Press Release - Governor Risch Touts After-School Programs
GOVERNOR RISCH TOUTS AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
BOISE - Governor Jim Risch signed a proclamation today to support after-school programs throughout Idaho and demonstrate support for the Idaho Afterschool Alliance (IAA). Over 350 kids from Boise to Payette representing the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club of Meridian, Payette County 4-H After-School Program, Payette Primary School and West Side Elementary from Payette, operating with a 21st Century grant, joined the Governor for the event.
"Idaho's families are hard working and want their children to have quality care and positive opportunities for educational enrichment," said Risch. "Today's family is vastly different than it was 50 years ago. The workday has grown longer for working parents while the school day has not. The gap between those hours is disconcerting for parents and also very costly. After-school programs provide a safe environment for kids and ease the worry of working parents."
According to the IAA, 23 percent of Gem State kindergartners through 12th graders are unsupervised after school. Only 9 percent of the children and teens in that age group participate in an organized after-school program. Nationwide, between 2 million and 6 million youngsters under 13 regularly care for themselves, and 44% of families do not have any regular after-school care for their children. Studies show that children are most at risk during the hours of 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. when juvenile crime triples and children are most likely to be involved in risky behavior.
While concerns about unsupervised children pressure families, they also profoundly affect employers. Polling shows that 87 percent of working mothers say the hours after school are when they are most concerned about their children's safety, and this "after school stress" can lead to distraction that causes lower productivity, high turnover and absenteeism. Studies reveal 80 percent of employees with children miss work because of childcare problems.
The IAA emerged as a result of the After-School Summit sponsored by the National Governor's Association. The summit brought together over 115 after-school providers from around the state to begin networking. The IAA invites other after-school providers throughout Idaho to join by contacting Shelli Rambo Roberson at rambos@idhw.state.id.us and become involved, network, share information and promote quality statewide programs.
Another statewide effort to promote after-school programs is to register programs with the Idaho
CareLine. Idaho CareLine, accessed through calling 2-1-1, connects programs and services to the needs of the people who call.
To register in the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine program go online at www.idahocareline.org.
Currently, the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine has 3382 programs and services available and averages 14,000 calls monthly. However, many local programs such as faith-based, youth groups and organizations, and service clubs that serve Idaho's families and children are not listed in the system.
http://gov.idaho.gov/mediacenter/press/pr2006/proct06/pr_123.html