The demand for afterschool programs has morphed into a crisis in our state.
More than 150,000 children are enrolled in afterschool programs at daycares, community centers, churches, and schools and universities. Yet, more than 740,000 — or 4 in 5 kids — are waiting for a spot, according to a recent New Jersey After 3PM survey.
Ebony Grace, CEO of Njsacc: New Jersey’s Afterschool & OST Professional Network; Rosie Grant, Executive Director for the Paterson Education Fund; and Louise McCants, CEO of the Capital Area YMCA of Trenton, affirmed in our latest Jersey Gives A Damn! episode that the greatest benefit of afterschool programs is that they provide a safe place for youth.
They also offer academic enrichment, help reduce chronic absenteeism during the regular school day, and enhance kids’ leadership skills, Ebony explained. Yet, only a fraction of New Jersey families actually have access to afterschool programs.
Our guests shared that:
Afterschool programs often offer a place for kids to get their third meal of the day. Many kids not only eat breakfast and lunch at school; they also eat dinner at their program.Parents have peace of mind because they can work their normal hours uninterrupted, be more productive on the job, and face less stress over the safety and well-being of their child after school.These programs — which provide enrichment classes on STEM, yoga, or baking, for example — reinforce learning in school and condition youth to become lifelong learners.
It’s also important to note that afterschool programs not only benefit kids; they help strengthen our economy. A dearth of these programs can cost U.S. businesses up to $300 billion a year, according to Afterschool Alliance. And every dollar that’s invested in afterschool programming saves at least $3 by increasing kids’ future earning potential as adults, boosting their performance in school, and lowering crime and juvenile delinquency.
We invite you to tune into the episode to find out how funders and advocates can improve programming access and affordability for New Jersey families, and take action at the legislative level to ensure all children have a safe place to go after school.