Research Base
There is plenty of research that supports the need for afterschool resources for school-aged children and their families: The current estimate of the number of children who care for themselves after school is 14.3 million (Afterschool Alliance, 2004). Multiple reports confirm that children are most likely to experience violence or participate in risky behaviors like using drugs or alcohol during the afterschool hours of 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Newman, Fox, Flynn, & Christeson, 2000). Plus, we know that there are many children who are struggling to meet school standards because of their own academic challenges or language barriers. In all of these situations, an afterschool program can provide structure, offer connections with others, provide more academic help, and create occasions for participants of any age to develop new skills.

References
Afterschool Alliance. (2004). America after 3 p.m.: A household survey on afterschool in America. Retrieved November 1, 2005, from http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/press_archives
/america_3pm/Executive_Summary.pdf

Newman, S.A., Fox, J.A., Flynn, E.A., & Christeson, W. (2000). America's after-school choice: The prime time for juvenile crime, or youth enrichment and achievement. Washington, DC: Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. Retrieved November 1, 2005, from http://www.fightcrime.org/reports/as2000.pdf