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By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia officials are hoping to expand a new model for providing after-school and summer activities for youth.

It's not just that the city's Recreation Department budget has been cut to the bone, with just 1½ full-time staff member per recreation center.

Deputy mayor Mike DiBerardinis says there's a new appreciation for how important it is to get kids into activities.

"The data about out-of-school time is, if you can give kids high-quality and diverse opportunities, particularly in the middle school years, it's a big developmental tool. They feel more connected to the neighborhood, they're safer, they tend to do a little better in school."

So, the recreation department has joined with a half-dozen partners to create a model program, "Mantua in Action."  The goal is to get every middle schooler in the neighborhood doing... something!

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Keith Graves, for example, wrestles.

"It's a good way to get rid of anger and make new friends and stuff," he tells KYW Newsradio.