Introduction
After school programs have been around since the early 1900s, these programs were originally created to provide supervision for children after school hours. Today these programs provide so much more than just supervision. After school programs offer a variety of enrichment activities, academic assistance, as well as health/ wellness education and activities. The need for after school programs has increased a significant amount over the last few years. More women are in the workforce now than ever before, leaving more children unattended for. Crime rates all over The United States have also seen a dramatic increase. Research done shows that unsupervised care is linked to poor development outcomes (e.g., Long and Long [21]; Pettit et al. [33]). This drove the desire for safe after school care arrangements. In response to the need of such programs came The Boys and Girls Club.
The Boys and Girls Club was established in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut. The Boys and Girls Club was established after three local women suggested a ​positive alternative for young boys roaming around the neighborhood streets. The original name was The Boys Club of America, it wasn’t until 1990 when the organization underwent a name change and became The Boys and Girls Club of America. The organization changed their name to reflect their inclusive environment and welcome female members.
After school programs strive to have a positive impact on the youth they serve. However, this is not always an easy task and so much goes into these programs being successful. Youth
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enrolling into these programs, having regular attendance, and actively participating plays a big part in the outcome of these programs. Sometimes another very important key factor that plays a huge role in the success of these programs is overlooked, and that is the staff. Just like the youth that attend, the staff that work with the youth are just as important. After school programs...