Abstract
Youth who have more unstructured time are more likely to engage in problematic behaviors. Although schools have developed afterschool programs, most are primarily focused on students from pre-school through middle school, leaving high school age students with few structured, supervised activity options. However, little is known about what how youth themselves feel about afterschool offerings. The purpose of this study was to use a strengths-based and empowerment approach to investigate what teens in a rural area in CA perceived as their wants and needs for afterschool activities and programs. This research study was an exploratory thematic study consisting of four focus groups. There were 11 students from Antelope High School who participated in the focus groups. Recruitment was done through an e-mail to students and parents with information about focus groups and how to submit informed consent forms. Focus groups were recorded, and demographic forms were filled out with no identifying information. The researchers systematically went through the transcripts to identify themes. The study found two main themes, and six subthemes. The first main theme centers on Antelope resources including the strengths, limitations, and what students wanted as sub themes. Results of the focus group identified strengths of school and community support, limitations of transportation, and what students want in the community. The second theme discovered was what youth do in Antelope. The three subthemes were about what students themselves do, what they think their peers do, and what challenges exist including peer pressure and clicks. This study found that the students perceived a major need as a safe gathering place, such as a teen center in their community. Youth envisioned a center as a place where they could fulfill social and academic needs. The findings of this study are directly applicable to social work, as social workers are a key workforce in schools seeking to improve youth mental health and well-being. Social workers values are to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs, this includes youth and giving weight to their voice. Social workers and other professions working with youth should take into account youth beliefs and perceived needs in community planning and development.