Region VII After School Programs

Why are After School Programs Important?

There is a high demand for after school programs. Youth today need safe and stimulating places to go to after school.

The parents of more than 28 million school-age children work outside the home.
(U.S. Department of Labor)
At least 7 million, and as many as 15 million, "latchkey children" go home to an empty house on any given afternoon.
(U.S. Census Bureau, Urban Institute estimate, 2000)
Children are more likely to be involved in crime, substance abuse and teenage pregnancy in the hours after school, particularly between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.
(National Center for Juvenile Justice, 1999)

The benefits of after school programs are that they keep kids safe, help working families and improve academic achievement. The impressive results do not stop there.

Students in a statewide program in California improved their standardized test scores (SAT-9) in both reading and math by percentages almost twice that of other students. The after school participants also had better school attendance.
(U.C. Irvine, May 2001)
Teens who do not participate in after school programs are nearly three times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs, and they are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and engage in sexual activity.
(YMCA of the USA, March 2001)
Incidents of vandalism, stealing, violent acts and arrests were 50% lower among students in after school programs in 12 high risk California communities.
(Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California, August 2001)

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