Title
Phoenix Afterschool Center (PAC) Program Update
Description
Update on the Parks and Recreation Department’s Phoenix Afterschool Center (PAC) program.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
The Phoenix Afterschool Center (PAC) is a structured and affordable, afterschool recreation and enrichment program for youth ages 6 to 13 provided Monday through Friday during the entire academic year. Offered directly in the partnering school’s facility, participants can safely transition from the end of the school day to the PAC program seamlessly and without the need for transportation by the parent. Parents can rely on the program until 6 p.m. and can also depend on the program to accommodate school early release days.
PAC provides a fun, supportive and educational atmosphere during the crucial afterschool hours. Supervised by recreation staff, participants have structured, age-appropriate activities. Benefits of the program include social skills, emotional development and academic support.
An annual curriculum is developed prior to the start of each school year and is used by all PAC sites to ensure program quality and consistency. Daily activities include PAC program components such as organized physical activities; games; STEM educational enrichment; math; arts and culture; and homework help. Annual feedback is solicited from parents, participants and school administrators through program surveys at the conclusion of each academic year. The results from the surveys are then analyzed and strategies are implemented to further evolve program success.
The PAC program is intended to provide an affordable and safe afterschool program option for families. The fee structure is based on the hosting school’s United States Department of Agriculture free and reduced lunch rate to ensure PAC remains affordable. Program fees range from $120 to $260 per participant, for the entire school year. This equates to $0.67 to $1.44 per day. The PAC program at the City of Phoenix Sidney P. Osborn housing site is grant funded by the Housing Department, allowing youth participants to attend at no cost.
PAC staff participate in professional development training opportunities throughout the year. Training is provided by PAC Coordinators and/or industry professionals to further develop program and leadership skills essential to running a successful PAC site.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, PAC was temporarily suspended on all school campuses in March 2020 and remained closed for over a year. PAC was able to resume successfully for the 2021-22 school year at 33 Phoenix school campuses (Attachment A) and one City of Phoenix housing site located at Sidney P. Osborn, serving approximately 975 participants daily. Unfortunately, due to the temporary closure, the program lost approximately 50 percent of its employees, resulting in starting the school year with wait lists at several schools. As the school yea has progressed, approximately 20 additional staff have been hired. Of the 33 sites, eight schools currently remain with a wait list.
To mitigate the staff shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Parks and Recreation Department continues staff recruitment efforts including posting information on the City’s website and social media pages; promoting jobs through local colleges and universities; working with temporary employment agencies; promoting through other City departments; and providing informational flyers at community events.
It is the department’s goal to hire approximately 50 additional PAC employees to be fully staffed and accommodate children currently on the wait list.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson and the Parks and Recreation Department.