Study Finds Approval of Allegheny County Summer Programs But Many Families Face Barriers to Access Them

A majority of caregivers whose children are in Allegheny County summer programs are pleased with them, but many families face barriers to accessing them, according to data from the America After 3PM study.

Learn More

The Afterschool Alliance and Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) shared county-specific data from the report, “The Summer Struggle for Everyday Families: Affording the Opportunities Parents Want for Youth.”

APOST noted that 96% of Allegheny County caregivers whose child is enrolled said they were satisfied with the program their child attends. A total of 91% of caregivers also favored public funding for summer learning opportunities, APOST’s study found.

“Finding affordable summer programs for their children is a major challenge for too many Allegheny County families,” said Jodi Grant, the Afterschool Alliance’s executive director. “Parents need to stay in their jobs to provide for their families, but when they can’t find affordable summer programs, their children may be unsupervised, on screens, at risk, and in some cases without healthy food during the summer months.”

Grant added that she believed the county should invest more in summer programs that keep children safe, engaged, and learning while giving working families peace of mind.

The report’s key findings included:

• Affordability remains the top barrier, particularly for low- and middle-income families.

• Caregivers want their children to have summer learning opportunities.

• For families who can access programs, the experience is a positive one.

• A majority of caregivers - both those with and without children in summer programs - support public funding for programs.

For more information, read the America After 3PM report.