The Facts - Why we need After-School programs!

  

• In communities today, just under 14.5 million children take care of themselves after the school day ends.

• Just 6.5 million children are in after-school programs—but the parents of another 15 million children say their children would participate in after-school if a program were available.
• Teens who do not participate in After-School programs are nearly three times more likely to skip classes than teens who do participate. They are also 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.  
• Studies show that children in after-school programs do better in school, stay in school longer and have greater expectations for the future.

• On school days, the hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are the peak hours for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex.
• Parents with children in after-school programs are less stressed, have fewer unscheduled absences and are more productive at work.