Each day, when the final bell rings, 500 children in Denver metro-area schools stay put.
They remain there until 6 p.m., learning crafts, playing games and getting homework done during an after-school program that instills four core values: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
The School-Age Child Care Program, run by the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver, is so successful that the number of children participating has increased from 350 in 2002 to 500 this year. Now based in 17 elementary schools, it is expected to continue to grow.
“It’s such a help to working parents,” said program director Kim Schulz. “If you have an 8-to-5 job, you need someone to care for your kids.”
The agency has applied for a grant from the Post-News Season to Share campaign.
The Y’s after-school program has been successful in providing low-income families “scholarships,” essentially free admission.
The program is able to do that because the state picks up the costs of about 20 percent of its participants, those whose incomes are below the poverty line. For those who earn more but not enough to afford to send their child to the program, the Y also extends scholarships. These are offset partially through funds paid by families who can afford the monthly rates, which are set on a sliding-fee scale: $175 to $325 a month.
But as more of the working poor hear of this program and want to enroll their children, the Y has to find money to help these families.
Last year, the agency spent more than $57,600 – about 6 percent of the money it raised last year – on its after-school program.
Studies show that children enrolled in after-school programs do better in school and are far less likely to get into trouble and become victims of crime.
After school, the children get a snack. Then it’s on to a group game – one that makes sure no child is left out. Then it’s homework time, when site directors at the schools assist children who don’t understand the assignment. Later, children might work on a craft project.
Schulz says site directors incorporate educational lessons on topics such as health and nutrition.
“We have games that deal with portion size so they can learn what a serving size is,” she said. “Then we’ll teach them how to make snacks or smoothies.”
The program’s top priority is teaching children to be respectful, something that is incorporated in every part of the program. Children are expected to say “thank you,” listen to others and wait their turn.
“We’ve had kids who’ve been in the program since first grade,” Schulz said. “When they turn 16, the first thing they want to do is get a job at the YMCA. It speaks volumes about how much the Y has meant to them.”
