In Dayton, Ohio the STARS afterschool program found the need to have a program that involved teaching the dangers of teen dating violence to parents and students alike. STARS, is an organization aimed at teaching students how to make healthy life decisions. Since the unlikely death of a 17-year-old boy who jumped in front of a car on the interstate after he had allegedly beat his ex-girlfriend, the program believed this conference was a necessity for areas teens. It focused on spotting unhealthy relationships, how to handle an abusive situation, and how parents can spot teen dating violence. By using afterschool programs to target these teenagers who think it cannot happen to them, the Dayton community could prevent losing another teen to dating violence. Source: Program aims to avoid teen tragedies, Holly Samuels, WDTN
Reno, Nevada: Combining Mind, Body and Spirit
Nevada’s TEAM UP (Together Everyone Achieves More Utilizing Programs) is an afterschool program that allows about 170 children to participate in numerous projects that have an academic foundation— including exercising the body with the mind and sometimes helping the community along the way. Twenty schools are participating in various projects that incorporate learning, teamwork, activity and academics. For example, one group of afterschool students is building a structure of a bulldog (their school mascot) from canned foods as a project for CANstruction, which benefits the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. For a project like this, older students run for offices on the TEAM UP advisory council and many of them also work on the CANstruction project. These programs teach students more than academics and community service. Life lessons in teamwork, learning how to respect everybody's ideas, and building a structure that incorporates geometry, structural engineering, and building concepts will help them in the future. Source: Teaming up for students: Programs keep kids busy after school, Michael Martinez, Reno Gazette-Journal
In Rochester, Minnesota Adaptive Afterschool Program offers youth ages 4 years and older, who have a variety of special needs (autism, Down syndrome, cognitive and physical challenges), a fun and stimulating (music therapy, fine and gross motor skills, individual and group work) afterschool opportunity. Rochester-area students are transported from their schools to the Adaptive Afterschool Program, where they work and have fun with Park & Recreation staff while getting homework help, snacks, and socializing. The programs offers structured activities as well as time to socialize with friends and focus on academics. Parents are urged to use this program as a continuation of their children's school day, an educational and therapeutic program that encourages growth and development that meet the demand of special needs children. Source: Family time: Program offers more to do after school, Lindy Lange, Post-Bulletin
Florida: PAL and USTA Join Forces for an Afterschool Tennis Program
In Florida, with the help of a tennis grant from USTA (United States Tennis Association), the Pinellas County Police Athletic League (PAL) and the Suncoast Tennis Foundation are beginning the sixth year of a program that has changed the lives of hundreds of disadvantaged youths in the area – and is positioned to become a statewide model for PAL tennis programs. The foundation realized that there was not only a need for expanded tennis and afterschool activities, but also for a program that promotes respect and values to the largely underprivileged children it serves. Children learn the fundamentals of tennis, respect for the police uniform, regard for the sheriff's department, self- discipline, and are inspired to play other sports as well as tennis on their high school teams. Source: Replacing fear with fun: Pinellas PAL tennis develops model after-school program, Rick Vach, USTA Florida
Catskill, New York: “Dinner is Served” Afterschool
To keep kids busy afterschool in Catskill, N.Y., the school district has created the Catskill Secondary After School Program, the program includes an outstanding component called Dinner is Served. In it, students are given the opportunity to plan, prepare, serve, and clean up after their cafeteria meals on Wednesday evenings. Programs like these allow the students to branch out from their usual academic grind. However, they support students in math, English, science, and social studies. Providing this central location for the youth to meet after school allows them academic support and time with friends in a safe environment. Source: When school’s over, there’s after school, Ariel Zangla, Daily Freeman
Illinois: ACTNOW! Advocates for Afterschool Access
ACTNOW! is a campaign that will give all young people in Illinois access to quality afterschool program. This campaign calls for the creation of a universal afterschool program for students ages 6-19 and for coordination at the state-level for dedicated funding. Research shows that quality afterschool programs that allow students access to a diverse number of program opportunities like arts and humanities, or that take place in a variety of settings will foster choice and independence as the youth get older. Supporting ACTNOW! will allow action today to ultimately achieve sufficient funding for Illinois’ youth and sufficient support to programs. Source: ACTNOW! calls for universal after-school programs, not “vouchers”, Mary Ellen Caron, Catalyst Chicago
New York: An Afterschool Program in Architecture, Construction and Engineering
