Across America, as many as 15 million young people have no place to go at the end of the school day. In Michigan, 450,000 of these children are at home alone after school.  Research has shown that youth are most at-risk of academic failure during the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and being unsupervised doubles the risk that 8th graders will smoke, drink or use drugs.  Our program gives kids a safe place to go and an opportunity to expand their skills, interests and abilities through activities focused on academics, enrichment, nutrition and physical fitness, and youth development and leadership.

Did you know?

• Children and youth who participate in high quality after school programs:
• Earn higher grades and significantly higher standardized test scores
• Have improved attendance
• Behave better in school and are more apt to graduate
• Complete their homework more successfully and more often
• Increase their problem-solving skills
• Have better peer relations, emotional adjustment and conflict resolution skills
• After school programs provide increased opportunities for children to be physically active and improve their nutrition choices.
• Jobs of the future will be knowledge-based. After school programs can play an integral role in ensuring that youth are better prepared.
• After school programs have the power to increase the safety of children, bring neighbors together and foster community pride and ownership.
• Quality after school programs can cut the risk of youth becoming involved in crime by up to 75 percent.

SOURCES FOR ALL FACTOIDS: After school Alliance, Michigan After school and U.S. Census Bureau.