The way local community leaders see it, after-school programs are a cost-effective way to secure a better future in Napa County.

From grassroots programs like Challenging Latinos to Access Resources and Opportunities to the Boys & Girls Club, a nationwide agency, after-school programs fulfill an urgent need. Napa Police Chief Rich Melton said gang activity and juvenile crime peaks nationwide between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. — hours when parents are often at work and older children are left on their own.

“My feeling is that (these programs) are effective in helping to address the gang problem,” Melton said. “Our challenge locally is doing a better job in articulating that effectiveness. ... What I think really needs to happen is getting everybody on the same page in terms of a commitment to a community plan to dealing with the gang and youth violence issues.”

Gary James, an investigator at the Napa County District Attorney’s Office, said after-school programs are set up to catch at-risk youth before they fall through the cracks.

“Suppression is a reaction to a negative,” he said. “If we can address things with positive programs, we’re much better off than waiting for the next homicide to happen. ... Any program that we can do to get the kids involved and get them off the street and away from gangs, it’s an asset to the community and it’s money well spent. ... You’re going to spend far more money on my side of the suppression fence than you will on intervention and prevention.”

Like James, Napa Mayor Jill Techel said when it comes to fighting gang violence, prevention strategies trump both suppression and intervention techniques.

“I think what we’re finding out is the earlier that we can provide alternatives (like) positive modeling for kids ... the better the chances we have that they’re going to choose not to get into the violence,” she said.

Napa Valley Unified School Superintendent John Glaser said programs like those offered by Cybermill and Clinic Ole’s Your Alternatives to Risk organization are effective in combating the powerful allure of gang affiliation.

“You have to see gangs as our competition. ... A lot of (after-school programs) have the powerful opportunity to supply some of those needs for a sense of belonging and validation. ... I think the more that we can provide meaningful opportunities for kids, the better,” he said.