By Dianne Anderson

As school gets back to the daily grind, parents are scrambling to find safe after-school programs, available resources, and a backup plan for tutoring with maybe a snack to hold the kids over until dinnertime.

After the final school bell rings, the city’s Parks, Recreation and Marine Department is stepping up its program from Aug. 24 through July 11, 2027.

Jennifer De Prez, community information officer for the department, said families can expect fun, engaging activities for youth ages 5 to 12, free of charge. The drop-in program allows registered participants to come and go as they please.

“[It] upholds key priorities of our strategic plan,” she said. “At our 18 different sites across Long Beach, youth are connected to their peers fostering socialization and team work, play games, do arts and crafts, recreational activities, special events and get homework assistance.”

For parents concerned about enrollment caps, De Prez said registration remains open throughout the school year.

“So there’s generally no concerns of waitlists if the registration date was missed,” she said.

For ongoing communication, parents can speak with staff at drop-off or pickup, follow @longbeachparks on social media, sign up for the department’s newsletter or visit the city’s after-school program webpage for updates.

Other parents balancing classes and child care can find support through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach at the Viking Clubhouse, located at Long Beach City College’s Liberal Arts Campus in Building T, Room T-1326, at 4901 E. Carson St. There, school aged youth have a safe, structured space for daily homework help, STEM activities and creative arts programs.

Built with working and student parents in mind, the center offers extended hours, stays open until 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and to 6:00 p.m. on Fridays. Parents can focus on evening classes and coursework while knowing their children are nearby in a safe, mentoring, supervised setting.

Erin Murphy, director of special projects at LBCC, said the college is proud to welcome student-parents and their children through the after-school program.

“The program is one part of a broader network of support at LBCC that helps student parents succeed while providing children with a safe, engaging place to learn, grow, and belong,” he said.

He said the program is designed to make enrollment as accessible as possible for student-parents. Rather than having to wait new school year or enrollment period, eligible LBCC students can enroll their children throughout the school year as space allows

Also helping families, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach has its “Flagpole Walking Program,” with staff safely escorting enrolled students from nearby Mark Twain Elementary School directly to the college site.

Van transportation from other LBUSD schools can also be arranged when at least four students from the same school are enrolled. Families may also drop off their children directly at the Viking Clubhouse.

“As we enter our fourth year, we are excited to welcome more families and continue providing high quality programs that inspire, support, and strengthen our community,” said Phillip Redd, regional director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach.

Students needing additional support can turn to Long Beach BLAST (Better Learning for All Students Today) for other important resources.

Operations Manager Stephanie Valencia said they are excited to offer several services for K–12 students across Long Beach Unified School District, and that their organization is aware of the gaps that exist.

They are focused on youth who may benefit from additional academic, social-emotional, and mentoring support.

“Many of the students that we serve face challenges such as limited access to positive role models, barriers to educational opportunities, or a need for stronger school connectedness,” said Valencia.

With one-to-one and small-group mentoring, they connect students with college-aged role models from local schools like CSULB and LBCC.

“BLAST helps students build confidence, develop life skills, explore college and career pathways, and create meaningful relationships that support their success in school and beyond,” she said.

Students are referred through school staff, including counselors, teachers, administrators, or wellness teams, but families can also inquire directly to BLAST for help. Once a referral is initiated, BLAST staff handle the administrative legwork directly with the family rather than leaving parents stranded on a waitlist.

“Once a referral is received at participating schools, BLAST staff connect with the family to share more about the program, answer questions, obtain necessary consent forms, and match the student with the appropriate mentoring opportunity,” she said.

After enrollment, parents are not left in the dark.

She emphasized that BLAST views parents as vital partners in their children’s growth and success, and said families can also receive updates on their student’s progress and opportunities to engage with BLAST events or resources.

Throughout the mentoring, parents and caregivers are valued partners. They provide consent for participation, maintain communication with BLAST staff and are encouraged to support their student’s involvement in mentoring activities.

“By working together, BLAST and families help create a strong support system that promotes each student’s academic, personal, and social growth,” she said.

At the state level, California’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program helps fund before- and after-school and summer enrichment for eligible students. For transitional kindergarten through sixth grade, participating districts must provide access to a longer school day and programming on at least 30 nonschool days, including winter and spring breaks.

As local districts receive millions of dollars in state funding, they are required to publicize these programs through enrollment materials, district websites and public postings at program sites.

When asked about local access and online enrollment options, Eric Mitchell, assistant communications director for the Long Beach Unified School District, emphasized direct outreach at the school level.

“Long Beach Unified is committed to providing every student with safe, engaging, and enriching opportunities beyond the school day,” Mitchell said in a statement. “Families are encouraged to stay connected with their child’s school, where staff can answer questions, connect them with available resources, and help identify the support that best meets their needs.”

Black children face especially steep barriers to after-school access. Nationally, 76% of Black children whose parents want them in an after-school program are unable to participate, according to the Afterschool Alliance’s America After 3PM for Black Families brief. The report points to cost, transportation and program availability as barriers.

The nonprofit advocacy reports that California has one of the most robust state funding streams in the country to reach over 1.1 million students. But, despite state backing, 7 in 10 California children whose parents want them in an after-school program, nearly 2.9 million children, are left on the sidelines.

The report emphasizes that while state funding is secured, local administrative hurdles and a lack of clear access pathways continue to lock out working families.

“Ranking fourth for afterschool program participation and ninth for parent recognition, California has one of the most robust state funding streams dedicated to afterschool programs in the nation, allowing them to reach more than 1.1 million children and their families. Still, just a fraction of California families who want afterschool programs have them,” the report said.

For more resources, see:

• America After 3PM for Black Families Report:

www.afterschoolalliance.org/documents/AA3PM-2025/AA3PM-Black-Families-Brief-2026.pdf

• Viking Clubhouse (LBCC / BGC):

www.lbcc.edu/afterschool and www.bgclublb.org/member

• Statewide Program Standards (CDE Expanded Learning Division):

www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ex/ or contact (916) 319-0923 / www.expandedlearning@cde.ca.gov

• LBUSD Expanded Learning Opportunities Program:

Apply through ParentVUE; call 562-627-1022 or email elopquestions@lbschools.net

• Long Beach BLAST:

Call (562) 437-7766, email info@lbblast.org, or visit www.lbblast.org

• Long Beach Parks & Recreation after-school programs:

www.lbcity.info/afterschoolprograms