links to Cambridge Public Schools' learning goals. Care is provided 5 days a week from the end of the school day until 5:55 p.m. All classrooms are licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Childcare Afterschool programs accept DTA and EEC vouchers.
We also offer the King Open Extended Day Program, which is open to Cambridge children in Junior Kindergarten through 5th grade who are enrolled in the King Open School. The afterschool program is completely integrated into the King Open School to support children’s social and academic learning. View the program's webpage to learn more.
Can I apply for more than one child through the same application?
Yes, you can apply for up to 5 children who live in the same household through one application. Please use the same application to apply for each child in your household.
Does my child need to attend the same school for academic and afterschool programming?
No. However, DHSP does not provide transportation to afterschool sites. CPS provides transportation between schools and some sites. View the Transportation Chart for more information
If your child chooses to attend an afterschool site and CPS does not provide transportation between your child’s school and the afterschool site, you will be responsible for transporting your child to the afterschool program.
Is transportation provided between CPS and DHSP afterschool sites?
DHSP does not provide transportation to afterschool sites. CPS provides transportation between schools and some sites. View the Transportation Chart for more information
If your child chooses to attend an afterschool site and CPS does not provide transportation between your child’s school and the afterschool site, you will be responsible for transporting your child to the afterschool program.
Who are "Priority Applicants"?
Priority is based on household size and income. Applicants with a household income of 65% or less than HUD Area Median Income (AMI) are given priority in the lottery.
Is there a sibling preference for placements?
Yes, siblings are grouped together and share the same lottery number. When one child’s lottery number is selected and they are placed in at an afterschool site, their sibling(s) get preference to be placed at the same site (provided that the family indicated the same sites for all children).
Sibling placement depends on seat availability at each site for the sibling's age group and is not guaranteed.
How much does it cost to participate in DHSP afterschool programs?
Families pay tuition for an entire year of programming, broken into monthly payments.
Monthly tuition rates are based on household size, family income and the number of days your child(ren) will attend programming.
Do I need to provide income verification documents when I apply?
You do not need to provide income verification until your child is offered a seat at an afterschool program .
If your child is offered a seat, we will provide instructions for how to upload documents to your Viewpoint account. Families with a Gross Family Income below $315,500 will be asked to provide verification of income by uploading their documents (2022 Tax return and 4 consecutive pay stubs (or last 30 days) OR current award letters for any benefits you are receiving (TANF, SSI, SNAP, WIC, etc.). Families with income above $315,500 do not need to provide documentation because they will be paying the top tuition rate.