Afterschool Advocates to Rally Pennsylvania Capitol Monday, March 8, 2010

Parents, Students, Educators Meet in Harrisburg to Tell Legislators: Pennsylvania's Youth, Families Need More Afterschool Programs

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network today announced plans for an Afterschool Advocacy Rally on Monday, March 8, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg.

The rally is part of Pennsylvania Afterschool Advocacy Day, which is bringing together parents, program providers, youth, faith-based leaders and business leaders from across the Commonwealth to emphasize the importance of afterschool programs in the state. The rally is in response to a  study that found that more than half a million Pennsylvania children need -- but don't have -- afterschool programs, even as statewide demand for afterschool programs has increased, according to the landmark America After 3PM study, conducted for the Afterschool Alliance.

Children benefit from afterschool programs in countless ways. In addition to having a safe, supervised place to go after the school day ends where they get help with homework, afterschool youth are exposed to a variety of activities that help them develop new interests and skills.

"Kids' formative, afterschool hours can be filled with quality youth development programs that not only promote the well-being of our children and youth, but also families," said Kacy Conley, Director of the Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network. "Increased academic achievement, reduced criminal activity, and positive social development are broad bipartisan goals and are also the results of high-quality afterschool activities. Quality afterschool programming is an effective strategy that can be used by policymakers to achieve these three goals," Conley added.

A report released in July 2009 by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee that examined afterschool in Pennsylvania recommends the creation of a statewide Afterschool Coordinating Council to look at issues such as funding, quality standards, transportation and regional databases to help parents find appropriate programs. The report can be found at http://lbfc.legis.state.pa.us/.

The rally gives program innovators, business leaders, youth and the community a chance to voice their support for the afterschool programs that keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. Several State Senators and Representatives will attend the event, where youth from afterschool programs in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and central Pennsylvania will perform. Afterward, advocates will meet with lawmakers.

"Too many Pennsylvania children who need afterschool programs don't have them, and families are carrying a heavier burden as a result," Conley said. "For afterschool programs to meet the huge unmet demand from families, they're going to need more support from all sectors – from the business and philanthropic communities, as well as from the government at all levels."

Press Inquiries: Aylissa Kiely Tyndale of PSAYDN 717-763-1661 ext. 117 (office), 717-903-0219 (cell) or [email protected]

The Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) promotes sustainable, high-quality out-of-school time youth development programs through advocacy and capacity building to enhance the welfare of Pennsylvania's children, youth and families. PSAYDN believes all children and youth deserve access to programs that encourage positive youth development and support the successful transition to adulthood. PSAYDN is managed by the Center for Schools and Communities. More information is available at www.psaydn.org.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network