The Kent County YMCA invites parents in Warwick, East Greenwich, Coventry and West Warwick to enroll their children in after-school programs as a part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to youth development.

According to the After-school Alliance, nearly 15 million children in the United States are unsupervised after school between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m. each day – in Rhode Island, 34 percent of children in grades six to eight are responsible for taking care of themselves. During these hours, youth are at a greater risk of involvement in crime, drug abuse and other destructive behaviors. After school programs offered by the Kent County YMCA not only provide enhanced learning opportunities outside the classroom, but also provide a safe environment where they can learn, grow and thrive.

“At the Kent County YMCA, we provide youth with the skills they need to achieve academic success, interact with their peers and develop interpersonal skills – skills that are often lost when kids are left unsupervised every day,” said Kent County YMCA Executive Director Eileen Barber. “By nurturing their potential, we give youth the confidence to learn and grow to be competent and responsible individuals.”

The Kent County YMCA’s after-school programs aim to keep youth motivated and provide extended learning opportunities that enrich their lives. The after-school program, as part of the YMCA Activate America Initiative, focuses on healthy snacks and increased physical activity, along with character values, arts and humanities and homework support.

As one of the leading providers of after-school programs, YMCAs have been engaging children in after school programs for more than 50 years. Today, YMCAs serve nearly half a million youth in school age care programs and millions more in after-school programs. Financial assistance is available to qualified applicants.

To learn more about after school programming at the Kent County YMCA, please contact Becky Merritt, Child Care Director at 828-0130e ext. 232 or at rmerritt@gpymca.org.