When It Comes to Children, There Are Programs That Work

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By MICHAEL TENNENBAUM

Every few years, we march out a set of “new” ideas to address the myriad educational and social problems that face our youth and ultimately affect the quality of our workforce. As business leaders and for that matter as a society we are as passionate about our quick fixes as we are bewildered by their uselessness.


Searching for novel approaches is understandable, but when it comes to our kids, too often we overlook what works.


Fundamental to our dilemma is the fact that much of what our children learn comes not in school, but after. We constantly are told that the time between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. is when a child is most likely to join a gang, abuse drugs, or get killed. But it is also the time when a child is most likely to learn to play an instrument, participate in organized sports, or volunteer in the community.


Well-run after-school programs provide safe environments for kids to get one-on-one attention on a regular basis, whether it’s getting tutored in math, playing basketball, or learning to paint. Many of these programs also help kids learn how to effectively cope with peer pressure, avoid drug and alcohol abuse and build self-confidence.


Where most schools are stretched too thin financially to provide additional services to children, non-profits can provide vital resources. Organizations such as the YMCA, L.A.’s Best and other non-profits are not only keeping our kids safe, but helping them perform better in school. Studies show attendance at after-school programs corresponding to better attendance in school, better performance in class, and a higher chance of graduation from high school.


One of the best examples of after-school success is also the oldest, and one I’ve been privileged to be associated with for much of my life: Boys & Girls Clubs of America. When I was a kid growing up in a small town in Georgia, there wasn’t much to do after school but get into mischief. Just being able to watch a movie at the local Boys Club made a significant difference in my life.



Serving 5 million

Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of America serves nearly 5 million young people 130,000 in Los Angeles County alone and its affect on them is tremendous. Despite the fact that a relatively high percentage of club members are disadvantaged, a recent survey found that 90 percent of Boys & Girls Club alumni graduate high school.


A five-site, 30-month evaluation of the Boys & Girls Clubs program Project Learn found that engagement in reading, use of verbal skills, writing, tutoring, and the study of geography all significantly increased as program involvement increased.


Boys & Girls Clubs of America succeeds by following two very important principles: adapting to the communities it serves and spending wisely.


Individual clubs are allowed to determine their own identities, including what programs and facilities work best for their communities. Where families need the clubs to stay open late, they do. Where clubs need to provide additional security, a wider array of recreational options, or more tutors, the local clubs do their best to oblige.


Stretching the dollars has been another key to success. Eighty-seven percent of the national organization’s income goes directly to support the clubs’ efforts. The clubs spend about $500 per member annually, and charge the children only $18 each. (By the way, most clubs also offer a financial literacy program to help members learn to manage their own money.)


Last year, 1.2 million teenagers did not graduate from high school in the U.S. 30 percent of the 2006 class. And the number increases to a disastrous 50 percent among some minorities. While high school dropout rates continue to rise at many schools, according to a recent Harris Interactive survey of Boys and Girls Club alumni, 51 percent said they achieved a higher level of education than they thought possible because of the club.


That same survey also examined how Boys & Girls Clubs members viewed their experiences. The results were telling. Of those surveyed, 85 percent said that the club taught them right from wrong. Even more stunning: over half 57 percent said they believe the club saved their lives.


The job of creating productive citizens cannot be done by our schools alone. The Los Angeles Times recently published a story about the Los Angeles Board of Education’s approval of a public-private partnership to allow the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Clubs to establish facilities on two different school campuses. Cost-sharing makes providing the after-school services affordable for both the organizations and the district. This is a smart, simple way of incorporating what works for our kids.


Of course, eventually, these youngsters grow up and become the people we depend upon as the future of our country. Our future is very closely linked to theirs.


So the next time you feel tempted to wring your hands about today’s youth, channel that energy to make a difference instead. Find an after-school program in your area and see what you can do to help.


Michael Tennenbaum is founder of Tennenbaum Capital Partners LLC in Santa Monica, and vice chairman of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

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