After School Initiatives

Recession Hurting Florida's Afterschool Programs and the Children and Families They Serve

Just as children in Florida's communities need more help, afterschool program leaders across the state say they are being forced to increase fees and reduce staffing, activities and hours to cope with budget cuts and rising costs. According to "Uncertain Times 2009: Recession Imperiling Afterschool Programs and the Children They Serve," a survey conducted by the Afterschool Alliance, nearly all Florida respondents of afterschool programs (97 percent) say the recession is affecting their communities, and report that they are seeing higher food prices and more families struggling to provide for children. Yet afterschool programs are unable to offer as much help as children need because their budgets are down. Ninety percent of respondents say children in their communities need afterschool care and are unable to access it.

"Afterschool programs in Florida have been deeply affected by the economic downturn, as have the children and families they serve," said Bobbi Davis, an Afterschool Ambassador for the Afterschool Alliance and Resource Development Manager for the Children's Board of Hillsborough County.

In Florida, nearly eight in ten Florida programs reported a loss in funding due to the recession, and 88 percent expect the recession to impact their budget for the coming school year. Two in ten programs reported a significant loss of funds that will cause cutbacks or force one or more of their sites to close. In response to funding woes, they are being forced to add or increase fees, providing significant barriers to participation. Summer programs are offered by 87 percent of respondents and 33 percent expect enrollment to be higher this summer, adding more strain to program budgets. Thirty-one percent of programs say they would need to at least double capacity to serve all the kids in their community who need afterschool.

Funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21stCCLC), the chief federal funding stream for afterschool programs, is stalled at $1.13 billion even though the No Child Left Behind Act authorized $2.5 billion. President Obama's FY2010 budget proposal would flat fund 21stCCLCs.

"Afterschool programs have experienced an 18 percent loss in funding over the last three years," said Larry Pintacuda, executive director of the Florida Afterschool Network (FAN). "With those reductions, the number of children being served in school-age programs will continue to decline."

Tamela Nelloms, a mother of three from Tallahassee, is experiencing first-hand how school-age budget cuts are affecting her family. She recently found out that afterschool subsidies for children ages 9-12 will no longer be available in Florida's Big Bend Region as of August 20. Two of her children are in afterschool programs and one of them turned nine June 22.

"Financially, I cannot afford tuition for both of my children and I don't qualify for other programs," said Nelloms. "The subsidy helped me to be in a position knowing my kids are in a quality afterschool program that was safe and conducive to learning."

Nelloms thinks that the budget cuts will have a domino effect on the community. "It's an unnecessary hardship for everybody," she warned. "The kids lose having a routine and consistency of a high quality program, families lose not being able to afford afterschool programs for their children and worrying if their child is home alone and unproductive and finally providers lose stimulus dollars and ultimately may have to cut some of their staff or shut down completely to meet the drop in their rosters."

"All the research tells us that kids in quality, afterschool programs receive better grades and are less likely to get pregnant, use drugs, and get in trouble with the law," explained Pintacuda. "Legislators have to step up and prioritize all children and recognize the importance of after school programs and the dire consequences that continued budget cuts will have on our state's economy and the future leaders of tomorrow."

In this Issue

After School Initiatives

Recession Hurting Florida's Afterschool Programs and the Children and Families They Serve