Locating programs in schools goes a long way towards solving both of these problems. A school-based program also addresses the safety and logistic concerns parents face in getting children to and from the site. Another good way for communities to ensure high rates of participation is to involve families in the planning process. The resulting programs tend to be more fun, relevant to community needs and linked to activities that interest children. 5 Those who plan programs based in a school setting may want to guard against making the program mere extensions of the school's academic instruction.
Many parents prefer informal learning that emphasizes social and emotional growth.
Government agencies concerned with physical and mental health worry that children experiment with tobacco, alcohol, drugs and sex when they are unsupervised in the afternoons. As a result, significant funding has gone to programs that teach adolescents and younger children the values and skills needed to stay away from these risky behaviors. Evaluations have shown that such narrowly focused programs have limited effectiveness. These findings have fueled the growing support for more positive and comprehensive approaches that do not just address youth problems but that promote youth development. Many programs seem promising, but may need further evaluations.