When the school day ends, children need opportunities to learn and engage in meaningful activities. Their success out of school can have a positive effect on their success in school. Unfortunately, one in four U.S. children is left unsupervised after 3:00 pm, according to Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit public awareness advocacy organization. To help youth reach their full potential, YMCA Southcoast is offering afterschool programming that supports social-emotional, cognitive and physical development.
The Y’s afterschool program offers activities in a caring and safe environment where all youth can achieve, feel like they belong, and build friendships. Youth in Y afterschool programs demonstrate improvement in the skills needed for successful living and in academic proficiency. As a leading nonprofit committed to youth development and a pioneer in afterschool programs, the Y believes in supporting the holistic processes that all youth experience – from birth to career – to support success in school and life.
“When the final school bell rings, continued learning opportunities can have a positive influence on how well youth perform in school,” said Kathleen Treglia, Executive Director of Education for YMCA Southcoast. “Afterschool programs also fill gaps in schools and communities where some recreational opportunities like art, music and physical activity offerings are limited.”
Studies show participation in afterschool programs helps boost school attendance and academic performance and reduces gaps in academic achievement among children from disadvantaged households.
YMCA Southcoast afterschool programs offer homework help, a healthy snack, a balanced educational curriculum and an opportunity for recreational activities in the Y pool, gym, sports fields and climbing walls. The YMCA is adopting a set of Healthy Eating and Physical Activity standards in our afterschool programs that will build a healthier future for our nation’s children by providing healthy environments rich in opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity.
The YMCA hosts eight licensed before and after school programs in the following Southcoast communities: Fall River, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Acushnet, Mattapoisett, Marion, Rochester, and Wareham.
Financial assistance is available to those in need, to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn and grow at the Y. For more information about a program in your community, visit our website at ymcasouthcoast.org or call 508-996-9622 ext. 118.
About YMCA Southcoast: The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. With five branch sites serving more than 37,000 people, YMCA Southcoast has been working to meet the needs of our community for over 150 years. The Y engages people of all ages – regardless of income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Everyone is welcome at the Y and financial assistance is available. For more information about YMCA Southcoast, visit one of the branches in Dartmouth, Fall River, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, and Wareham or online at ymcasouthcoast.org.