The Afterschool Alliance and Michigan Afterschool Partnership released their findings from a household survey of Kent County families as part of its fifth edition of its national American After 3PM Survey, which provides insights into the demand for and access to afterschool and summer programs for youth. In their July 15 joint press release regarding its findings, the organizations noted that,

“Afterschool programs are making a difference for 12,545 Kent County youth. However, more than four in five of the 70,911 County children whose parents want afterschool programs for them are missing out. Summer learning programs currently serve 17,650 Kent County youth, creating opportunities that too many youth have yet to access. Two in three of the 52,908 County children whose parents want summer programs are missing out.”

As a proud supporter of the Kent County survey, our Director of Learning and Grantmaking, Trudy Ngo-Brown, was quoted in the press release, noting, ” Afterschool and other out-of-school time programs help create the conditions young people need to flourish while also supporting their parents and caregivers. The Kent County data highlights both the tremendous value families place on these programs and the significant gap between demand and access. We hope these findings spark conversations and action among funders, providers, and community leaders to expand opportunities for children and teens across our region.”

Click here to explore the Kent County dashboard and find fact sheets and news releases from both the Kent County and national surveys.