COVID Funding & Recovery Resources | Accessing American Rescue Funds

Afterschool Research: Health & Wellness

Keeping kids active, encouraging a healthy lifestyle

Afterschool programs are helping young people get enough physical activity and providing nutritious snacks.

Close to 16 percent of U.S. children ages 6-19 are overweight, and another 15 percent are at risk of becoming overweight. Additionally, in 2012 more than 1 in 5 children under the age of 18 lived in poverty and were exposed to hunger. This section covers the variety of ways afterschool programs can—and do—play an important role in promoting healthy lifestyles for youth.

Page 2 of 2

Afterschool and Healthy Youth (2004) Since childhood obesity was declared a national epidemic in 2002, much attention has been focused on the health risks associated with sedentary lifestyles and poor nutrition. This brief addresses how afterschool programs are promoting healthy lifestyles and positive attitudes by offering healthy snacks, physical activity, and health education in the curriculum.	Download
Active Hours Afterschool: Childhood Obesity Prevention and Afterschool Programs (2006) The obesity crisis in America has become so dire that health experts warn this generation of children may be the first to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. This brief addresses the current epidemic of childhood obesity, its health and economic costs, and how after afterschool can play a role in combating childhood obesity by offering healthy snacks and encouraging physical activity in a safe and educational environment.	Download
Access to Afterschool Programs Remains a Challenge for Many Families (August 2022) A survey of approximately 1,500 parents or guardians of school-age children, conducted May 22-June 28, 2022, provides a snapshot of the current afterschool program landscape during the pandemic, documenting that while children and families who are able to access afterschool programs report high levels of satisfaction, for every child in an afterschool program, there are four more who are waiting to get in. COVID-19	Download Featured Topline
A Big-Picture Approach to Wellness: Afterschool Supporting Strong Bodies and Minds (September 2018) A comprehensive approach to wellness—which includes healthy eating and physical activity and extends to additional aspects of health, such as social and emotional skills and competencies—can provide the necessary supports for healthy children grow into healthy adults. This issue brief details the national public health issues children are facing today and discusses the afterschool field’s ability to provide a place where children feel safe, are surrounded by supportive mentors, have access to nutritious foods, are able to be active, can form relationships with their peers, learn how to set positive goals for themselves, and feel empowered to take charge of their lives. Accompanying this brief are five in-depth afterschool program profiles that highlight the different roles programs play to support their students’ physical and social and emotional health: Zhang Sah Afterschool Program: Focusing on activities that intrinsically embrace HEPA and SEL Coaching Corps: Using HEPA as a vehicle to build students’ social and emotional skills and competencies DC SCORES and A World Fit for Kids!: Training staff to model healthy behaviors Camp Fire Lone Star: Empowering students to take charge of their health Health and Wellness	Download Summary