A recent guest commentary in The Kansas City Star by Erin Balleine, CEO of Camp Fire Heartland, brings necessary attention to a reality thousands of Missouri families experience daily: afterschool programs are essential, yet access remains far too limited. Erin’s message is direct, data-driven, and urgent — Missouri’s children need strong afterschool programs, and prioritizing meaningful investment is critical.
One Afterschool Alliance finding, as
highlighted by Erin, is especially compelling: “Four in five Missouri parents rate their afterschool program as excellent or very good.”
This level of approval demonstrates the significant value afterschool programs provide. Parents trust these programs as their children experience safe, engaging, and enriching environments. The reality is that the demand for afterschool programs far exceeds the number of available programs. Hundreds of thousands of Missouri children would participate in an afterschool program if there was an affordable, accessible program in their community, a gap felt most acutely in Missouri’s rural communities, where high-quality and affordable options are limited.
Erin’s commentary highlights that the afterschool programming shortage extends beyond educational enrichment. Afterschool programming access is a workforce priority, a public safety concern, and a cornerstone of community wellbeing. These programs offer academic support, supervision during the critical hours from 3-6 p.m., and the necessary stability that strengthens both families and local economies.
As CEO of Camp Fire Heartland and chair of the Missouri AfterSchool Network’s Policy and Advocacy Committee, Erin makes a compelling point — strengthening afterschool programs is key to building stronger communities, a more stable workforce, safer neighborhoods, and better outcomes for youth. Missouri cannot afford to underfund systems that benefit children, families, and local economies so clearly.
Erin understands what is at stake when children do not have access to the opportunities afterschool programs provide. Students benefit from academic and enrichment support they may not receive elsewhere; families gain reliable coverage during essential work hours; and youth build relationships, confidence, and a sense of belonging that shape their futures.
Erin’s leadership aligns closely with the mission of the Missouri AfterSchool Network: ensuring every child in Missouri has access to high-quality afterschool programming. MASN applauds Erin’s advocacy and encourages community leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders across the state to reflect on her message.
Read Erin’s full guest commentary in The Kansas City Star.
