Community-based youth centers
provide opportunities for young people to engage in
after-school activities and enhance their personal
growth and development. Programs emphasize the
importance of abstaining from drugs and alcohol,
violence, and delinquent behavior.
Programs include performing and
creative arts, recreation, homework assistance, computer
education, and skill-building to help prepare youth for
future academic or vocational success.
Youth expressed their interest in
accessing after-school activities in a 2002 statewide
survey:
Nearly
half the 4,600 youth surveyed in the Ohio Statewide
Kids Time Middle School Survey (2002), felt that teens
"get into trouble" due to a lack of programs and
activities offered in their community. Only 20% of the
surveyed students participated in structured, supervised
out-of-school activities. A majority of these youth also
reported that, although there was a need for
out-of-school activities, there were not enough
activities available to them. Due to cost of
recreational facilities, lack of transportation to these
facilities, inconvenient operating hours, and/or unsafe
facilities (in terms of both equipment and surrounding
environment).
Directions for Youth & Families
youth center activities are offered without cost to
youth and families. For more information,
614-294-2661.
