Expanded Extracurricular Programming- A Helping Hand for Parents

The working parents of Durham have long faced the challenge of finding safe, affordable afterschool care for their children. The scarcity of dependable childcare creates anxiety for parents and leaves many children to fend for themselves. Our community is blessed with a depth of resources. Public and private entities can join together to help the parents and young children of Durham in strengthening the afterschool care program through Durham Public Schools.

Currently the DPS afterschool program fills almost immediately, leaving many parents stressed about finding reliable care for their children while they finish their work days. The DPS program faces staffing challenges despite amendments to program size. If DPS and the city were able to come together and share resources, the afterschool program could expand to its intended capacity and provide much needed care. An afterschool program that brings the community together through Durham Parks and Recreation, Durham Arts Council, Bike Durham, DINE, Durham Tech, or other organizations would be a boon for parents and children.