It has not been established that a single program can be all things to all people, and therefore understanding the diversity in scope, focus, and structure of programs is useful. Some programs are comprehensive in scope and some are topic specific. Some address multiple content areas, including academics, career development, health, recreation, and culture, while the scope of others, such as a sports program or an arts program, is one content area. Programs may serve a limited age range, while others engage all school-age children and adolescents in a given community or geographic area. Programs for older adolescents may also incorporate community service and ways for young people to work and earn money.
Programs also vary in the extent to which they supervise young people.
This is an important differ- ence, particularly for parents who are looking for supervised child care and need to ensure that a program is monitoring attendance. She pointed out the importance of being cogni- zant of the political environment in which this discussion is being conducted and ways in which it can change the scope, focus, and structure of programs, funding opportunities, and the resulting support for children and families.