California's Next After-School Challenge - Fight Crime: Invest in Kids

Programs also can supply opportunities to
develop the creative talents of young people
through fine arts or performance arts classes.
Still others may incorporate a broad curriculum
of skill-building activities into established areas
of interest, such as teaching teamwork and
communication techniques in a sports
program. Programs also may teach valuable
social skills such as learning to get along with
others, making new friends, and settling
arguments without resorting to violence.
Community Involvement
Community involvement is another key
aspect of a good quality after-school
program. 120 By becoming more included in
and connected to their communities, young
people will develop greater social responsibility
and will experience a greater sense of
belonging. Young people should have the
opportunity to make contributions to their
communities and experience direct contact
with individuals of different backgrounds. In
doing so, they can gain a broader
understanding of their communities and other
segments of society, as well as learn the value
of becoming invested in their communities and
contributing to the lives of others.
Programs should offer young people
opportunities for community service, such as
volunteering to help senior citizens, mentoring
younger students, or planning food drives.
Staff can also teach young people about the
community by organizing field trips and
inviting community members to lead activities
and make presentations.
Safety
Safety is essential to any successful afterschool
program. 121 Young people will have
little incentive to leave the dangers of the
streets if they will face those same dangers at a
program. A physically and emotionally safe
environment involves numerous elements,
including freedom from physical harm and
harassment within the program walls and a
secure means of transportation to and from the
program.
Success Story
Terrance Colbert, Oxnard Police Activities League
Terrance Colbert, 18, has been active at the Oxnard Police Activities
League (PAL) since middle school. When he first came to the program,
he had been hanging out with the wrong crowd—kids who were getting
in trouble, stealing cars and smoking marijuana—and felt like he was
going in the wrong direction. He came to PAL for its basketball league,
but soon found that he got much more out of the program by building
relationships with staff who served as role models, helped with homework
to improve his falling grades, and took time out to advise him.
Through high school graduation, Terrance came to the PAL almost every day after
school, participating in sports and performing community service. After graduation,
Terrance began volunteering at PAL 20 hours per week, including as a volleyball coach.
He introduced friends to PAL as well, including one friend from his old crowd who had
been released from juvenile detention. Terrance credits PAL with getting his friend on the
right track; he now has a job and is no longer on the streets getting in trouble.
Based on his experiences at PAL, Terrance is planning to become a police officer and is
currently studying criminal justice at Oxnard College. 122
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS CALIFORNIA