T minus less than a month until many of our children return to in-person school for the first time in a very long time. You’re probably already busy readying them for this momentous occasion. But how much thought have you given to after-school programs? A large swath of the population needs care for their children after regular school hours. And after-school programming is where you can find it.
Whether your child is in elementary, middle or high school, chances are they will benefit greatly from after-school programs. Multiple studies highlight the effectiveness of after-school programs in increasing academic achievement as well as providing safe and supervised care of kids. A study by the Wallace Foundation also found that other important outcomes, including homework completion, family employment and stability, as well as health and wellness, are all positively impacted by after-school programs, although not always measured.
But just like with regular school, last year saw great limitations and challenges with the after-school programs available to students – one survey found that access to after-school programs was slashed by about half since the pandemic began.
Fortunately, in Miami-Dade County The Children’s Trust made a priority of continuing to fund hundreds of after-school programs during the height of the pandemic and this year the government organization founded to support children’s programs, initiatives and advocacy, is prioritizing that high-quality after-school programming be available to the vast majority of students for free or low-cost.
“After-school programming comes with so many great benefits. From academics to social-emotional and mental health, after-school programs help children develop while they also keep them engaged in interesting and fun activities instead of getting in trouble,” said Rachel Spector, assistant director of Programs at The Children’s Trust.
Associate Director of Programs Bevone Ritchie emphasized to parents that after-school programs also provide safe spaces for older children to engage in dialogue with each other about what’s going on in their lives and the world and put those thoughts to productive use.
“There is so much going on in their lives and having this outlet and support is a great resource for their development and well-being, Ritchie said. “After-school programs that serve middle or high school students are a great place for students to express themselves, through activities such as dance, sports, music, spoken word, film production and more. They have a voice.”
For young students, the benefits of after-school programming is equally impressive. “Seeing their smiling faces as they return to our after-school programs is something heartwarming to look forward to,” said Barbara Cesar, the director of education at Centro Campesino, which provides after-school programs for kindergarten through fifth grade at two sites in Florida City.
“We already know from the summer that they have so much to share and talk about — they have been so enthusiastic.”
Last year, Centro Campesino offered online after-school programming, but Cesar said the support that can be given to children in person and online is very different. “In the online world, it’s hard to develop the same rapport with children, the praise you can give in person. They are yearning for that positive praise and recognition,” she said.
With social distancing guidelines being adjusted, Cesar said she hopes that her after-school programs can welcome back even more kids, although she insisted that the programs would abide by all Center for Disease Control and Prevention and local guidelines regarding the pandemic. Spector agreed and said that while Trust-funded after-school programs will all be in-person for the upcoming school year, it would be important for children to continue using the social distancing and hygiene habits they learned during the pandemic. The Children’s Trust requires all of its funded providers to abide by all CDC, state and local guidelines regarding pandemic requirements.
For more information on Trust-funded after-school programs for your child and find one in your neighborhood visit www.thechildrenstrust.org/after-school for a list or interactive map of K-5 and 6-12 after-school programs.