Household Survey: Participation in Afterschool Increases, But Unmet Demand for Afterschool Programs Persists in Iowa

Washington, DC ? Rising participation among students and high satisfaction with afterschool programs among parents is driving progress in meeting the need for afterschool programs in Iowa, according to a new household survey commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance. But the 2014 edition of America After 3PM also shows that demand for afterschool programs in Iowa still far exceeds supply, and the number of children who would participate if an afterschool program were available exceeds the number of children currently enrolled in afterschool programs in the state.

The America After 3PM survey included 30,000 American households and 208 in-depth interviews in Iowa. It found that 14 percent of Iowa students, 68,516 children in all, are enrolled in afterschool programs, up from 11 percent in 2009, when the survey was last conducted. But 114,865 Iowa students are still without adult supervision in the afternoons. The parents of 145,383 Iowa children not already in an afterschool program say they would enroll their child if a program were available.

"Iowans have made progress creating afterschool opportunities for their children, and can be proud of what the state has accomplished," said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. "But there's no question that more work remains. Most parents in the state who want their child in a program can't find one that works for them, and that needs to change. Quality afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families. Every Iowa family that needs an afterschool program should have access to one."

"It's great that we've made progress on afterschool, but we've still got a long way to go," said Michelle Rich, Network Coordinator of the Iowa Afterschool Alliance. "The unfortunate reality is that afterschool programs in Iowa reach only a fraction of the children and families who need them. We can fix that, if we're willing to commit the resources necessary to grow afterschool programs and create the opportunities all of our children need."

In important respects, Iowa results mirror the national survey findings, which include :

• Participation in afterschool programs is up nationally, with 18 percent of the nation's schoolchildren in programs (10.2 million children), up from 15 percent in 2009 (8.4 million children) and 11 percent in 2004 (6.5 million children).
• At the same time, unmet demand has increased. The parents of nearly 20 million children (19.4 million) say they would enroll their child in an afterschool program if a program were available to them. That means that the existing supply of afterschool programs is meeting barely one-third of demand.
• Demand is greatest among African American, Hispanic and low-income families. Both participation in afterschool and unmet demand for afterschool are much higher among children from low-income households than higher-income households, and higher among African American and Hispanic children than white children. The parents of 60 percent of the nation's African American children would enroll their child in a program if one were available, as would the parents of 57 percent of Latino children. The same is true of 35 percent of white children.
• Despite increased participation in afterschool, the number of children unsupervised in the hours after school remains high. Across the nation, more than 800,000 elementary students, and 2.2 million middle school students spend time alone and unsupervised during the after school hours. In all, 11.3 million children ? one in five ? are unsupervised in the afternoons.
• Parental satisfaction with afterschool remains high. Nine in ten parents (89 percent) say they are satisfied with their child's afterschool program.
• Support for public funding of afterschool programs remains strong. More than four in five parents (84 percent) report that they favor public funding for afterschool opportunities in communities that have few opportunities for children and youth. Support is bipartisan, as well, with 91 percent of parents who identify as Democrats, 86 percent Independents and 80 percent of Republicans favoring public funding for programs. Parents across all geographic regions support public funding for afterschool programs.

The national and Iowa America After 3PM reports, and accompanying data, are available at www.afterschoolalliance.org. A snapshot of national participation and demand for summer learning programs is also available online.

On October 23, more than 1 million people in communities across the nation and at U.S. military installations worldwide will join the only national rally for afterschool programs. Sponsored by the Afterschool Alliance and now in its 15^th year, Lights On Afterschool brings communities together for science fairs, fun runs, community service events, music and dance performances, open houses and other events at schools, community centers, malls, parks and recreation centers, science museums, state capitols, and other settings. Find a local Lights On Afterschool event at www.afterschoolalliance.org/LOA.cfm.

Findings from America After 3PM are based on in-depth interviews with 13,709 U.S. households with children, completed by way of an online survey using a blend of national consumer panels. Shugoll Research collected and analyzed the data for America After 3PM.  The goal of at least 200 completed interviews was reached in every state and the District of Columbia. In states where this goal could not be reached using online panels, random-digit dialing was used to complete supplementary telephone interviews. In order to participate, respondents had to live in the United States and be the guardians of a school-age child living in their household. All interviews were completed between February 28 and April 17, 2014.

America After 3PM is funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Wallace Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the Noyce Foundation, with additional support from the Heinz Endowments, The Robert Bowne Foundation and the Samueli Foundation.

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At hearing on Ebola virus, Congressman stresses need to accelerate vaccine testing, available from Ames, Iowa company

Washington, D.C. - After a second American healthcare worker contracted the Ebola virus, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today at a Congressional hearing sharply questioned the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the failed protocol that led to the new infections and about what can be done to ensure the safety of all Americans moving forward.

"I'm greatly concerned that the Administration did not act fast enough. The Administration needs to be looking at all options available to keep our families safe, and they need to move as quickly and responsibly as possible to make any necessary changes at our airports and hospitals that would prevent this disease from spreading further," Braley said. "Our number one priority in combating this disease must be the protection of Americans."

Panelists at today's hearing of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations included CDC Director Thomas Frieden, Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health, Luciana Borio of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Robin Robinson of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), John Wagner of the Department of Homeland Security, and Daniel Varga of Texas Health Resources.

Braley pushed Frieden on what additional steps could be taken in order to prevent those infected with the Ebola virus from entering the country?and how to prevent additional transmission by those already infected.

"We're looking very closely at what might possibly have happened to result in these two exposures," Frieden responded.

