Join The Call To Fund Buffalo Afterschool Programs

The pandemic has left young people struggling with stress, anxiety, anger and other mental health challenges. Afterschool programs are proven to help kids cope with stress, avoid risky behaviors and stay safe. Yet many kids lack access because of transportation or funding issues. That means thousands of kids are alone and unsupervised after school lets out, especially youth of color and those living in low-income communities.


Our kids and families rely on afterschool!

Join us—urge the school board to fund these essential programs!

things you can do today to help Kids in Buffalo

  1. Sign our Change.org petition

The After-school Network of Western New York will be petitioning Buffalo Public Schools to use federal recovery funds to expand afterschool to more kids. Districts must spend a minimum of 20% of their funds on learning loss, which explicitly calls out summer and afterschool programs as an allowable use.
Afterschool has a proven record of success working with families, schools, and community organizations to help young people learn, grow, and thrive. Buffalo needs more of these meaningful partnerships.
Please join us by signing the petition below urging the school board to use federal recovery funds to fund afterschool programs in the 2022-2023 budget.

2. Email or Call Members of the School Board

We are also asking community members to directly contact members of the school board via email or phone. The link below will direct you to the contact information of every member, so you can tell them personally how important afterschool is to you and your family. If you need help getting started, here are some points we think are important to communicate:
  • Buffalo has never had enough afterschool programs to serve all the families who want to attend. And now, unmet demand is higher than ever: 1.6 million kids in our state are missing out.

  • Programs are staffed by caring mentors who are trained to help youth cope with stress, make smart decisions, and avoid risky behaviors, including drug and alcohol use. Afterschool programs also connect families to resources like social services and counselors who can help kids heal from trauma.

  • Afterschool programs help kids avoid risky behaviors, online and offline, during the hours of 3:00 to 6:00 pm, when juvenile crime peaks.

  • Statewide, 82% of parents say afterschool gives working parents peace of mind; 80% say it helps working parents keep their jobs.

  • Afterschool is a lifeline for our kids and families. Now more than ever we need to ensure these programs are open and available for every child who wants to attend.

  • As a [parent, student, community member] I'm asking you to use federal recovery funds to fund afterschool programs in the 2022-2023 Buffalo Public Schools budget.


3. Share your support on Social Media

You can help spread the word about the importance of afterschool by sharing posts and graphics on social media. We'd love for you to share your perspectives on why afterschool is important for kids in Buffalo! You can use the images and messaging below to show support for our campaign and encourage those in your network to join us.


Click the image above to download, and feel free to use or edit the text below!

Many Buffalo parents work long hours to provide for their kids. Afterschool allows parents to work without worry because they know their kids are safe, learning and having fun.

Urge Buffalo public schools to fund afterschool now! Learn more:

https://bit.ly/37POVy7



Click the image above to download, and feel free to use or edit the text below!

Afterschool helps kids cope with stress, make smart choices, and avoid risky behaviors. But unmet demand for afterschool has reached an all-time high in New York.

Urge Buffalo public schools to fund afterschool now! Learn more:

https://bit.ly/37POVy7


Click the image above to download, and feel free to use or edit the text below!
Youth living in low-income communities face bigger barriers to participating because of cost, lack of transportation, and lack of available programs. Closing this gap is critical for advancing equity within our city.

Urge Buffalo public schools to fund afterschool now! Learn more:
https://bit.ly/37POVy7