After School Experience
Due to a shift in state funding, we are having to switch to a pay for service for our before and after school care. We are waiting to get 15 students on the waitlists, for each location, before resuming YDC out of school time services. Please fill out the inquiry form above to get your child on the waiting list.
Looking for a safe, enriching, and fun environment for your child after school? The Youth Development Company/Police Athletic League (YDC/PAL) offers AFTER SCHOOL Out-of-School Time (OST) programs designed to support families in Coloma, Gobles, Lawrence, and South Haven school districts.
What Makes the YDC AFTER SCHOOL Special?
The After School program provides a nurturing space where children can thrive socially, emotionally, and intellectually. Each day includes:
Homework Help: Dedicated time and assistance to complete assignments.
Physical Activity: Opportunities to play and socialize in a safe setting.
Healthy Snacks: Nutritious options to keep energy levels up.
With class sizes ranging from 15 to 25 students and programs accommodating 40–70 kids per location, OST ensures personalized attention and a community feel.
Comprehensive Development
Beyond daily activities, After School encompasses:
Academic Support: Enhancing learning outside the classroom.
Mentoring: Building positive relationships with role models.
Arts and Recreation: Encouraging creativity and physical health.
These components contribute to improved academic performance, better classroom behavior, and overall well-being.
Empower your child with the After School Experience at YDC/PAL — where growth and fun go hand in hand.
Join the YDC OST Community
Ready to provide your child with an engaging Out of School Time experience? Click on the Waitlist at the top of the page to get your child onto the waitlist for out of school time care. Once we have 15 interested students, at your desired location, YDC will work to relaunch our out of school experiences as quickly as we can. Thanks for your patience are we work through the shift in funding that supports our out of school time efforts.
YDC Kids Release Original Song & Music Video! 
Funding for Afterschool Has Been Cut
Dear Friends –
The state budget is still being finalized, and dedicated Out of School Time (OST) funding is at risk. We need your voice and the voices of your communities to make sure policymakers understand how critical this funding is. Together, we can protect a program that has successfully supported Michigan youth for four years—serving 69,000 young people this year alone through before-school, afterschool, and summer learning opportunities.
Here are 5 easy steps you can take today to help advocate for dedicated OST funding:
Step 1. Call or write your State Representative, State Senator, and the Governor.
Urge them to support dedicated OST funding in the state budget.
Share that this program is a proven success, reaching 69,000 youth this year.
Emphasize that 90% of the providers are community-based organizations, ensuring locally driven academic and enrichment opportunities.
Most importantly—tell your local story. Share why OST matters for the youth and families you serve.
Attached below, you will find a letter writing prompt for both programs and caregivers to help guide your emails/calls, if desired.
Find Your Legislator’s Contact Info
Contact the Governor’s Office
Step 2. Ask your Staff & Board Members to call. Provide them with the same talking points so they can amplify your message with their legislators and the Governor.
Step 3. Engage local community leaders.
Ask law enforcement, K-12 administrators, local government, clergy, and business leaders to contact their legislators & Governor with the same message of support.
Step 4. Mobilize parents in your program.
Parents can speak powerfully about why OST programs are essential for their families’ stability and success. Encourage them to call or write, and share these simple talking points:
“This program gives my child a safe and supportive place to go before/after school and during the summer.”
“My child has learned and grown through the program—whether in reading, math, STEM, or social-emotional skills.”
“OST programs help me as a parent. They allow me to work, knowing my child is safe and engaged.”
“Without this program, my family would struggle to find affordable, reliable care.”
“Please keep dedicated OST funding in the state budget—it makes a real difference for families like mine.”
Caregiver Advocacy Tools for 32n
Step 5. Lift up youth voices.
Ask youth to send coloring sheets, short videos, letters, or drawings that express why OST programs matter to them. Personal stories from young people can be especially impactful.
Together, these actions will send a powerful message that Michigan cannot afford to walk away from its young people. Thank you for standing with us to ensure every child has access to safe, engaging, and supportive learning opportunities outside of the school day. For more advocacy tools, visit miafterschool.org/most-funding
In partnership,
Erin Skene-Pratt
Michigan Afterschool Partnership
“Youth Development Company OST and PAL programs are made possible in part by the 32n OST Grant awarded by the Michigan
Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP).”