At Risk Youth And Afterschool Programs Recreation Programing

At-Risk Youth and Afterschool Programs Recreation Programing In the United States and developed countries around the world, it is generally accepted that schools play a tremendous role in the lives of children, youth, and families in urban, rural, and suburban communities with populations of widely varying socioeconomic resources. However; in some communities there seems to be a clear need to provide more program support for organizations, and to provide programs and services for hours outside the parameters of the school day. In these communities, â€Å"at-risk† child and youth populations and their families require more from the agencies and organizations that strive to serve the needs of the public in education, health, and†¦show more content†¦According to Howard K. David, and Lorraine C. Peniston, writers for the American Institutes for Research Pelavin Research Center, and Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice acknowledges, â€Å"The term â€Å"at- risk,† in a broad sense, refers to youth who, due to certain characteristics or experiences, are statistically more likely than other youth to encounter certain problems – legal, social, financial, educational, emotional, and health – in the future† (qtd. At–Risk and Delinquent Youth: Multiple Federal Programs Raise Efficiency Report, March 1996, 1). According to the Development Services Group (DSG), â€Å"Research findings estimate that 35 percent of 12 year-olds is regularly left by themselves while their parents are at work† (1). DSG concludes, â€Å"Justifying the need for more programs to address this supervision gap is the apparent peak of violent crime in the 4 hours following the end of the school day (roughly 2–6 p.m.)† (4). Statistics, data, and anecdotal research provided on this topic reveal a relevant opportunity to address today’s need for structured prevention programming for children and youth through park s and recreation programs. As we continue to see problems with these at-risk child and youth populations in communities across our country, we can see other social, economic, healthcare, private sector and government professionals pinpointing, researching, and