Early childhood has long been known to be a formative time in a child's development-- a time when the brain produces more than 1 million neural connections every second during the first few years of a child's life. However, there are factors at the individual and community levels that impact the development process. In communities across America, afterschool and summer learning programs are providing a safe and supportive environment for adolescents during the out-of-school time hours. During those hours, staff work with young people to build up the skills and competencies they will need to navigate life's challenges and become the country's next generation of leaders, thinkers, and trailblazers. This publication discusses the importance of the adolescent years, the importance of afterschool and summer learning programs, as well as the opiod epidemic and state-level afterschool efforts to address substance misuse. [This report was developed in partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.]