Mission Statement

The mission of the Youth Development Coalition in to assure that every young person in Pima County , Arizona in engaged in safe, productive activities during out-of-school time.

Goals of the Coalition

• Advocate for children and youth within the community and in legislative processes.
• Increase community resources and volunteerism for out of school time.
• Improve the quality of programs through training and support for out-of-school time specialists.

Click here for the YDC Matrix.
Click here for the Self-Assessment.
Click here for the YDC Focus Group Resuts.
Click here for the Community Assesment.

The need is great.

• Parents need safe, positive after-school programs for their children, but many cannot afford such programs.
• Parents have seen after-school fees soar in the last several years.
• One in five of Tucson 's children live under the poverty line.
• 34 percent of children in grades six through eight have to care for themselves after school.
• Only six percent of children, grades six through eight, participate in an after-school program. Only three percent of youth, grades nine through 12, are in one.
• Of all those children and youth not now participating in an after-school program, 30 percent of them would participate if an after-school program was available in their community.

Students who participate in quality after-school programs are more likely to:

• Enrich their academic skills
• Enhance their life skills
• Reduce their risky behaviors
• Develop healthy relationships with peers
• Develop healthy relationships with caring adult role models

Students who lack adult supervision after school are at greater risk for:

• Getting involved in criminal activity
• Depression
• Behavior problems
• Substance abuse
• Risky sexual behaviors
• Lower academic performance
• Exposure to violence

For more information about keeping kids safe after school, please contact :
Erin Daga
edaga@unitedwaytucson.org
520.903.9000 ext.