You don' t want your kids watching TV or hanging around by themselves all afternoon. Anderson, a single mother, is trying to move from Orange County to San Diego. She has lined up a secretarial job and wants to find an apartment in a neighborhood with good schools and free child care. Several San Diego County agencies pulled together in 1997 to line up public money for a network of after-school programs coordinated by the Children' s Initiative. Just about every free after-school program in the county is full and has a waiting list.
Priority goes to families with working parents.
Second priority goes to families who cannot afford day care. Although free programs are available, county organizers encourage parents to support their neighborhood programs to help keep them alive. Some programs offer transportation. Vans can be seen lining up behind buses at some schools, dropping off or picking up children. Before settling on a program, parents should determine what is best for their child.