Heart House’s innovative afterschool program is the only daily program for school-age children in a neighborhood known for its high crime, high unemployment, and lack of affordable, quality care for children. At Heart House, children have access to caring adult mentors, homework assistance, art enrichment, computer learning, health and safety education, and literacy programs.
  • Children like Angela, a previously low-performing student whose single mother works during the time Angela attends Heart House. Since attending Heart House, Angela’s academic improvement has risen, and she now enjoys reading just for pleasure. 
  • Children like Malcom, who faces peer pressure and gang activity every day after school. As a result of attending Heart House for a year, Malcom’s grades have improved and he has stayed out of trouble at school.

Heart House keeps kids safe and on track.

  • 0% of Heart House children were victims of violent crime or engaged in juvenile delinquency.  
      
  • Children were well-supervised: The average daily adult to child ratio was 1 adult to every 5 children.

Heart House improves kids’ behavior at school and at home.

  • Teachers believe 85% of Heart House children have shown an improvement in behavior with adults and other children at school.
        
  • 100% of Heart House parents report that they have seen their child exhibit positive and productive interactions at home since attending Heart House.

Heart House improves kids’ achievement at school.

  • 96% of parents believe their children are doing better academically because Heart House offers homework hour and reading time every day.  
      
  • Teachers agree, and report that 100% of Heart House children have shown an improvement in quality and frequency of homework turned in. 
        
  • Teachers also report that 96% of Heart House children have improved their reading and math skills.
      
  • 90% of Heart House children improved their reading level by at least one level or improved their TAKS reading scores.

Heart House helps working families.

  • While the work day grows longer for working parents, the school day has not. The gap is as much as 25 hours per week for some families.
  • Polling nationally shows that 87% of working mothers say the hours after school are when they are most concerned about their children's safety.

The need for afterschool care in Austin is great.

  • 70% of school-age youth in low-income Travis County zip codes do not have access to afterschool programming.

Heart House is a wise social investment, while unrealized potential of youth costs the nation billions.

  • Each year's class of dropouts will cost the country more than $200 billion during their lifetimes in lost earnings and unrealized tax revenue.
      
  • American business currently spends more than $60 billion each year on training, much of that on remedial reading, writing, and mathematics
     
  • Every dollar invested in afterschool programs will save taxpayers approximately $3, according to a study by the Rose Institute at Claremont McKenna College