In response to a growing community concern, a new center for middle school youth opened in Walnut Creek September 2005. Although our community does a wonderful job providing afterschool care for elementary school children there were no options in our area for middle school care. The need for middle school youth to have a safe place to be after school was vital. Research shows that children who are not under adult supervision from 3:00 - 6:00 PM are at an increased risk to be victims of crime or to participate in inappropriate activities. This is also an age when teens are more susceptible to developing disorders associated with stress, such as depression and eating disorders.