National conference inspires afterschool advocates
Seventeen Kansans, including three youth, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with congressional members the share success stories and offer support for afterschool programs in the state.
Afterschool advocates from Iola, Arkansas City, Abilene and Ottawa and staff members from Kansas Action for Children and Kansas Enrichment Network joined in sharing the importance of quality extended learning opportunities for youth.
The eighth annual Afterschool for All Challenge, organized by the Afterschool Alliance, gave people the chance to meet with state and national lawmakers to show their commitment to afterschool programs that keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families.
“At this time of tremendous economic stress, America needs many more quality afterschool programs so that our kids are safe and supervised after the school day ends,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant.
Echoing that sentiment, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan noted that schools need to be open 12 hours each day to offer a wide variety of opportunities for youth, parents and community members.
“The more our schools become the centers of the community, the more our families are learning together, the better our children are going to do,” Duncan said.
The Kansas Enrichment Network was pleased to be a part of this challenge. The Network is a collaborative partnership committed to youth of Kansas through a coordinated service program. Its mission is to raise awareness, build capacity and sustainability and promote the importance of safe, high-quality, affordable out-of-school programs. The Network is part of The University of Kansas Institute for Educational Research and Public Service in the School of Education.
“Attending national events like the Afterschool for All Challenge helps us bring attention to afterschool by fostering important connections with our state and national legislators” said Marcia Dvorak, project director for the Network. “We visited with all of the Kansas legislators, and they expressed strong support for afterschool.”
According to Dvorak, backing from officials at the local and national levels is a key component in efforts to expand access to afterschool programs. It also reflects growing public demand for quality programs and recognition of the programs’ roles in a host of positive outcomes for children.
“Research shows that a compliment of early education and participation in afterschool programs consistently produces multiple benefits in youth, including improvements in children’s personal, social and academic skills, as well as their self-esteem,” said Dvorak.
To learn more about afterschool, visit the Kansas Enrichment Network’s website.
