Last Updated on July 27, 2017 by cassnetwork
A new school year is filled with potential—a chance to start new routines and habits, build new friendships and discover new possibilities and interests. It’s an exciting time for many kids, however—at the end of the school day, 11.3 million kids head to homes where they are unsupervised from 3 to 6 p.m. according to Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit public awareness organization. As children transition from summer to fall, the Cass County Family YMCA is offering programs to school-aged children throughout Cass County to keep youth active, busy and engaged during out-of-school time. Through a well-rounded approach to youth development, the Y’s program offers activities in a caring and safe environment during the critical hours after school. Whether through sports, mentorship, or academic support, the Y nurtures the potential of youth throughout the school year.
“One in five children do not have someone to care for them after school, an essential time to help increase children’s success in school,” said Brandon Collins, Program Director, Cass County Family YMCA. “Afterschool at the Y is an opportunity for families to ensure their kids are receiving additional support, continued learning and a chance to participate in meaningful activities that can inspire children’s motivations and abilities to succeed.”
The Y is a leading nonprofit committed to nurturing the potential of every child and teen, supporting their social-emotional, cognitive and physical development from birth to career. In the Cass County Family YMCA’s afterschool program youth receive homework help and a healthy snack while they strengthen existing friendships and forge new ones with children from all of the area schools. Financial assistance is available to those in need, to ensure every child and teen has the opportunity to learn and grow at the Y.
The Y helps children from low-income communities challenged with meeting math and literacy proficiency as well as important developmental milestones. These children fall significantly behind their middle and upper middle-class peers on test scores and graduation rates. That “gap” is known as the achievement gap. The Cass County Family YMCA is addressing the achievement gap in Cass County through daily homework assistance and mentoring.
For more information about the Cass County Family YMCA’s afterschool program, please contact Brandon Collins, Program Director, at brandon.collins@casscountyymca.org or call (574) 753-5141.
SOURCE: News release from Cass County Family YMCA