Backers say that Boys, Girls Clubs will reduce crime

Statistics from the FBI and Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) show that during the hours of 3 to 8 p.m., the rate of juvenile crime triples and there’s a significant increase in crimes committed against young people.

Statistics from the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station in Calabasas show that more than 60 percent of thefts and burglaries between these hours are youth related.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, some 7 million children ages 5 to 14 spend time unsupervised every day after school.

In the local communities—Calabasas to Thousand Oaks—about 56 percent of the families have both parents working.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reports that students who spend no time in after school activities are 57 percent more likely to drop out of school by senior year, 49 percent are more likely to use drugs and 37 percent are more likely to become teen parents.

Organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) provide after-school programs intended to "give young people a place to flourish and develop into responsible and caring young adults," according to the organization.

Community-based gang prevention programs offered through BGCA provide training, materials and technical assistance to clubs and their community partners to keep youth ages 6 to 18 from becoming involved in gangs. The program’s intervention component helps youth who are already involved with gangs to leave that lifestyle. Gang Prevention/Intervention through Targeted Outreach at the clubs is sponsored by the OJJDP.

StreetSMART, another BCGA program, counteracts the negative lures of gangs, violence and "street" influences on adolescents ages 11 through 13. While building awareness and resistance skills, participants develop the confidence and knowledge to make intelligent choices. Participants reinforce what they have learned and share it with others by organizing community events that promote the positive messages of StreetSMART.

The need for after-school childcare programs crosses all socioeconomic backgrounds and ethnic groups. It’s important in the suburbs as well as in the cities, according to BGCA.

To meet the growing challenge of unsupervised children, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Conejo & Las Virgenes is planning to build six clubs primarily on school campuses in the Conejo/Las Virgenes area.

The new clubs will offer "life-enhancing programs as well as educational, character and leadership development experiences," according to BGCA.

"We want to encourage ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals and provide opportunities for family and community involvement," said Cal Johnston, chairman of the board of governors.

A nonprofit organization, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Conejo & Las Virgenes plans to provide more than 6,000 children ages 6 through 17 with the environment and the programs so "they can become productive citizens by building self-esteem and providing daily, safe alternatives from negative influences." The clubs will be located at six sites throughout the Conejo and Las Virgenes areas where affordable, daily after-school programs are "currently nonexistent," according to the organization.

For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of Conejo & Las Virgenes or to volunteer or donate, please call (818) 880-8577 or visit the Internet Website at www.ThePositivePlaceForKids.net.