Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Alabama

At each of our Boys & Girls Clubs we aim to provide a Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character, and living a healthy lifestyle. We use the national Boys & Girls Clubs of America theory of change called Formula for Impact as a roadmap for ensuring all of our programs emphasize five key elements for positive youth development:
1) positive environment
2) fun
3) supportive relationships
4) opportunities/expectations
5) recognition.

Positive outcomes are achieved through high-yield learning activities, targeted programs, and regular attendance. Ultimately, our success is demonstrated through the strong, happy, and healthy kids and teens we see walk through the front doors of each of our 8 Boys & Girls Clubs and 1 21st Century site every day.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Alabama offers out-of-school programming, including after-school hours every day during the school year and full-day programs during school vacations and the summer. When youth step into a Boys & Girls Club, they find a safe place to grow and learn away from the dangers of the streets. Clubs provide a consistent space with positive role models offering social and emotional support, a wide variety of engaging programs, opportunities to get active and participate in sports, healthy snacks and meals, and many opportunities for positive peer interactions. Each Club adapts Boys & Girls Clubs core programs to best address local needs and opportunities, and through this to be at the heart of their community. Skilled, caring youth development professionals with similar lived experiences to the youth we serve work every day with youth, offering invaluable mentorship, support, direction, and advocacy to help youth best prepare for future success.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Alabama has been providing out-of-school support for kids and families in Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby and Walker County for more than 118 years. Today, at 8 Clubs across Central Alabama, we provide an array of evidence-based core programs for more than 12,000 youth each year to learn critical social-emotional skills, achieve academic success, develop healthy habits, and build good character. We offer every youth that walks through our doors:
• A safe, positive environment (encompassing both physical and emotional safety);
• Supportive relationships with adults and peers;
• Access to fun and a sense of belonging;
• Formal and informal recognition of progress and achievements; and
• Meaningful opportunities and expectations.

Accomplishments: Our greatest accomplishments are the thousands of kids who have gained the opportunity to dream big and achieve their goals with our support. Research on the impacts of our services has shown Central Alabama Club kids are excelling in academics, healthy lifestyles, and commitment to community:

*Academics: Studies show that increased attendance in Club programs correlates to: 1) decreased school absences, 2) increased academic gains, 3) decreased behavior incidents, and 4) improved attitudes towards school. Nearly 85% percent of BGCCA members reported that they expect to earn a college degree—with 38% expecting to continue on with their education to gain a graduate degree.

*Healthy Lifestyles: 48% of BGCCA members reported eating the recommended five fruits and vegetables per day—compared to only 26% of students in Central Alabama meeting these recommendations. More than two-thirds (68%) of BGCCA members surveyed reported engaging in at least 60 minutes of physical activity at least five days a week—compared to 21.6% of children in the US who get this recommended amount of physical activity each week.

*Good Character & Community Commitment: (30%) of BGCCA youth volunteer for a community organization at least 1x/month.