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The following article can be found at:
http://www.niost.org/publications/Factsheet_2004.pdf

Twelve million U.S. children live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level of $18,400 for a family of four. Double this income is the amount for most families to afford the basic necessities, such as adequate food, steady housing, and healthcare.

In 68% of married-couple families with children age 6 to 17, both parents work outside the home; in 77.8% of female-headed families, and 83.7% of male-headed families, the custodial parent works outside the home.

44% of Children do not have regular after school care. This results in approximately3.3 million children between the ages of 6 and 12 regularly spending time without adult supervision. Ten percent of all children between the ages of 6 and 12 use self-care as their primary child care arrangement

Within the past three decades the number of overweight children between the ages of 6 and 12 has doubled. Only two percent of children within this age group meet the recommended minimum number of daily servings from all five food groups. The number of overweight teens (12-19 years) has tripled in the past 30 years. As a result of being overweight, these children and youth are at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, elevated blood pressure, and low self-esteem child care arrangement.

Opportunities for recess and physical education are disappearing from urban schools and fewer than 1 in 3 teens get an adequate amount of regular physical activity.

Afterschool programs can increase engagement in learning by providing middle school students with opportunities to meet needs that schools often can't, e.g., personal attention from adults, a positive peer group, and activities that hold their interest and build their self-esteem (Vandell, et al. 1996; Garmezy, 1991; Rutter, 1987; Clark, 1987; Masten, et al. 1990; Comer, et al., 1984; Werner, 1993; Halpern, 1992; As reported in Miller, 2003).

Afterschool programs can offer intangibles such as - the opportunity to engage in activities that help young people realize they have something to contribute to the group; the opportunity to work with their families and the larger community; and the opportunity to develop a vision of life's possibilities that, with commitment and persistence, are attainable.

In a recent survey of 94 cities conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, city leaders indicated that afterschool program capacity is growing, but only about 35% of children needing afterschool care are actually enrolled in programs.