After-school program grows in popularity.
Byline: GREG BOLT The Register-GuardYou wouldn't think that something called Homework Club would draw many takers among middle school students looking for things to do after school.
But at eight middle schools in the Bethel and Eugene school districts, Homework Club is one of several after-school programs funded by the new Partnerships for Youth program that's drawing increasing numbers of kids.
Sure, more students are interested in the open gyms, art classes and outdoor activities also offered through the program, but getting any kids to volunteer for homework surely counts as some kind of achievement.
"It's probably not the most popular," admitted Nevin Holly, who coordinates Partnerships for Youth, "but we have some kids who come on a regular basis and spend 30 minutes to an hour getting help with their homework."
Partnerships for Youth launched its first after-school programs in February. This summer it will grow as part of the Fun for All program of daytime activities, and in the fall it will add 26 elementary schools to the middle schools where kids can find safe and structured afternoon programs.
The effort is the result of Measure 20-37, a city of Eugene property tax levy approved by voters in November 2000. The two-year levy will provide a total of $3.5 million - $1.75 million a year - to fund programs aimed at giving kids constructive places to spend time after school is out.
Last week, one of those places was Willamette High School, where about 100 middle school students converged for a track and field meet funded through the Partnerships program and a similar effort, Bethel Eugene Springfield Together. It's one of the few ways for sixth- through eighth-graders to take part in track, and the meet drew a big crowd of parents and fellow students.
"It's fun," said Brigitte Stager, a seventh-grader at Meadow View Middle School. "It gets us prepared for other sports, it builds confidence and it keeps you in shape."
It also gives kids a healthy way to burn off energy after a day in the classroom. Willamette High ninth-grader Jared Tryon came to the meet rather than go skateboarding because track "is a great thing to do."
Meet coordinator and Bethel teacher Karen Olson said many of the kids would be on their own in the afternoon if not for track and other Partnership programs. "A lot of the kids are choosing to do this rather than go home alone," she said.
What sets the program apart from other recreation programs is that rather than creating a new agency to set up and supervise the after-school activities, Partnerships for Youth provides grants to school districts, nonprofit agencies and other community groups that already offer youth programs. The grants allow those programs to serve more kids, and working with existing providers means more of the money goes to programs and less to administration.
Holly, the city's recreation supervisor, said the partnership approach isn't unique, but the extent of the collaboration here is much greater than anything he's heard of. It took more than a year to get the program running because so many groups are involved, but the result is an unprecedented level of cooperation that will streamline the delivery of after-school programs.
"There is probably not another program in this country that has the collaboration that Eugene has," he said. "It has the potential to be a model program, absolutely."
The biggest chunk of the funds go to support the Bethel and Eugene school districts' Five A's program. The five A's are academics, art, athletics, activities and action (leadership), which describe the kinds of after-school programs kids can choose from.
Among the partners who help provide those programs are the Boys and Girls Club, Centro LatinoAmericano, Kidsports, YMCA, CampFire, Girl Scouts, Northwest Youth Corps, Lane Arts Council and the University of Oregon. Other groups that provide programs through individual grants include the American Red Cross, Oregon Festival of American Music and Lane Family Connections.
Sandee Belden, who coordinates the Five A's program, said the benefits of safe and healthy after-school activities go beyond just giving kids a way to pass time for a couple of hours a day. That will be especially true when Partnerships expands in the fall to include fourth- and fifth-graders.
"If we can touch them in the fourth and fifth grades and teach them to do safe things with their leisure time, then I think we'll see better choices in their middle school years," she said. "Our hope is that we are providing great things for kids after school, and in the evenings they're making better use of their time and we see changes happening in our community."
The different programs try to meet as many needs as possible. Music and art, first-aid training, sports, academic programs and community service are among the choices, and some locations offer meals for kids who don't get enough to eat at home.
Holly said there's plenty of need for such programs, especially with the number of working and single parents who have trouble finding activities for their children. Just having someplace safe is important, he said.
"I think there's a huge gap, especially with upper elementary and middle school students. Children of that age want and need structure, but they also need time just to be kids," he said. "If we just give them a safe environment where they can just be kids, that's great."
Partners in the program try to stretch the taxpayer dollars as far as they can to provide the most benefit for the buck. That means a lot of people putting in time as part of their regular work without charge and schools allowing the use of facilities at no cost.
"We want every dollar we can to go directly to kids," said Craig Hawkins, who put in long hours helping the program get up and running while still doing his job as communications director for the Bethel School District. "We're trying to stretch resources as far as we can. It's been money extremely well-spent."
Partnerships for Youth had one of its biggest champions in Eugene Mayor Jim Torrey, who said the program is more than living up to its promises. He said it has already helped many agencies, such as Kidsports, continue to offer programs that might have been limited due to decreased funding from schools and other sources.
The program provides a grant to Kidsports to pay for scholarships, allowing children whose parents otherwise couldn't afford the fees to take part in after-school sports.
But the challenge for the future will be to find a way to keep Partnerships for Youth going after its two-year funding window closes. And Torrey wants something that will provide enough money to expand the reach of the program.
Right now, only residents inside the Eugene city limits pay the property taxes that support the program, even though it's open to any student in the Eugene or Bethel school districts regardless of whether they live in the city. That's partly because the districts weren't willing to take part in a program that excludes some of their students.
Torrey said he's committed to finding a way to keep the program alive, but he acknowledged that with schools cutting back and the state Legislature facing a still-growing budget gap, it won't be easy.
"We're going to have to step up to this in a big way," Torrey said. "If I never accomplish anything else as mayor, what I hope I'm able to accomplish is creating a place where kids feel safe and comfortable and we provide them some encouragement and nourishment," he said. "And I'm just not going to quit until I do it."
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| Title Annotation: | Activities: Partnerships for Youth offers homework help as well as gyms, art classes and outdoor programs.; Schools |
|---|---|
| Publication: | The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) |
| Date: | Apr 22, 2002 |
| Words: | 1281 |
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