Braley also questioned panelists concerning NewLink Genetics, of Ames Iowa, which is currently testing an Ebola vaccine that is involved in clinical trials?but are awaiting the finalizing of contracts that could expedite the process of mass manufacturing. Braley urged panelists from the National Institutes of Health and U.S Food and Drug Administration to expedite the process.

"I had an opportunity to talk to two of (NewLink's) employees yesterday and I know that they are working around the clock trying to help come up with a vaccine," Braley said.

High quality video of Braley at today's hearing is available online HERE.

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Proposed federal rule will impose barriers to the advancement of innovative, state- and local-driven conservation practices that would advance our common goal of water quality

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Secretary Bill Northey, along with relevant state leaders, today sent a letter and submitted comments to United States Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy and Army for Civil Works Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy on the proposed "Waters of the United States" federal rule under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

"The overriding concern of a diverse group of impacted stakeholders, including state leaders, is that the proposed rule will impose significant barriers to the advancement of innovative, state- and local-driven conservation and environmental practices that would actually advance our common goal of water quality," the letter reads. "Because the proposed rule is fatally flawed, we request that it be withdrawn and that future rulemaking be appropriately coordinated with States and relevant stakeholders. We agree that clean water requires good, clear, well-designed regulations - unfortunately, the ones currently being proposed are not."

The letter outlines four key concerns from relevant stakeholders:

Disregard for states' lead role under the CWA to protect and promote water quality

Section 101(b) of the CWA clearly states that, "it is the policy of the Congress to recognize, preserve, and protect the primary responsibilities and rights of States to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution, to plan the development and use (including restoration, preservation and enhancement) of land and water resources..."

The proposed rule confuses Federal control with environmental protection. The State of Iowa believes that environmental protection is best driven locally.

A disconnect between content and intent

The Federal government's proposed approach, and the content of the proposed rule, would seriously impair advancements in water quality in the State of Iowa. As an example, too many Iowa farmers would be forced to gain Federal permits to advance water quality infrastructure projects, which would discourage agricultural producers from undertaking the very projects that would improve water quality throughout the State.

Increased uncertainty from the proposed federal rule

The proposed rule increases, rather than decreases uncertainty for various stakeholders. The proposed rule is more ambiguous than current law and promises to be tied up in litigation for years to come, creating uncertainty within conservation interests, industries and communities across the state.

Underestimation of costs of the burdensome proposed federal rule

Permitting compliance costs will siphon finite resources that would better be used to advance conservation best practices and infrastructure in Iowa's countryside. Permitting delays would also increase the costs of conservation and economic development projects.  Additional costs would impact public transportation projects, renewable energy projects, electricity distribution, disaster recovery projects, mitigation projects, and so on. Every day those projects are delayed has real costs that are currently unaccounted for by the Federal government. There would also be additional enforcement costs that current staffing levels at both the Federal and State levels are not positioned to meet. The rule as proposed would essentially be an unfunded mandate on State agencies tasked with CWA enforcement.

The letter concludes, "The Federal government's proposed rule seems to be more concerned with asserting Federal control over local water bodies than actually improving local water quality. Thus, we were encouraged recently by the bipartisan support in the United States House of Representatives to block the advancement of this flawed rule. Those concerns were similarly echoed in a bipartisan fashion by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture members who unanimously called on the Federal government to withdraw the rule. We strongly urge you to listen to the consensus concerns of the States, including Iowa, and withdraw this rule."

The Director of Iowa Department of Natural Resources Chuck Gipp, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority Debi Durham, Director of Iowa Department of Transportation Paul Trombino III, Chair of the Iowa Utilities Board Libby Jacobs and Director of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Mark Schouten joined Branstad, Reynolds and Northey in signing the letter.

State of Iowa leaders care deeply about water quality.  Since 2011, new General Fund appropriations for water quality related initiatives have increased by 26%.  In just the last two years (FY 14 and FY 15), over $50 million dollars were allocated to support water quality related state initiatives. This historic level of investment does not even include the cost-share dollars spent by farmers, landowners and communities on these efforts.

The full letter can be read here. The enclosures from the letter can be read here.

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VOTER ID CHAMPION BESTS OBAMA CAMPAIGN MANAGER

(Cedar Rapids, IA)  Today, former Iowa Secretary of State and Mayor of Cedar Rapids, Paul D. Pate released a poll showing his message is resonating in the race to become Iowa's next Secretary of State.

Pate, "This poll is further confirmation that my plan to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat is resonating with Iowans who overwhelmingly support a voter ID requirement as I do.  Iowans expect and deserve a non-partisan chief commissioner of elections, not a career partisan political operative from Chicago who served as President Obama's Iowa campaign director.  I have previously served as Iowa Secretary of State in a non-partisan manner while encouraging voter participation and protecting the integrity of the election process."

The interactive voice response (IVR) poll conducted by Victory Enterprises was conducted Oct. 14-15 with 759 likely voters and has a margin of error of 3.56%.

A nationally recognized business leader by the Small Business Administration, Pate is the owner of a paving construction firm and recently served as Mayor of Cedar Rapids from 2002 -2006.  While Mayor, Pate was elected President of the non-partisan Iowa League of Cities representing over 870 municipalities.  Previously, he served as Iowa Secretary of State from 1995-1999 and represented NE Cedar Rapids, Marion and parts of Linn, Buchanan and Delaware Counties in the Iowa Senate from 1989-1995.

Pate is a lifelong Iowa resident, born in Ottumwa, growing up in Linn County.

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