The State of New Jersey Urban Communities have population densities higher than any other state on the east coast.
The vast majority of these children live in single parent homes and below the poverty line.
Cities, such as Newark, Atlantic City and Cam rank highest in New Jersey for temporary assistance to needy families, food stamp recipients, domestic violence, child abuse, admissions to youth detention centers, HIV/AIDS cases and identified gangs. The school dropout rates are the highest in the county.
In addition, the teen pregnancy rate is a major problem as well.
It is well known that when students are not afforded or not engaged in after school activities the prevalence of drugs and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, SIDS, gang related activity and obesity all increase.
For these reasons, it is imperative that children have a wide variety of after school activities and programs to participate in. This can be accomplished by offering children well rounded and comprehensive after school programs that encompasses mentoring,
