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It’s that time of year again, when kids across the country rejoice at the arrival of summer. Unfortunately, many families struggle with the cost of providing quality care and experiences for their children when school is out of session. Research shows that when children have access to meaningful in-person activities after school and during the summer they feel more connected, more confident, and more supported. But regardless of how valuable out-of-school time activities are, the programs and services that families rely on are sorely underfunded, leaving millions of children without access to high-quality summer experiences.
In the absence of real-life activities, many young people turn to online environments, which research shows can negatively impact youth mental health. But the courts are beginning to hold social media companies accountable for harms caused to young people. Fund IRL is working to ensure that any payouts from these lawsuits support the out-of-school time programs that help young people build connection, confidence, and well-being beyond screens. Current lawsuits could yield once-in-a-generation funding to support arts, outdoor, and sports experiences; library enrichment; service opportunities; mentoring and mental health services; and other youth programming. Early actions and decisions are setting the example for thousands of cases to come, though, making this an important moment for advocates and communities to get involved.
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