LINKS For Learning, a program of the Livingston School District, is a low-cost afterschool and full day summer program for children in Livingston. LINKS activities are designed to encourage success in school, a lifelong interest in learning and a commitment to community involvement.
Since its inception in 1999, LINKS programs have run at capacity with a waiting list. This fall, LINKS enrollment is higher than ever with a growing waiting list. Due to decreased funding for 2010, LINKS is faced with ending the afterschool program five weeks before the end of the school year and reducing the summer program to six weeks, leaving children and families without the LINKS enrichment program for over two months.
Research conducted by the Rose Institute (2002) revealed that afterschool programs such as LINKS For Learning reduce child care costs, crime costs, and welfare costs, and that every dollar spent on afterschool programming returns $2.19 to $3.22 to the taxpayers. A separate study conducted by Brandeis Univeristy (2004) revealed that decreased worker productivity related to parental concerns about afterschool care costs businesses up to $300 billion per year.
In addition to enrichment activities, LINKS afterschool program includes focused homework time and special attention to math and reading skills. LINKS summer programs, which also take place at Washington School, include frequent field trips throughout the community and surrounding areas.
In spring of 2009, LINKS embarked on a Garden Classroom project that uses a portion of the green space surrounding Washington School for a vegetable garden and small orchard. The garden and orchard provide food for LINKS participants and the community, while serving as a living classroom where students, staff and community volunteers learn about living systems and develop practical skills. In 2010, with the support of a generous grant from PPL Montana, LINKS will add a greenhouse, tool shed and outdoor wash station to the Garden Classroom.
LINKS has been funded primarily through a 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grant since 1999. Though the CCLC grant was cut by 60% after 2004, LINKS continues to offer high quality programming at minimal cost to families by seeking other sources of funding.
In 2010, LINKS faces ending the afterschool program on April 30, five weeks before the end of the regular school year. With present funds, LINKS will again offer a six-week full day summer program beginning the first week of July. This leaves LINKS students and families without the afterschool and summer enrichment program for over two months in 2010.
In order to provide a full eight-week summer program in 2010, LINKS must raise an additional $10,000. LINKS is conducting a stocking stuffer fundraiser this holiday season in an attempt to raise the funds necessary to run the full eight-week summer program. The LINKS fundraiser provides community members the option to give a gift to LINKS on behalf of someone they love. Gifts can be designated for general use, the LINKS art program, or the Garden Classroom program. In acknowledgement of the gift, LINKS provides colorful greeting cards that can be given to loved ones this season to let them know that a donation has been given on their behalf.
For more information on the LINKS Stocking Stuffer fund raiser, or any of the LINKS programs, call 222-1231.
—Megan Drimal
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