Existing federal initiatives for young people either attempt to fix problem behavior such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, and delinquency or are education-based. Currently there is no national federal policy to promote positive youth development. Too many children and youth grow up without adequate family and community support or the opportunity to build productive futures.

Young people must have real life options and they must be able to see those choices before they make harmful decisions. Without improved resources, young people with the fewest options will continue to resort to violence and other problem behaviors.

Family Structures are Changing

* In 1999, 68% of all American children lived with two parents, down from 77% in 1980.

* Older children were less likely to live with two parents- 66% of children ages 15-17 compared with 74% of children under age 5 and 71% of those 5 to 14.

* Between 1980 and 1998, the percentage of children living in two-parent families in which both the mother and father worked full time all year increased from 17% to 31%.

* Children living with single mothers who are employed increased from 33% in 1993 to 44% in 1998.

* Nearly two-thirds of school-age children and youth live with a single employed parent or two parents who are both employed. Over 14 million children 6-11 and over 15 million children 12-17 live with employed parents. Nearly 80% of working parents are employed full-time.

* There are approximately 4 million children ages 13 and 14 that spend time unsupervised on a regular basis.

Young People Suffer the Consequences

* On school days, the hours from 3-6 PM are the peak hours for teens to commit crimes, and for kids to smoke, drink or use drugs and engage in sexual activities.

* Children without adult supervision are at significantly greater risk of truancy from school, stress, receiving poor grades, risk-taking behavior, and substance use. Children who spend more hours on their own and begin self-care at younger ages are at increased risk of poor outcomes.

* The U.S. Government Accounting Office estimates that in the year 2002, the current number of out-of-school time programs for school-age children will meet as little as 25% of the demand in some urban areas.

We Can Do Better

* Research indicates that children who attend high quality programs have better peer relations, emotional adjustment, conflict resolution skills, grades, and conduct in school compared to their peers who are not in after school programs.

* Students who spend one to four hours per week in extracurricular activities are 49% less likely to use drugs and 37% less likely to become teen parents than students who do not participate in extracurricular activities.

For further information contact Tim Briceland-Betts, 202/942-0256, bricebet@cwla.org.