Today, more parents than ever work outside the home, and many struggle to secure adequate after-school care for their children. As a result, large numbers of youngsters find themselves alone and unsupervised when the school bell rings at the end of the day.
Studies have shown that the after-school hours can be dangerous ones for children. The Department of Justice reports that 29 percent of all juvenile offenses occur on school days between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and that the number of violent crimes committed doubles in the hour immediately after school is let out.
After-school programs are
often seen as an effective way to keep children safe and supervised. Experts
also believe that the after-school hours are an opportunity to further engage
students in academic, social, and physical activities.
Participation
in after-school activities continues to be a benefit for students right through
high school. Adolescents in after-school programs are optimistic for the future
and have more interest in school than peers who are unsupervised after school.
After-school program participation also helps to keep youth from skipping
school and experimenting with alcohol, drugs and sexual activity. After-school
programs prevent pregnancy by promoting sound judgment, offering health
education, and providing positive alternatives to sexual activity. Furthermore,
if youth stay involved in after-school activities through adolescence, they are
more likely to attend college, vote and volunteer as adults.
The NYVPRC
defines as safe, structured activities that convene on a regular
basis in the after-school hours and offer children opportunities to learn new
skills. The skills students learn can range from technology and math to reading
and art. Some programs also offer opportunities for internships, community
service, or mentoring.
These programs have been shown to improve academic achievement, as well as relieve the stresses on working families. Most experts agree that after-school activities can serve as important strategies for youth violence prevention and intervention, and can also help students develop into responsible adults. A report by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S Department of Justice shows that students in after-school programs have fewer behavioral problems and more self-confidence, and can handle conflicts better than students who are not involved with these programs. In addition, according to the Harvard Family Research Project, after-school programs help students from low-income families overcome the inequities they face in the school system.
