In an effort to affect a more meaningful and long-term change in children’s lives, Love For Kids is expanding efforts in the area of Student After-school Facilitated Environments (or SAFE). With the initiation of the SAFE program, Love For Kids will facilitate the expansion of quality, after-school programming in the Dallas metroplex. These actions are expected to increase the graduation rate of inner-city high school students while decreasing gang-involvement, drug abuse, teen pregnancy and crime. Most of all, Love For Kids will give thousands of children the hope and the means to create a successful and productive future!

Recent statistics reveal that DISD experiences a graduation rate of only 46% compared to the rest of the state with 67% and a national average of 70%. Less than 20% of these students go on to college or seek higher educational opportunities. Studies have also shown that the vast majority of student drop-outs in Dallas occur between the ninth and tenth grades. Many children living in the urban Dallas area reside in dangerous neighborhoods, and it is no surprise that these children are at increased risk for poor academic achievement, high drop-out rate, truancy, gang-involvement, drug abuse and teen pregnancy.

A recent study indicates 64,293 children attending DISD schools are unsupervised during after-school hours. By 2010, this number will increase to 95,000 children. As a result, these children are more likely to be involved in crime, both as participants and victims, and less likely to focus on academics. Conversely, where structured, after-school programs have been available, graduation rates climb to over 90% and higher education rates climb to over 70%.

In January 2007, the Strategic Board of Directors of Love for Kids approved the commissioning of a feasibility study of after-school programming needs in the city of Dallas. In February 2007, Love for Kids contracted with Daniel Byrd, M.A., L.P.C. to conduct a feasibility study over the next six months.

In 2005, Suzanne Kiefer and Janet Mockovciak created the Dallas After School Network (DASN) in an effort to facilitate the development and expansion of quality after-school programs in the Dallas area. DASN is working to expand the availability of after-school care programs by helping providers increase their knowledge and capacity and act as an information resource for parents in need of such programs.

Since DASN has already moved to help facilitate the expansion of SAFE programs, Love For Kids will expand its collaborative relationship with DASN. Love For Kids has become a charter member of DASN. Both organizations plan to have representatives on the other’s Board of Directors. Love for Kids has developed collaborative efforts with DASN. LFK will create a “Best Practices Manual” to be used by existing centers and prospective new centers as a primary guide for the development of after-school programs as well as recommended operational specifics for after-school centers (See attached detail). By developing common metrics to evaluate best-practices, this manual will provide programs with common tools to evaluate outcomes. Not only will this increase quality programming, but it will increase a center’s rationale and justification for additional funding.

It is further concluded that Love For Kids, in conjunction with DASN, could provide services that would make a significant impact on inner-city youth, not only in Dallas, but throughout the state and even nation-wide.