The ACE (architectural, construction and engineering) Mentor Program has worked intently to resolve the shortage of qualified, young, experienced professionals in design-build since the early 1990s. Through fulfilling its mission to "engage, excite, and enlighten" students from diverse backgrounds, ACE’s primary goal is to offset the growing trend in declining university enrollment in architecture, construction, and engineering disciplines. Founded in 1995 in New York, the program developed after years of research, and experimenting with varied mentoring program structures and ways to stimulate youths’ interest in design-build. As a result, ACE emerged into three teams. Each of the three teams was arranged as typical design-build team model, enlisting roughly 90 students from local high schools to participate in its afterschool mentoring program. Professionals from the three pillars of architecture, construction, and engineering provide practical knowledge; develop leadership and management skills; and foster healthy attitudes and support interests in future design-build careers to thousands of high school students. Source: Local DC nonprofit afterschool program adds diversity to engineering field, Aisha Ali, DC Examiner
In Hillsboro, Ore., kids have had a BLAST, or Bringing Leadership and Sports Together, for the past five years. Hillsboro’s partnership between the school district and Parks and Recreation Department has allowed youth in the city to have fun and safe places to work together, play sports, enjoy arts and crafts, team build, and get help for or complete their schoolwork. Instead of leaving children bored at home after school on weekdays, the BLAST program offers parents a five-day-a-week program for two hours that is available to low-income families for $100 a month. The programs use this time with the kids to impact their lives with small programs like bringing used bicycle equipment to give the children healthy transportation rather than using cars or other forms pollution causing vehicles. Source: Hillsboro parks and schools partner in BLAST after school program, Joe Fitzgibbon, The Oregonian
San Fernando Valley, California: College Students Work With Youth in Trouble
In California’s San Fernando Valley there is a program that was founded in 2004 that helps at-risk youth who are struggling with their studies. The goal is to help them find their niche, get them out of the streets and the system, and help them develop. The Mentoring to Overcome Struggles and Inspire Courage (MOSAIC) is a foundation of Cal State Northridge students from all majors working with teens who could be fresh from court, battling alcoholism or affiliated with gangs. Through the MOSAIC program volunteers lead the teens in activities that grab their attention like graffiti, hip-hop, poetry, spoken word, and martial arts. Allowing them to expand their minds through these activities will give them an outlet and ultimately encourage them to further their academics. Source: MOSAIC inspires courage through youth culture, Stephanie Bermudez, Daily Sundial
Highland Park, California: Gardening, Cooking and Nutrition
The Milagro Allegro Community Garden in Highland Park has begun a new 12-week afterschool program titled, LA Sprouts. The program will focus on teaching gardening, cooking, and nutrition to fourth and fifth graders from Cypress Park’s Loreto Elementary School enrolled in LA’s BEST. The goal of LA Sprouts is to reduce the risk of obesity and encourage healthy eating habits in children. Monthly visits to the Old LA Farmer’s Market in Highland Park are planned as part of the curriculum. This latest phase of Highland Park’s community garden fulfills the original vision of its founders to incorporate garden-based curriculum for school children. Teaching children about growing, cooking and eating healthy fruits and vegetables is a constructive and creative, yet simple approach to solving the epidemic health problem of obesity. Source: Hope sprouts here, The 90042 Blog
Nationwide: Rubik’s Cube Helps Kids Learn Math
In the Rubik’s Cube heyday, it was as popular as the iPhone and everyone had to have one. Now 30 years after its introduction to America, the Rubik’s Cube is boosting students’ interest in math and science. It can teach important math concepts including area, perimeter, volume, angles, algorithms and enumeration, among many other geometry and algebra topics. To date, the You CAN Do The Rubik’s Cube program is used as an educational tool and confidence booster in thousands of schools K-12 in 48 states across the U.S., and in more than 100 Boys & Girls Clubs of America and YMCA afterschool programs. Educators and youth leaders can use the Rubik’s Cube as a memorization, problem-solving, and sequencing tool while providing hands-on learning. Source: The Rubik’s Cube turns 30 years old, Pink is the New Blog
Nationwide: Everyone Can be a Coach
With economic problems leading to cuts in gym classes, recesses and community-based activities, fewer children are physically active, particularly in low-income areas. As a result of the negative influences around low-income areas, teacher Paul Caccamo spearheaded Coach Across America with support from the federal AmeriCorps program. Coach Across America is designed to reduce dropout rates, gang activity and childhood obesity. Caccamo believes that trained coaches can change the country and there are many youth dropping out of school because there isn’t a coach to say “You’re going to belong to this team and you’re going to support each other.” Sports, he discovered, is a way to motivate youngsters and keep them in school. In order to feel a connection to school, youth need to interact with adults who they can trust. Afterschool programs like these may provide the workforce that changes childhood obesity and decreases dropout rates. Source: Coaching program fights obesity, school dropouts, Howard Ulman, Associated Press
