IN AMERICA TODAY, more young people than ever before are alone and unsupervised in the hours after school, before parents or caregivers return home from work. According to America After 3 PM, a national survey commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance with funding from the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, 14.3 million kids care for themselves when school lets out, putting them at risk for unhealthy behavior. Teens who do not participate in afterschool programs are nearly three times more likely to skip classes than teens who do participate. They are also three times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs, and are more likely to drink, smoke and engage in sexual activity.

Growing evidence suggests that quality, out-of-school opportunities matter significantly-that they complement environments created by schools and families and provide important support that deters failure and promotes success.

An analysis of 73 afterschool studies concluded that afterschool programs using evidence-based approaches were consistently successful in producing multiple benefits for youth in the areas of socialization, academic achievement and self-confidence.2 YMCAs have known this for some time. In the mid-1970s, Ys began establishing formal afterschool care programs, most of which were held inside school buildings with activities that were social and recreational in nature. Within just a few years, the YMCA became one of the leading providers of afterschool care.

YMCA afterschool programming has evolved over the years to more formally emphasize children's learning and development, while infusing staff training and youth activities with the YMCA's core values of respect, honesty,

caring and responsibility. In many YMCAs, afterschool care is one of the largest programs offered and can include the arts, health and fitness, homework support, literacy, science and technology, service-learning and conflict resolution. ▼

Story courtesy Harrisburg Family YMCA, East Shore Branch

SINCE 1999, JCPenney and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund have supported YMCA afterschool programs with more than $34 million, making a difference for tens of thousands of youth and their families through financial assistance for those who otherwise could not afford to participate and through increased community awareness of afterschool programs.

The JCPenny Afterschool Fund is currently supporting the update to a pivotal study, America After 3 PM, due out in October 2009. For more information visit www.jcpenneyafterschool.org.