Arlington County approves $1.5 million for after-school programs; advocates hope it helps drug problem
ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now) — After a push from parents and advocates, Arlington County is spending more than a million dollars to help fund free after-school programs.
In the county’s FY25 budget, which was approved in April, there is a $1.5 million commitment in one-time funding for the county to partner with the school district to develop “additional quality after-school youth programming.”
The budget document shared by the county indicates the programs should serve students who attend two or more of the following schools: Wakefield High School, and Kenmore, Jefferson, and Gunston Middle Schools.
Loudoun County schools scrap proposed delayed start schedule
The budget also includes funding to hire someone to manage all of the programs.
The move follows advocacy from VOICE—Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement—a nonprofit organization made up of various regional faith organizations.
“They’re turning to drugs just to experiment, and drugs are so dangerous now,” said Pastor Alice Tewell of Clarendon Presbyterian Church. “Just one time will kill you.”
The drug problem, among the main reasons advocates were pushing for the program, has been oft-discussed in Arlington in recent years. Two Wakefield High School students have overdosed and died in the last 18 months.
Maria Guarachi, who has a 10th-grade daughter, Shayla, said she feels this is a step toward caring for teenagers.
“We need to care about teenagers,” she said. “Teenagers are in a dangerous place. The school is now a dangerous place. It’s like a jungle.”
Shayla said she had seen people smoking in the bathroom.
Both Maria and Shayla said improved after-school programs are a proper first step to helping address those problems.
“It’s a big goal,” Shayla said. “They don’t have to pay. The kids can do what they like to do.”
Maria emphasized the importance of free programs, which she said would be accessible to communities in Arlington who can’t afford other extracurricular opportunities.
“If the kids are busy in different activities, quality activities, they don’t think about… drugs or bad things or bad influences,” Maria said.
“These afterschool programs, with adults that care, developing the child so they can also care about themselves in the future, will save them,” Tewell said.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
