The National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment recently released a new brief, Supporting and Promoting Mental Health in Out-of-School Time, that explores some of the current mental health needs of youth, families, and the OST workforce.

The brief specifies the importance in improving mental health in all environments and how afterschool programs have provided one outlet. 

Afterschool programs encourage positive mental health through:

• Minimization of toxic social and biological conditions
• Reinforcement of diverse pro-social behaviors
• Limiting opportunities and influences for problem behavior
• Promoting psychological flexibility in the pursuit of one’s values and goals.