Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is afterschool?
Afterschool is maybe better described as "out of school time" because it is really any time a child is not in school. Traditionally it is the hours of 3-6PM, but it can also be before school, summer time, and holiday breaks when children are not in school but parents are still working.
Children spend just 20% of each year at school. How they spend the remaining 80% has profound implications on their well-being and future.
Without access to positive role models, enrichment activities, cultural opportunities or even a healthful meal, children can quickly fall behind their peers. In fact, about two-thirds of the academic achievement gap between disadvantaged youth and their more advantaged peers can be explained by what happens over the summer break.
How many Dallas families need or use "afterschool"?
Dallas has approximately 135,000 children between the ages of 5 and 13 who require out-of-the-home supervision each day afterschool. Unfortunately, there are only enough afterschool spaces to serve 1/3 of these children, which means that there are approximately 84,000 children who are unsupervised each school day afternoon.
Why is there such a shortage of afterschool spaces?
The shortage is a direct result of lack of funding. The federal government covers only eleven percent of the cost of afterschool, even though 29 percent of children in programs qualify for federal assistance. Many of these programs offer free or subsidized afterschool care but in order to sustain these programs we need greater investment from all sectors to ensure that the neediest children are able to access quality, affordable afterschool programs - programs that keep kids safe, inspire learning and help working families.
Unlike other cities, such as Fort Worth, Dallas has no infrastructure to collect revenue specifically for afterschool programs. It hasn't been made a priority in this community like it has in others.
What are some of the consequences of so many unsupervised kids?
Young people face a number of dangers during the hours after school.
- Self-care and boredom can increase the likelihood that a young person will make bad choices if not shown an alternative.
- Teens who do not participate in afterschool programs are nearly three times more likely to skip classes at school than teens who do participate. They are three times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs, and also more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and engage in sexual activity than teens not in afterschool programs.
- In addition, the hours of 3-6 PM are the peak times for a child to be the victim or perpetrator of a crime.
What are some of the benefits these children and families receive from afterschool programming?
National research shows that children who participate in structured afterschool programs:
- Perform better academically, socially and behaviorally
- Have improved school attendance
- Are two times less likely to use drugs
- Are three times less likely to become a teen parent
Afterschool programming also gives working parents peace of mind and the ability to focus on their jobs knowing that their children are well cared for afterschool. In addition, employers appreciate parents who don't need to worry about their children every day.
How do afterschool programs affect our community in general?
When you calculate all of the cost savings associated with the benefits of afterschool programs, the net effect is that every $1 invested in afterschool saves taxpayers $8-12 in total savings. Here's why.
Afterschool programs are a powerful antidote to youth crime:
- They provide a safe haven that keeps kids away from violence.
- They provide an alternative to gangs and street life, allowing kids to develop new skills and interact positively with peers.
- They offer youth hope and opportunities, offsetting the sense of nihilism can cause youth to turn to crime.
- They contribute to economic opportunity by providing academic support and job skills
- Nine out of ten police chiefs agreed with the statement: "If America does not make greater investments in after-school and educational child care programs to help children and youth now, we will pay far more later in crime, welfare and other costs."
How are afterschool providers affected by the current economy?
During difficult economic times, struggling working families need additional support. Families are relying more on afterschool supports as they take on more work hours or struggle to afford basic necessities for their families. Fewer families are able to afford to pay for child care so demand for free and subsidized programs is rising at the same time that funding for these programs is being cut.
To compensate, afterschool providers have had to reduce programming, eliminate field trips, and minimize staff which results in less individualized attention for students. So even if the doors remain open, quality across the board declines when funding is reduced.
And it is not just about the supervision or enrichment of children. For low-income children, afterschool and summer programs are also often a reliable source of nutritious snacks or a hot meal and ease the burden of providing food. Without access to these programs, many children will go hungry.
So how do you envision providing more financial support for afterschool programs in our community?
Afterschool programs, like most nonprofit organizations, are accustomed to working with limited budgets. Funding from government agencies and private foundations is most often tied to specific programs and activities, rather than providing the kind of general support that could enable an organization to establish a capital reserve or an endowment. These organizations would benefit from fewer funding "strings" and a more diverse pool of funders like businesses and individuals.
In addition, providers will need to take action to help themselves. Some are now exploring the idea of collaborations, resource-sharing, mergers, and more. Efficiencies will have to be achieved for them to deliver quality programming to children on shoe string budgets.
How do local afterschool providers help children get ready for back-to-school?
For many local afterschool programs, it is not just about 3-6 PM during the school year. Instead, these providers focus on maximizing the potential of every student - before, during and after school. So many afterschool providers try to step in and fill the gap between what a child needs and what parents can afford.
To get a child ready to return to school, parents need to acquire school uniforms and school supplies. On average, two uniforms will cost approximately $130 and the required DISD school supplies for a 3rd grader will cost $55. Considering most families have more than one child, this is a huge barrier that many Dallas families simply can't overcome - particularly in this economy. Add to this the expense of getting children immunized and having vision and dental checkups and it is just out of reach for too many families today.
Afterschool providers will offer backpacks, haircuts, school supplies health fairs and more for kids who need them.
What role does Dallas AfterSchool Network play in the local afterschool landscape?
Dallas AfterSchool Network advances the quality and availability of afterschool programming in our community. We are an intermediary that provides professional training, networking, resources and advocacy support for local afterschool providers. We work hard to leverage existing resources in our community in order to better support afterschool providers and the children they serve.
We also help parents connect to afterschool programs with our web-based Program Locator.
How can parents find an afterschool provider that meets their needs?
Dallas Afterschool Network provides a Program Locator service to help parents locate afterschool options in their area. To find a match for their children's needs parents can either log on to the DASN website or call the "Program Locator" hotline at 214-631-CARE (2273). A search will be conducted for programs that match the parent's criteria, including location, hours of operation, type of program and cost.
