North County : Program Offered at ‘Y’ for Latch-Key Children

Applications for a unique after-school program designed for older latch-key children--those in seventh and eighth grades--are being accepted by the North Orange County YMCA of Fullerton.

YMCA spokeswoman Karen Verhoef said the county’s “first of its kind” pilot program resulted from mutual concerns of working parents about junior high school students “having too much free time,” and the “unavailability of services” for 11-to- 14-year-olds.

“This year junior high school students are being dismissed (from school) 20 to 40 minutes earlier. There’s just a growing concern over the lack of supervision, and many children have complained about being bored,” Verhoef said.

Interest in after-school services was expressed by 93 parents and 90 children who responded to a 580-household survey by the Coalition Concerned With Adolescent Pregnancy. According to coalition officials, 68% of parents were dissatisfied with their children “hanging around” shopping malls after school, while youngsters complained of “loneliness” in being latch-key children.

Hours for the after-school project will be 2:45 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the North County Y, 2000 Youth Way. Seventh and eighth graders will be offered weight training, sports, special-interest activities, community-service opportunities and supervised homework time.

The cost, including transportation by the YMCA from Parks, Nicolas and Ladera Vista junior high schools, is $6.75 per school day and $14 for a full day during school holidays. The after-school project is co-sponored by the Coalition Concerned With Adolescent Pregnancy.

More information can be obtained by calling the YMCA at (714) 879-9622. Survey results are available from the coalition office (714) 972-4859.