Boys & Girls Clubs of America announces 'Agenda for America's Youth'

Press release

From Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Boys & Girls Clubs of America launched its “Agenda for America’s Youth” advocacy platform, focusing on the top issues and solutions impacting the nation’s young people.

The organization also released the “Agenda for America’s Youth Policy Guide,” which outlines the current needs of young people while proposing policies and solutions to address them. The guide serves as a framework for local clubs, like the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line, to utilize in addressing the issues and challenges of their own community’s young people.

“We want to make certain that every child feels safe and has a voice,” Krista Solomon, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line, said. “The Club provides so many opportunities to area youth — giving kids a safe place to go after school, providing positive role models and ensuring that all kids have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of America, or BGCA, says supporting America’s youth has never been more urgent in the nation’s history.

Currently, 11.3 million school-age children are home alone after school, without adult supervision, one out of six students fails to graduate on time and nearly half of youth don’t believe the American dream is possible. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Clubs make a difference in the lives of kids and teens every day: 97 percent of blub teens expect to graduate from high school, and 83 percent of members believe they can make a difference in their community.

Out-of-school time is at the forefront of BGCA’s agenda because the organization believes it is the critical vehicle for accomplishing these solutions for kids and teens, including ensuring safer childhoods so every child feels safe physically and emotionally, not just in clubs, but everywhere.

Clubs not only make kids’ childhoods safer, they build the resiliency that will last young people a lifetime. Boys & Girls Clubs of America has prioritized championing issues that support youth in making positive decisions and embracing healthy lifestyles and wellness. Club’s prepare youth for life after the club with education, leadership opportunities and workforce readiness, equipping them with the skills they need for success in the workforce while fostering partnership that create access to real-life experiences to explore career options.

When every young person has access to quality out-of-school time opportunities, when they’re safe emotionally and physically, when they are healthy and when they have the leadership skills for great futures — that is how clubs ensure equity and inclusion for all young people.

The Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line, which first opened its doors in 2002, is making a difference in the lives of Havre’s youth. Data collected from the club show that:

• 216 kids attend the club daily

• 45 kids (on average) work on homework each day in Power Hour

• 49,559 snacks and meals were served at the club in the past year

• 96 percent of kids say they look forward to coming to the club

• 67 percent of kids attend the club three or more times per week

Clubs are trusted voices in communities across the country — located in nearly every Congressional district, with over 4,600 sites serving more than 4.7 million youth annually.

For more information about “Agenda for America’s Youth,” people can contact Krista Solomon or Tim Brurud at 265-6206 or email [email protected].