The last 30 years have shown a substantial increase in labor force participation by women with children. 82.7 percent of school-age children's parents are in the labor force. For many families, there is a gap between the time school-age children are released from the classroom and when parents come home from work. After-school programs offer a safe and enriching alternative to leaving children home alone.

After-school programs ensure that children are in supervised care while their parents are at work.

• Nearly 6 million children in the United States take care of themselves between the time they get home from school and the time their parents get home from work. Self-care is associated with more accidents and injuries, behavior problems, and lower academic achievement.
• In households where both parents work or the single parent works, 31 percent of children in grades K-12 are unsupervised after school. According to polling, 26 percent of these families would be likely to use after-school programs if they were available.

For certain groups of children, access to after-school programs is limited.

• 34 percent of American middle school children are completely unsupervised in the afternoons. The percentage of middle school children spending time in self-care increases with age. 23 percent of 10-year-olds spend some time caring for themselves compared to 44 percent of 12-year-olds.
• Demand for after-school programs in African American and Hispanic communities is very high. 53 percent of African American parents and 44 percent of Hispanic parents would enroll their children in after-school programs if they were available. African American and Hispanic parents of children who are not already enrolled in after-school programs are more likely to say that these programs are not available to their children.

After-school programs promote school achievement and build life skills.

• Children who spend time in enrichment activities have better grades, better work habits, and more positive relationships with their peers. After-school programs give children the opportunity to develop creative thinking, problem-solving, communication, and self-direction skills that are linked with success in the workplace.
• After-school programs also benefit the community. On school days, the peak hours for juvenile crime are between 3 PM and 6 PM. Students who spend no time in extracurricular activities are 49 percent more likely to use drugs and 37 percent more likely to become teen parents than those who spend time in supervised extracurricular activities. - exact updated info wasn't in the 2008 updated fact sheet

The public recognizes the importance and value of after-school programs to ensure that children are supervised while parents work.

• Parents especially recognize the need for supervised care after school. 67 percent of parents believe that there are not enough after-school programs to meet the needs of their communities.