Youth Development Services

Finding Solid Ground in the After School Program

An active participant in LifeSTEPS’ After School Program, 11-year-old Angela is known as a leader who takes the initiative to help other students after she completes her homework. With a big heart, Angela also enjoys lending a hand at other LifeSTEPS activities and events by serving food and cleaning up. But before joining the After School Program, Angela was on a difficult road.

A year ago, on a day like any other, she was told that her father had died from a sudden stroke at the age of 59. Paralyzed from shock and grief, the loss of Angela’s father affected every aspect of her life. Her world was turned upside down. Concerned about Angela’s grades, and hoping to find support for her grieving daughter, Angela’s mother Tracy enrolled her into LifeSTEPS’ After School Program. There, Angela was able to be around children her age, get help with her homework, and find the support that she needed in order to cope with the family’s loss. “Whether it’s for educational or emotional reasons, LifeSTEPS is there to help the children by providing support,” says Program Coordinator Maria.

As time progressed, Angela began to feel grounded again and became an enthusiastic participant in After School Program activities. The program fueled her love of learning as she read book after book, making many trips to the public library over the summer. Not only did she excel with the summer reading curriculum, she also deepened her interest in mathematics and decided that her least favorite subject, English, wasn’t so bad after all.

Because Angela had a positive, nurturing outlet like the After School Program, her confidence and optimism began to radiate once more, and she blossomed into the exuberant and resilient leader that she is today.

Summer Reading Program

LifeSTEPS’ Big Fun in the Sun summer reading program is an extension of its year-round after-school program, designed to prevent learning loss and foster a love for reading during the summer months. Launched as a pilot program in Sacramento in 2012 in collaboration with the Sacramento Public Library, the program achieved remarkable success in its first year, serving 80 children and helping over 60% maintain or improve their reading levels—far surpassing national averages. By 2015, the program’s scalable model expanded statewide, and today, it reaches over 125 sites across California.

Each summer, children’s reading levels are assessed using the San Diego Quick Assessment Tool, ensuring they start at an appropriate level. Program Coordinators meet with participants once or twice a week to guide them through an engaging curriculum that includes themed games, virtual travel experiences, and obstacle courses, all aimed at making reading enjoyable. The program progressively challenges students to advance through increasingly complex books, with awards given to celebrate their progress.

At the end of the summer, participants showcase their achievements during a celebration attended by parents, family, and staff. Each child receives a backpack filled with school supplies, empowering them to begin the new academic year with confidence. A final assessment is conducted to measure growth, reaffirming the program’s success in helping children reach grade-level proficiency or beyond, all while instilling the belief that reading is fun.

98%

of youth participants maintained or increased their reading level.

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