After-School Programs, Community and Attachment
After-school programs provide attachment. Like schools, they have the ability to create lasting and constructive impacts on youth development.
In the midst of transformations and uncertainty, after-school programs can provide improved learning opportunities and positive Youth development outcomes, helping Teens grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.
Today, we’ll provide an overview of the importance of after-school programs, why they’re a vital component in Youth homeless prevention, and what we’re doing at RAFT to help enforce this level of attachment.
Making the Case for After-School Programs
After-school programs– also called OST or out-of-school time programs– are school- or community-based programs that provide academic and development activities after school.
These youth programs are known to take on a broad range of focus ranging from academic support, mentorship opportunities, and workforce development to arts, positive youth development, as well as sports and recreation.
Research demonstrates that high-quality after-school programs are shown to improve students’ educational outcomes, school attendance, as well as social and emotional learning. For older Youth, specifically, regular participation in such activities can result in a significant reduction in risky behaviour while at the same time helping them gain the skills needed to transition into adulthood and obtain employment.
After-School Programs and Positive Youth Development
After-school programs play a fundamental role in keeping Young People connected to school and engaged in their community.
The skills and relationships developed within these types of programs provide Teens with a sense of belonging, community, stability, responsibility, and accomplishment.
In last month’s blog, we discussed education and how it’s one of the most important long-term strategies for addressing and preventing Teen homelessness. However, without after-school programs, these learning facilities lose some of their transformative power.
After-school programs help narrow the gap. By providing Youth with both mentors and academic support, students are able to stay in school without falling too far behind. This ultimately helps Teens gain meaningful employment, successfully transition into adulthood, and become self-sufficient.
As presented by the Search Institute and their 40 Developmental Assets, the after-school programs allow for the opportunity of further positive youth development in the following areas. Developing External Assets – Support, Empowerment, Boundaries & Expectations, and Constructive Use of Time. As well as Internal Assets – Commitment to Learning, Positive Values, Social Competencies, and Positive Identity.
Here are a few examples of the opportunities RAFT after-school programs provide in offering these additional spaces for healthy development. Our after-school programs are located in the youths’ neighbourhood ensuring they have a safe space in their own community, building up their empowerment. The staff model positive, responsible behaviour. We have been able to hire Teen Participants as staff in the younger after-school program groups, building in neighbourhood role models. The youth are able to take part in programs like music, theatre, or other arts they may not have had the opportunity to try. They spend hours participating in their community and interacting with other youth who are their neighbours. They have access to homework help every day supporting their commitment to learning. Youth have input into the programs and activities offered, promoting Positive Identity and Personal Power – they have control over “things that happen to me”.
Strengthening Confidence with After-School Programs
After-school programs bolster self-confidence.
That’s why at the RAFT, we organize several After School programs across the Niagara Region.
These friendly, supportive connections, offer Youth a fun way to learn and explore once the school bell rings. Offered in Fort Erie, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls, our After School programs, ensure that Teens are shown convenient ways to stay in school, provided the necessary skills and building blocks, and given access to resources in their own communities.
Because when Young People are given the right tools to stay in school and make a living, the dropout rate plummets and Teens become self-reliant. Rather than feel defeated, they are determined to take on whatever comes their way.
To learn more about our homelessness support services and how we’re solving Youth Homelessness by strengthening the bonds of attachment, reach out today.
Attachment Is The Answer.