ALBANY, GA (WALB) -
Experts say unsupervised kids are more likely to get involved with crime, drugs and gangs.
They say after school programs help keep kids out of trouble and in school.
The National After School Alliance sponsored its 13th annual Lights on After School event, Thursday.
As more than 400 students from Mt. Olive Community Outreach Center's two grant funded after school programs came out to have fun this evening, parents like Jacqueline Smith know the impact these programs have in children's lives.
"It actually gives the child a chance to have some enrichment, which a lot of them because sometimes they don't have the opportunity to have it at home," said Smith.
Smith was out with her granddaughter and says she can see a difference the program has made in her 2nd graders life.
"I see improvement in here. It's helping her to be more social. It's helping for her to be more respectful and then I like the idea its' being sponsored through a church," said Smith.
Mayor Dorothy Hubbard was also out to raise awareness of the importance after school programs play in children's lives, such as keeping them out of trouble and building social skills.
"It's that little time between the hours of 3 pm and 6 pm when they are, sometimes, unsupervised and so many things can happen to them. This is just so important for them to have somewhere and someone to lookout and care for them," said Mayor Hubbard.
Now event organizers are encouraging parents to look into after school programs to give their children a safe haven to learn and play.
"When you look at after school, everyday we're here from 2 pm to 6pm when most parents are at work, at least you know that your children are in an environment that is safe and they're learning and having fun," said event organizer Leslie Heard.
Parents like Smith hope others take advantage of these opportunities that could make a major impact in a child's life.
Vital Smile of Georgia was also at the event handing out free dental bags to children.
Research from after school advocate agencies suggest the prime hours for juveniles to be involved with crime and experiment with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex are between 3 pm and 6 pm.
Copyright 2012 WALB. All rights reserved.
Jacqueline Smith
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WALB, a Raycom Media Station. 
