Young people need access to relationship-centered spaces that provide a sense of safety and belonging – like those that can be found in high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs – in order to thrive. These settings are ideal for the development interpersonal skills in a low-stakes environment, as well as providing young people with space to learn to identify and manage their own emotions. When young people have the proper supports, it helps them maintain positive relationships, stay physically and mentally healthy, and become civically engaged.
We know that young people’s capacity to learn is hugely dependent upon their needs being met; if a young person is hungry, or doesn’t feel safe, or feels that they do not belong, it is very unlikely that they will be receptive to processing academic content or excelling in and out of school. It is incumbent upon all adults who work with young people throughout the community to ensure that youth have their basic needs met so that they can succeed in school and in life. Evidence shows that youth in high-quality afterschool programs focused on supporting their holistic well-being see a wide range of positive effects in the short term, including:
And even more positive effects in the long term:
High quality, afterschool programs focused on meeting young people’s holistic needs can have an even larger impact on standardized test scores than their more academically-focused counterparts. Afterschool and summer programs are key partners in making sure all young people are able to learn, grown, and thrive. They help support young people’s mental and emotional well-being and provide opportunities to develop the critical interpersonal and conflict resolution skills that help create happier, more engaged, and more productive citizens.
According to the Aspen Institute, employers around the country and world consistently seek out what they are calling “durable” skills and attitudes, such as communication, collaboration, reliability, adaptability, perseverance. These are the precise types of skills, mindsets, and competencies that supporting young people’s holistic well-being helps develop. On top of that, nearly half of the employers in their survey prioritized candidates’ possession of these “durable” skills over possession of the technical skills required for their roles.
The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report also found that the top 5 core skills identified by employers were:
These are precisely the types of skills, mindsets, and characteristics that programming that focuses on supporting the whole child help to develop. Our future economy is dependent upon our ability to help today’s youth develop these “durable” skills. All youth deserve meaningful, structured opportunities to develop these skills and beliefs both in and out of school, and few organizations are as well situated to provide these opportunities than afterschool and summer learning programs.
The benefits of whole child programming last for years
Studies show that young people who participate in whole child-focused programs continue to benefit for months and even years afterwards! Young people who participate in these programs have fewer conduct problems, less emotional distress, and lower rates of drug use than their peers.
Whole child improves academic performance
Studies have found that young people who participate in evidence-based, holistically-oriented programs show an 11 percentile-point gain in academic achievement.
Afterschool programs build social and emotional skills
According to a survey by the Riley Institute, “the top 5 skills developed by afterschool are teamwork, communication, problem-solving, self-confidence, and critical thinking.”
For every $1 invested in whole child programs, there are $11 in benefits
A 2015 study found that for every $1 invested in high-quality whole child programming, there was a return of $11 in benefits to society.
Whole child-focused programs have a wide range of positive effects
High-quality, evidence-based afterschool programs that focus on supporting the whole child have a wide array of positive effects, including:
The mission of WINGS for Kids (WINGS) is to provide a safe, supportive environment for at-risk and underserved students, helping them develop the social and emotional skills necessary to succeed in and out of school from a young age. To do this, WINGS creates a culture of social and emotional learning for K-5th graders, employing a comprehensive social and emotional learning curriculum, integrating social and emotional learning into all activities, reinforcing lessons through teachable moments throughout the day, and having both staff and students model social and emotional skills while engaging with one another to help students internalize lessons.
The Possibility Project (TPP) empowers high school youth to tackle issues affecting their lives and take on leadership roles to enact change in their communities through the performing arts and community action. Students create, produce, and perform original theatrical musicals based on their lived experiences while gaining confidence as they learn how to work collaboratively, appreciate diversity, resolve conflicts, set goals, and prioritize responsibilities. The program culminates with community action projects, where students work in teams to select, plan, and manage a project on a social justice issue they want to address in their community
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The Afterschool Alliance is working to ensure that all children have access to affordable, quality afterschool programs. Afterschool programs are critical to children and families today, yet the need for programs is far from being met. Learn more
The Afterschool Alliance has achieved a 4-star rating (the highest ranking) by Charity Navigator for the third consecutive year. Donate now
Support the Afterschool Alliance (CFC# 31020) through your Combined Federal Campaign Workplace Giving Program.
