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Policy Updates Victory: Vital Children's Health Coverage Protected June 30, 2008 Passed (House): Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act June 25, 2008 Passed (House): Fostering Connections to Success Act June 24, 2008 News: Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act Filed June 18, 2008 CDF Calls President Bush's FY09 Budget Shameful February 4, 2008

Latest News Child Welfare & Mental Health "Advancing Kinship Care" Washington Times, July 2, 2008 "Raise foster care age-eligibility to 21" The Hill, July 15, 2008 Child Health NPR compares health care for pregnant women in the U.S. and France July 10, 2008 Education "The Next Kind of Intergration" New York Times, July 20, 2008 CDF signs "A Bolder, Broader Approach" Statement Child Poverty "Edelman Renews Call to Help Poor Children" Toledo Blade, April 17, 2008 CDF Report Finds Low-Income Families Lose Billions to Predatory Commercial Tax Preparers March 26, 2008 Juvenile Justice "Investing In Our Nation's Youth" Louisiana Weekly, July 28, 2008  "Mass Incarceration of Children Must End" Huffington Post, July 3, 2008

Home > About Us > Policy Areas > Early Childhood Development Division > After-School Care

After-School Care

The majority of school-age children have parents who work.  These children need safe places to go during their out-of-school hours when parents are still at work.

Research shows that good after-school activities for children can help:

• child development
• child safety
• school performance
• reduce risk-taking by children, including the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco

Yet far too many children are left to care for themselves, which can place them at greater risk for long-term problems.

Low-income children have the greatest need for after-school programs, but they are less likely to have access to constructive activities during their out-of-school time.

Join CDF's movement for children.

Children's Defense Fund
25 E Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
800-CDF-1200
(800-233-1200)
cdfinfo@childrensdefense.org