According to okpolicy.org’s Oklahoma census data, Oklahoma’s poverty rate remained higher than the national average in 2019. More than one in seven Oklahomans (15.2 percent, or 583,029 people) were living below the federal poverty line, which is $26,200 for a family of four. 

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It is a fact that lower-income households have a disproportionate risk of kids being unsupervised. After the school day ends in Oklahoma, 1 in 5 kids are alone and unsupervised. These hours—from 2 to 6 p.m.—are the peak time for juvenile crime in Oklahoma according to the latest report by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a national organization of law enforcement leaders. Research shows that children left home without adult supervision are at greater risk to engage in dangerous behaviors such as drinking, using drugs, and engaging in other delinquent behaviors. 

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BUT….according to Oklahoma's afterschoolalliance.org, after-school programs turn that time of risk into opportunity. They keep kids safe and help them realize their full potential. Fortunately for children in after-school programs in Oklahoma, the hours after school are a time when programs help kids get excited about learning, attend school more often, get better grades, and build foundational skills, like communication, teamwork, and problem solving. 

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In come C.H.I.L.D. Champion mentors to provide a secure, guiding environment where a child can grow to be confident, resilient, and self-aware, enjoying childhood while building skills for a prosperous future. 

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