KIDSTOP Program Hits Milestone Anniversary

(KNSI) – The KIDSTOP program run by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota is all grown up.

The organization is celebrating 40 years of providing after-school care at various area schools. A press release says the origins of KIDSTOP stemmed from a simple question: “How can we design a program that keeps “latch key” kids active and busy in a positive place?”

The Boys and Girls Clubs teamed up with teachers and staff at South Elementary School in the 1980s. By 1985, engaging programming done in “Boys and Girls Clubs style” had spread to a second location with 78 children enrolled in total.

Two years later, that had exploded to almost 1,200 kids at 11 locations. Sauk Rapids-Rice hopped aboard in 1986 with Sartell-St. Stephen joining in at the start of the 1990s. ROCORI got KIDSTOP in 2010. The KIDSTOP program wasn’t just a success story in central Minnesota. Its model was quickly picked up by districts across the country. CEO Mary Swingle says, “Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota was considered the pioneer of school-based programming for children during those critical hours immediately after school.”

She adds, “The KIDSTOP program continued to grow and thrive under Mark Sakry’s leadership during his term as executive director. His passion for serving children in our community ensured the success of KIDSTOP as the premier school-based childcare program in Central Minnesota.”

Brent Seelmeyer, director of organizational development for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, praised the central Minnesota chapter. “The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota were innovative early pioneers in establishing partnerships with local schools to open Clubs.” He called the longevity of KIDSTOP “a remarkable testament to the quality of the programming and successful outcomes for the young people served in Central Minnesota.”

As it blows out 40 candles on the birthday cake, KIDSTOP is promising to be around for decades to come.

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