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Tag: America After 3PM

News

June 23, 2026

Study: Families Approve of Allegheny County Summer Programs But Many Face Barriers to Access Them

Many families in Allegheny County face barriers to accessing summer programs, but caregivers with children who attend the programs are mostly pleased with them, according to data from the America After 3PM study.

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The Afterschool Alliance and Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) shared county-specific data from the report, “The Summer Struggle for Everyday Families: Affording the Opportunities Parents Want for Youth.”

APOST noted that 96% of Allegheny County caregivers whose child is enrolled said they were satisfied with the program their child attends. A total of 91% of caregivers also favored public funding for summer learning opportunities, APOST’s study found.

“Finding affordable summer programs for their children is a major challenge for too many Allegheny County families,” said Jodi Grant, the Afterschool Alliance’s executive director. “Parents need to stay in their jobs to provide for their families, but when they can’t find affordable summer programs, their children may be unsupervised, on screens, at risk, and in some cases without healthy food during the summer months.”

Grant added that she believed the county should invest more in summer programs that keep children safe, engaged, and learning while giving working families peace of mind.

The report’s key findings included:

  • Affordability remains the top barrier, particularly for low- and middle-income families.
  • Caregivers want their children to have summer learning opportunities.
  • For families who can access programs, the experience is a positive one.
  • A majority of caregivers – both those with and without children in summer programs – support public funding for programs.

For more information, read the America After 3PM report.

News

November 4, 2025

Study Finds More Parents Want Children in After-School Programs But Needs Not Being Met

Despite an increased number of parents wanting their children to participate in after-school programs, such demands are not being met for more than three in four children, according to data from America After 3PM.

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A report titled “Lost Opportunity: Afterschool in Demand, But Out of Reach for Many” noted that the after-school field has made great strides in the past 25 years from growth in federal and state funding to strong investment and positive outcomes for young people.

America After 3PM conducts a study every five years to help guide work in the field and to examine how children and youth spend the hours after school and over the summer.

The study’s 2025 edition found that after-school programs address many of society’s problems, give youths opportunities to connect them with peers and mentors while developing their skills and leadership, and provide parents with a lifeline to help them keep their jobs and lower stress.

However, the study found that the nation is far from realizing its potential because many families cannot access after-school programs. A total of three out of four children whose parents want programs don’t have them, the study found.

Since the previous America After 3PM study, a number school programs have closed, community organizations have been shuttered, and there has been a rise in youth mental health challenges and absenteeism.

The report notes that after-school and summer programs play a critical role in supporting youth, their parents, and the economy. It calls for programs to be made available to all families who want to utilize them.

For more details, read the entire America After 3PM study.