Title: YMCA's Teen Action AgendaSeries: Fact SheetAuthor: Nels EricsonPublished: May 2001Subject: Juvenile delinquency prevention, Mentoringprograms5 pages8,000 bytes------------------------To view this document in its entirety, download theAdobe Acrobat graphic file available from this Website or order a print copy from NCJRS at 800-638-8736.------------------------The YMCA's Teen Action Agendaby Nels EricsonIn January 2001, the YMCA of the USA commissioned theAfter School for America's Teens survey. The surveyfound that teens who are unsupervised during theafterschool hours of 3 to 6 p.m. are more likely toengage in risky behaviors--drug and alcohol abuse,sexual activity, cigarette smoking, and carrying andusing weapons--than youth who are supervised by aparent or another adult or who are involved instructured activities during those hours. In responseto these findings, the YMCA has launched its TeenAction Agenda, a nationwide campaign to double thenumber of teens it serves through its afterschool andother programs, to 5 million by 2005.The Teen Action Agenda's goals are to build skillsand values; improve teens' health practices,educational development, and character; help teensbecome contributing members of their communities; andplace committed, caring adults in long-termrelationships with the youth. Participating localYMCAs will offer programs that focus on three keyareas: (1) education, career, and life skills; (2)health, safety, and well-being; and (3) leadershipand service learning. Each local YMCA chapter mustoffer at least one program in each of the key areas,dedicate a full-time program staff member to every1,000 youth served, and issue a membership card toevery teen served in the community. Each chapter willmeasure the success of its efforts and report the

findings to the YMCA of the USA.Survey FindingsIn the survey, 500 U.S. teens between the ages of 14and 17 were interviewed by telephone. The poll wasdesigned to determine their attitudes and behaviorsin the afterschool hours. Specifically, the surveysought to determine:o The nature of teens' relationships withtheir parents.o The amount of supervision teens receiveafter school.o The effects of insufficient supervision andparticipation in afterschool activities onteens' school performance and at-risk behaviors.o The availability of community- orneighborhood-based afterschool programsand teens' awareness of existing programs.Key findings from the survey are summarized below:Teens lack supervision in the hours after school. Theaverage teen in the United States is unsupervisedafter school 2 days per week for up to 5 hours.Nearly 6 in 10 teens (59 percent) are left withoutsupervision by a parent or other adult at least 1 dayper week after school, and nearly 4 in 10 (39percent) are left unsupervised 3 or more days. Olderteens (17 and 18 years old) are more likely thanyounger teens (14 to 16 years old) to lack adultsupervision after school at least 1 day per week (67percent versus 52 percent). Teens from single-parenthouseholds are left unsupervised for more days perweek than teens from two-parent homes (an average of2.2 days versus 1.7 days).Lack of supervision leads to at-risk behavior inteens. Teens who are unsupervised after school aremuch more likely than teens who are supervised toengage in activities that put them at risk. Comparedwith teens supervised every day of the school week,those unsupervised 1 or more days are more likely todrink alcohol (34 percent versus 22 percent), smokecigarettes (16 percent versus 11 percent), and engagein sex (17 percent versus 11 percent). Unsupervisedteens are three times as likely to use marijuana orother drugs (14 percent versus 4 percent). Comparedwith teens who are supervised every day of the schoolweek, those who are left unsupervised 1 or more daysof the week are nearly twice as likely to skip a dayof school (27 percent versus 14 percent) and nearlythree times as likely to skip classes at school (30percent versus 11 percent).

Participation in afterschool activities leads tobetter grades and better behavior in teens. Nearly 8in 10 teens (79 percent) who engage in afterschoolactivities are "A" or "B" students, but only half (52percent) of teens who do not participate inafterschool activities earn these high marks. Teenswho do not engage in afterschool activities are fivetimes as likely to be "D" students as those whoparticipate in afterschool activities (15 percentversus 3 percent). More than one-third of teens whodo not participate in afterschool activities drinkalcohol (36 percent) and get into trouble at school(36 percent), compared with about one-fourth of teenswho engage in afterschool activities (26 percentdrink alcohol and 24 percent get into trouble atschool).Not enough afterschool programs are available forteens. More than half of the surveyed teens (52percent) said they wish more afterschool activitieswere available in their neighborhood or community.Six in 10 teens (62 percent) left unsupervised duringthe week said they would be likely to participate inafterschool programs if they were available. Morethan one-half of the teens (54 percent) said theywould watch less television or play fewer video gamesif they had other things to do after school.YMCA ProgramsYMCA's Teen Action Agenda is working to improveafterschool options for all teens, but specificallyfor those who lack adult supervision. To reach teensduring the afterschool hours, local YMCAs sponsor awide range of resources: mentoring programs, computerliteracy classes, basketball leagues, drug preventionprograms, culturally specific curriculums, writingand literary arts centers, teen leadership clubs, andrecycling and environmental projects. YMCAs alsopartner with juvenile courts, housing authorities,police departments, and schools to providedelinquency intervention and prevention programs.------------------------For Further InformationFor more information on YMCA's Teen Action Agenda andother programs contact:Jon TerryPolicy AssociateYMCA of the USA1701 K Street NW., Suite 903Washington, DC 20006202-835-9043800-932-9622