As a teacher, I can not stress the value of after school programs. They keep our students off the streets and keep them learning. They also ease the burden of many working parents across the nation. I urge you to support after school programs. I grew up with two working parents who instilled a strong sense of pride in education. However, they couldn't be home everyday after school. When my family's financial situation no longer afforded the luxury of private childcare, we relied on after school programs. During those after school programs, I participated in all sorts of character-building activities. I'd like to point out that I turned out pretty well....okay, I don't have too many weird quirks!
Here are some key points from Mom's Rising:
School hasn't started yet, but... it's already time to start getting our collective ducks in a row about afterschool programs. Did you know that each school day 40,000 kindergartners are home alone after school, and a total of more than 14 million children don't have any place to go after the final school bell rings?TAKE ACTION FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS: For the first time in years, Congress is considering a needed increase in federal funding for the afterschool programs that keep kids safe, help working families, and inspire students to learn.
*Click here to email a letter in support of these programs to your Congressperson today: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=390681531&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.democracyinaction.org%2Fdia%2ForganizationsORG%2Fmomsrising%2Fcampaign.jsp%3Fcampaign_KEY%3D12204
THE LOWDOWN: The majority of modern families have both parents in the labor force, and three-quarters of mothers are in the labor force these days. Yet afterschool care and programs haven't caught up with the modern reality of working families. High quality afterschool programs are critical for thriving kids, and for our economic future.
Providing afterschool care not only benefits kids, but also the community coffers. A study of the effects of the After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002 found that every $1.00 spent on an at-risk youth in an afterschool program brings a return of up to $13.00, mainly due to the amount saved by channeling the at-risk youth away from a life of crime (the juvenile crime rate is highest in the hours after school). Providing afterschool programs to non-risk youth also brings a hefty return (up to $4.00 for every $1.00 spent) due to, in part, improved school performance and graduation rates.
HELP SUPPORT AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS NOW: Your emailed letter to Congress will help support the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative which provides grants to communities to run quality afterschool programs. The program, which serves 1 million children nationwide, has suffered funding freezes and small cuts over the past six years. The House and Senate need to hear from us that greater investment is needed in these afterschool programs. Showing strong support for increasing afterschool funding will be critical if we are to realize any increase this year. CONTACT CONGRESS TODAY: Ask your leaders to support increased funding for the 21st CCLC program in the fiscal year 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill.
*To take action, just go to: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=390681531&url_num=5&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.democracyinaction.org%2Fdia%2ForganizationsORG%2Fmomsrising%2Fcampaign.jsp%3Fcampaign_KEY%3D12204
Please forward this email to your friends and family so they can take action as well.
Hope you are enjoying the summer! - The MomsRising Team
p.s. A special thank you to the Afterschool Alliance for their excellent work on behalf of these issues, and for working with us to pull together this message.
*Click here to email a letter in support of these programs to your Congressperson today: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=390681531&url_num=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.democracyinaction.org%2Fdia%2ForganizationsORG%2Fmomsrising%2Fcampaign.jsp%3Fcampaign_KEY%3D12204
THE LOWDOWN: The majority of modern families have both parents in the labor force, and three-quarters of mothers are in the labor force these days. Yet afterschool care and programs haven't caught up with the modern reality of working families. High quality afterschool programs are critical for thriving kids, and for our economic future.
Providing afterschool care not only benefits kids, but also the community coffers. A study of the effects of the After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002 found that every $1.00 spent on an at-risk youth in an afterschool program brings a return of up to $13.00, mainly due to the amount saved by channeling the at-risk youth away from a life of crime (the juvenile crime rate is highest in the hours after school). Providing afterschool programs to non-risk youth also brings a hefty return (up to $4.00 for every $1.00 spent) due to, in part, improved school performance and graduation rates.
HELP SUPPORT AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS NOW: Your emailed letter to Congress will help support the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative which provides grants to communities to run quality afterschool programs. The program, which serves 1 million children nationwide, has suffered funding freezes and small cuts over the past six years. The House and Senate need to hear from us that greater investment is needed in these afterschool programs. Showing strong support for increasing afterschool funding will be critical if we are to realize any increase this year. CONTACT CONGRESS TODAY: Ask your leaders to support increased funding for the 21st CCLC program in the fiscal year 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill.
*To take action, just go to: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=390681531&url_num=5&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.democracyinaction.org%2Fdia%2ForganizationsORG%2Fmomsrising%2Fcampaign.jsp%3Fcampaign_KEY%3D12204
Please forward this email to your friends and family so they can take action as well.
Hope you are enjoying the summer! - The MomsRising Team
p.s. A special thank you to the Afterschool Alliance for their excellent work on behalf of these issues, and for working with us to pull together this message.
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