For thousands of working families in Northwest Indiana, the school day doesn’t end when the final bell rings. It ends when parents can safely return home — and for many, that gap is filled by after-school programs that keep kids engaged, supported, and safe.

But a growing number of families are finding those programs harder to access. The recent repeal of Indiana’s Community Learning Center (CLC) program — which once helped fund after-school and extended-learning opportunities across the state — has left communities scrambling to fill the gap. The impact is real, and it’s being felt right here in our region.

A new report from the Afterschool Alliance shows that five in six Indiana parents who want an after-school program can’t find one. That’s nearly 412,000 Hoosier children whose families say they need after-school care but can’t access it — largely due to cost, transportation, or lack of available options. Only about 83,000 Indiana students are currently enrolled in after-school programs, even though hundreds of thousands more families want them.

As Lakshmi Hasanadka, CEO of the Indiana Afterschool Network, put it: “Afterschool programs keep kids safe, help them learn, and support working families.” They also strengthen our workforce. When parents can rely on consistent, affordable care during the critical after-school hours, they can stay employed, pursue training, and contribute to the economic vitality of our region.

This isn’t just a family issue — it’s an economic issue. In a time of economic growth, when our state is working hard to attract new industries and jobs, we must also ensure that working parents have the infrastructure that allows them to take those jobs. That includes childcare, before- and after-school care, and safe spaces where children can thrive.

Thankfully, some community organizations continue to do heroic work in this space. Local Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCAs across Northwest Indiana are stretching limited resources to serve as many children as possible, providing academic support, recreation, and mentorship. But without sustainable funding, even these essential institutions can’t meet the growing need.

The repeal of the Community Learning Center program took away a key funding stream for after-school learning, leaving local nonprofits and schools to fill the gap on their own. The consequences are predictable: more students left unsupervised, fewer opportunities for enrichment, and more stress on working families already stretched thin.

If we are serious about building a strong workforce and a stronger Indiana, we must view childcare and after-school programs as essential infrastructure — as vital to our economy as roads, bridges, and broadband. Families are working harder than ever. It’s time for policymakers to meet them halfway.

Chris White is President & CEO of United Way of Northwest Indiana, an organization that fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community across Northwest Indiana.

UNITED IS THE WAY!