For most full-time employed parents, the gap between the end of the school day and the time they arrive home from work adds up to about 20 to 25 hours per week. Thus, many parents look to afterschool programs to satisfy their desire for safe, enriching experiences for their children while they are working. "Afterschool" is the general term used to describe an array of safe, structured programs that provide children and youth with a range of supervised activities designed to encourage learning and development outside of the typical school day. This paper answers the following questions about afterschool programs: (1) What is afterschool care?; (2) Why is afterschool care a policy matter?; (3) Use and availability of afterschool care; (4) How does afterschool care affect business?; (5) State policy initiatives; and (6) Where to get more information?