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Check out the Afterschool Talking Points (below).
Use these Afterschool for All Talking Points to make the case for afterschool
programs.
In the U.S. today, more than 14 million children - 1 in 4 youth are on their own after school. These children face grave risks. They are also missing out on opportunities to learn and grow. Afterschool programs keep kids safe, help working families and inspire learning. Our nation's families and communities know these programs are important. Nine in ten Americans, across party line, demographic group, geography and age have said for five consecutive years that they think all children should have access to afterschool programs.
- Safety:
1. The hours between 3 and 6 PM are the
peak hours for juvenile crime and experimentation
with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex.
2. Police chiefs, sheriffs and prosecutors
agree that investing in afterschool programs
would be more effective at reducing youth violence
and crime than hiring more police officers or
increasing punitive actions.
3. Teens who do not participate in afterschool
programs are nearly three times more likely
to skip classes or use drugs.
- Working Families:
The parents of 28 million children work
outside the home. The amount of afterschool
programs available today meets only half the
demand among elementary and middle school parents.
Afterschool programs help relieve the stress
on working families. In fact, the lack of afterschool
care causes parents to miss an average of 8
days of work each year.
- Learning:
Research shows that participation in afterschool
programs improves students' school attendance
and performance, as well as their expectations
for the future. In one study, students participating
in afterschool programs increased their standardized
test scores by percentages almost twice that
of other students. Principals and administrators
frequently cite afterschool programs as a reason
for school improvement.
- Healthy living:
Afterschool programs can - and do - play an
important role in promoting healthy lifestyles
for youth. Many programs offer health education,
physical activities and even healthy snacks
or supper.
- Policy Makers:
Mayors of 86 cities report that only one-third
of the children who need afterschool programs
have them. Both the U.S. Conference of Mayors
and the National League of Cities have developed
afterschool initiatives, and an increasing number
of governors are addressing the issue. Hundreds
of mayors have joined Afterschool for All.
"The success of our young people depends
on being able to be involved in high-quality
after-school programs. These programs enhance
their learning and help them grow and develop
into the future leaders that our city, state
and country needs."
- Mayor David N. Cicilline, Providence RI
Go to Afterschool Alliance issue briefs
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