The Florida Afterschool Network (FAN) recently published the results from a statewide survey of afterschool and summer learning providers. What makes this report unique is the utilization of software to map responses by county. Paired with data from multiple sources, FAN reveals correlations between interaction frequency with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and the availability of afterschool and summer learning programs at the local level. The report also provides a review of the community and individual benefits quality afterschool provides and points out the lack of geographic diversity currently available to meet the afterschool and summer learning needs of Florida’s children.
FAN has called on its community partners to convene stakeholders in their communities including local elected officials, municipal and county administrators, law enforcement, business leaders and parents to discuss the correlations presented in the findings. FAN’s goal is to engage local leaders in a collective process to thoughtfully create an afterschool system that supports working parents and provides youth a safe and enriching place to go when the school day or school year ends.
