Reprinted with permission from School-Age Notes, the most trusted publisher and provider of quality, innovative resources designed to elevate the skills of adults who create learning opportunities for children and youth.

The study of resiliency has emerged out of research about at-risk youth. Research shows that enhancing protective factors, such as resiliency, reduces risk factors related to substance abuse, violence and academic failure (Morrison et al., 2000). Our challenge as after-school professionals is to encourage in communities and families an awareness of the importance of resilience in child development and to foster resiliency and other protective factors within our youth during our program hours. There are multiple ways that after-school programs can promote resiliency and other positive developmental factors.