OXNARD — The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme’s After School Program is a vital effort in bringing schools, community-based organizations, business partners and hundreds of families together to provide academic support and a safe environment for students, confirms a seven-year independent After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program Evaluation for the Rio School District in Oxnard, club officials reported Wednesday in a media release.
The findings were presented Wednesday during a meeting at the Martin V. Smith Youth Center in Oxnard by Jamshid Damooei, Ph.D., chair of the Economics, Finance and Accounting Department, and director of the Center for Leadership and Values at California Lutheran University. Damooei conducted the evaluation.
Presentations were also made at the event by Jeff Henley, chairman of the board of American multinational computer technology corporation Oracle and member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America national board of governors, and Sherrie Hardy,founder of Hardy Brain Camp, which is part of the BGCOP After School Program.
Gathering data since the program began in 2005 has provided a detailed view of the program’s performance and impact, Damooei said.
“There is a positive impact of the program on the economic well-being of the families,” Damooei stated in the release. “The program allows parents to keep their jobs and attend school in order to improve their education and skills and thus reach a better level of economic and social existence.”
According to the evaluation, 93.4 percent of the students who participate in after school programs reported enjoying the activities offered and that the staff’s support makes them feel more at ease. A majority of students (69.2 percent) also reported that they found a mentor through the programs.
Parents were overwhelming in their support of the program, with 94.6 percent reporting that they depend on the program every day and 94.2 percent felt that their children are safe in the after school programs. They also reported seeing behavior and academic achievement improvements due to their child’s participation.
The evaluation is part of an effort to bring schools, cities, counties, community-based organizations, and business partners together to provide academic support and a safe environment before and after school for students in kindergarten and grades one through nine. This local study was meant to gather and present the results of the programs offered by the BGCOP, and to analyze the effectiveness of said programs, the organization reported.
The ASES Program Evaluation is available online at www.bgcop.org/aboutus/evaluations or by calling 805-483-1118, ext. 305.
About the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme:
By involving parents, volunteers, educators and the business community, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme helps youth reach their full potential through a positive environment, lifelong learning and programs dedicated to the arts, education, character and leadership development, health and recreation. Programs are based on physical, emotional, cultural and social needs, and are designed to expand participants’ areas of interest. For more information, visit www.positiveplace4kids.org