Support Our Children and Youth!

The mission of the Afterschool Coalition of Indianapolis (ACI) is clear – we support strategic planning, development, and expansion of quality programs during non-school hours for all Indianapolis youth K-12. Our individual organization members have joined together to find ways to create opportunities for safe and enriching afterschool programs. That is where you come in! ACI welcomes service providers, school corporations, city government, community volunteers, and the youth we serve to become active participants and advocates for the afterschool movement.

The research that supports the need for afterschool programs is substantial:

• Parents of more than 28 million school-age children work outside the home (U.S. Department of Labor)
• 14.3 million school-age children take care of themselves after the school day ends.
• On school days, juvenile crime, experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex escalates between the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The benefits of great afterschool programming are also evident:

• Teens who don’t participate in healthy afterschool programs are 3 times more likely to skip classes
• Students who participate in these programs have better grades, reach higher levels of achievement in college and feel a greater attachment to school

So, what’s the bottom line?

Afterschool programs keep kids safe, help working families, and improve academic achievement. With your support, ACI will continue to advocate for and find opportunities that ensure that Indianapolis has the best afterschool programs in the country.