CFS After School

CFS After School offers a variety of activities for children, including chess tournaments and the opportunity to create their own club shirts. Participants also receive a chess set and board to keep. The program integrates Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) practices and principles with chess instruction and play.

• Schedule: twice a week after school for one hour, typically running from October to March
• Price: in many cases there is no cost for families to participate
• Location: 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #271 Portland, OR 97206

The program is part of Chess for Success, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit in the United States, with a history spanning from 1996 to 2025. It serves nearly 2,500 students in 95 schools across 23 school districts in Oregon, SW Washington, and Hawaii. The mission of Chess for Success is to help kids develop the skills they need for a successful life through equitable and supportive programming. Trained coaches, who may be teachers, school staff, or community members, lead the program. A testimonial from a parent highlights how the program has helped their neurodivergent child thrive by providing a quiet and non-sensory overstimulating activity.

Last updated November 20, 2025.