For Immediate Release: September 9, 2008

Stan Hywet’s Program for At-Risk Youth to Receive Nearly $300,000

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, Congresswoman Betty Sutton (D-OH) announced that Stan Hywet's Program for At-Risk Youth will receive $282,000 in federal funds. This initiative educates and assists more than 1,000 youth in the greater Akron area each year. Congresswoman Sutton secured the funding in the final Omnibus Appropriations bill that was signed into law late last year.

"I am very proud to have secured funding for this important and successful program. A study by Kent State University, my alma mater, showed that at-risk youth who participated frequently in Stan Hywet's program improved in school attendance, grades, behavior and self-esteem. I'm pleased to say that with this funding, the Stan Hywet program can expand to two additional schools, allowing more students to benefit from its guidance and support," said Congresswoman Sutton. "I will continue to work for this critical program and others like it, to ensure that every child in need can receive a helping hand and the educational opportunities they deserve."

Currently, only 7% of Ohio's students have access to after-school programs and the state ranks 48th in the nation in this regard. In addition, there is not adequate space for the 240,000 K-12 students in Ohio who participate in after-school programs. To help deal with this problem, Congresswoman Sutton has consistently supported increased funding for after-school programs.

She voted in favor of increasing funding for the 21st Century Learning Centers program for the first time since 2002. This program is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to after-school programs. Ohio will receive $36 million in funding this year, providing resources for approximately 36,000 children across the state.

Unfortunately the President has called for cuts to this program each year since 2002 and sent Congress a budget requesting a 20% cut for next year. Under his proposal, Ohio would lose nearly $8 million and 8,000 more at-risk youth would be unable to participate in these programs.

Congresswoman Sutton will continue to fight for increased funding for these programs to ensure that Ohio's youth have quality afterschool services to help improve their performance in school and prepare them to enter the workforce.


Contact: Erin Donar at 202-225-3401 or Erin.Donar@mail.house.gov