Students participate in an afterschool education program in this undated photo provided by Bristol Bay 4-H. Housed at the Bristol Bay Native Association, the Bristol Bay Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program supports 4-H and positive youth development activities in Dillingham, Alaska, and other communities.
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Native American families nationwide have a need for afterschool programs that outpaces current community resources, according to a recent Afterschool Alliance report.
An author of the report, Nikki Yamashiro, vice president of research at Afterschool Alliance, said the report revealed a “huge unmet demand” for afterschool programs among Native American families.
Of the Native American families surveyed in 2020, 45% of those whose children were not in an afterschool program said they would have enrolled them if a program had been available, according to the report. Of the afterschool programs that do exist, the report found that four out of 10 lacked cultural programming.
“These kids are missing out on participating in programs and all the opportunities that programs afford,” Yamashiro said. “There needs to be more done in terms of helping families overcome the barriers.”
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