Home - Healthy Out-of-School Time Coalition

Staying Active

Sports and physical activities are key for healthy bodies and we have resources to share>>
Healthy Eating

Healthy eating is essential to overall wellness and we have OST resources to share >>
Supporting Youth Wellness

OST programs can be partners in raising healthy children and young adults >>
Healthy Eating & Physical Activity Standards

These research-based standards can guide programs to promote lifelong health and help prevent chronic disease >>

Our Mission

We are a national coalition of leaders in the Out-of-School Time (OST) field.

Our goal is to foster health and well-being practices in afterschool programs nationwide, using science-based standards for healthy eating, physical activity, screen time, and social supports for these behaviors including staff, family, and child engagement.

We encourage OST leaders and program staff to explore the evidence-based Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) Standards.

Physical Activity

Healthy Eating

Youth Wellness

HEPA Standards

HOST MILESTONES

The annual National AfterSchool Association Convention featured multiple HEPA focused workshops and included a HOST Coalition meet-up.
HOST MILESTONES

A special issue of New Directions for Youth Development, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National AfterSchool Association and edited by Jean Wiecha and Georgia Hall, presented recent research findings on healthy eating and physical activity in the OST field.
HOST MILESTONES

The HEPA Standards were adopted by the National AfterSchool Association Board of Directors, YMCA of the USA, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
HOST MILESTONES

HOST Coalition researchers developed the HEPA standards for out-of-school time programs through research, literature review and input of coalition members.
HOST MILESTONES

The HOST Coalition was created by the National Institute on Out-of-School Time, the University of Massachusetts Boston, and the YMCA of the USA.