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"These are extremely challenging times for afterschool providers, and for the children and families who count on them," Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant said. "Like the families they serve, afterschool programs are struggling. But program directors are working tirelessly to keep the doors open, so children will have a safe place to go with enriching activities after the school day ends."
Uncertain Times
Research earlier this year by the Afterschool Alliance documented the economic struggles facing afterschool programs. The Uncertain Times 2009 report, relying on data from a web-based survey of afterschool providers, found that three in five afterschool program leaders said funding for their programs is down, and more than one-third said it is down a lot. Fully seven in ten respondents said that their funding was less than secure for the next one to two years, and 83 percent said it is not secure for the next three to five years.
In the months since, there have been reports of afterschool cutbacks from coast to coast. A recent story in the Wall Street Journal discussed the impact on families and programs: a New York City mom scrambling for child care for her six-year-old, after his afterschool program was forced to reduce the number of children it could serve; a Tucson, Arizona mother forced to cut back on her work hours so she can meet her children at the bus every afternoon because the afterschool program was forced to raise fees beyond the family's reach; long-established programs in Los Angeles and Iowa shutting down sites in the face of severe budget cuts, leaving few options for the families that rely on them.
At the same time, a number of state and local jurisdictions are struggling mightily to spare afterschool from the budget knife, and program providers are cobbling together funding and in-kind donations to keep programs running.
"It's heroic what some afterschool providers are doing to keep their doors open," Grant added, "but programs need more - and more stable - government, corporate and philanthropic support, to supplement the fees parents are paying. An investment in afterschool is an investment in our children and our future. The funds that support afterschool programs are dollars well-spent."
Federal Support
Afterschool providers have hope that the federal government will provide at least some additional help. After years of flat funding and small cuts to 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), the chief federal funding stream for afterschool, the initiative has received small increases in the last two years. As legislators return to Washington this fall, they will have a chance to continue that trend. The House of Representatives has already adopted an FY10 appropriations bill that increases 21st CCLC funding by $50 million over last year's level. The Senate is not as far along in its budget process. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill that flat-funded 21st CCLC at last year's level, essentially accepting President Obama's budget request for 21st CCLC. But the full Senate has yet to vote, and amendments proposing increases are likely. Once both chambers have voted, the bill will go to a conference committee to resolve differences.
Over the course of the next several weeks, advocates will have a chance to weigh in with their senators, urging them to increase funding for afterschool - at least to the House-passed level. (Send a message to Congress here and see the Outreach section of this newsletter for more ideas on how to join the debate.)
Raising Awareness
Several events this fall will help focus attention on the vital role afterschool programs play in our communities, and on the challenges they face. First, on October 6, the Afterschool Alliance will release the findings of its "household survey" of thousands of American households. Sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, the 2009 America After 3 PM report will offer a detailed look at what America's children are doing during the after school hours, and the role afterschool programs play in the lives of families and communities. The report will include state-by-state breakdowns. It is a follow-up to the 2004 America After 3 PM report, and will be released at an event in Washington, D.C. and in coordinated events around the nation.
Eighteen days later - on October 22 - the Alliance will stage its 10th annual Lights On Afterschool day, with more than 7,500 rallies and events across the nation that highlight the contributions afterschool programs make, and the peril facing these programs in these difficult economic times. Events will feature lawmakers from every level of government, business and community leaders, parents, educators and, of course, children. From open houses to carnivals to educational trips to state capitals, Lights On Afterschool provides a powerful demonstration of the variety of enrichment opportunities afterschool programs offer. To learn more about Lights On Afterschool, or to register an event, click here.
As part of this year's Lights On Afterschool celebration, Bright House Networks will air a new documentary on the benefits of afterschool, featuring the personal stories of youth and families across the country. Bright House Networks produced the first "After the School Bell Rings" cable special in conjunction with last year's Lights On Afterschool. To view the 2008 show, click here.
Your Help Needed!
The Afterschool Alliance is working to make sure policy makers and the media fully understand the economy's impact on afterschool programs. With that in mind, the Alliance is gathering stories of programs that have succumbed to the economic downturn, and will be unable to open in the fall. Advocates can help by sending information on program closures to advocate@afterschoolalliance.org.
This story originally appeared in the Afterschool Advocate (Vol. 10, Issue 9).
Click here to read the rest of this issue.
