Sanford Health

Out of School Time (OST)

Today, many parents need to find someone to care for their school-age children for an hour or two before school starts, or anywhere from two to four hours after the school day ends. Not to mention finding care on holidays, early dismissals and during summer vacation. When you add it up, that’s a lot of time out of a school-age child’s life – time that can be spent in activities which help him or her develop physical, mental, social, and emotional skills.

School-age children do not need someone just to watch them; they require skilled caregivers that provide supervision and a safe place to be while their parents work. These caregivers need to assist children in finding their interests and talents and encourage them to practice and apply new concepts they may have learned at school.

 

Trainings:

  • Training opportunities for licensed or registered childcare providers.
     
  • Class instructors strive to help caregivers obtain information and confidence in one's ability to provide quality care for children.

Technical Assistance:

  • CHILD Staff are available to do an on site observation.  This observation provides the means to develop an action plan to assist child care programs with program improvement efforts.

 

Articles:

To access services contact us at (605) 333-0698 email us at childsrv@sanfordhealth.org

 

 

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Starting a Program

What If There Is No Afterschool Program in Your Community?

Don’t give up.

Many afterschool programs have been created by residents and parents in partnership with schools, organizations and other concerned individuals. Just think: if you are interested in a high quality afterschool program for children, there must be many others who are also interested. There are people near you — at places such as the library, police stations, community centers and foundations — who can help.

Don't be afraid to approach people. Nine out of 10 Americans, whether they have children or not, agree that all kids should have access to afterschool programs.

Here are some steps you can take to get one started in your community:

  1. Talk to parents, guardians, grandparents and concerned neighbors.  Find out if others in your community are interested in having afterschool programs. Working in larger numbers gives you greater strength and influence.
    • Ask your neighbors and friends.
    • Place a notice in your school’s parent bulletin or ask teachers to place flyers in each child’s backpack. The notice can ask parents if they are interested in afterschool programs for their children, and whether they are willing to help organize such programs.
    • Attend a PTA meeting and ask participants if they are concerned about the after school hours.
    • Build a list of the individuals who are interested in having afterschool programs.
    • Document your need. Use the national poll data in this Kit as a guide for collecting the information that can make your case.
  2. Talk to your school principal and/or teachers.  Principals often control the use of school facilities and equipment after school. School teachers and the principal can also be a great help in getting people together to start an afterschool program.
    • Ask for ideas and help on starting a program.
    • Tell them about the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, www.ed.gov/21stcclc.
  3. Contact other people in your community who might help.  Call any or all of the people listed here for guidance on finding or starting an afterschool program. Start with: local police, the mayor, city councilperson, local YMCAs, parks & recreation director, Boys & Girls Clubs, 4-H staff, Urban League, Cooperative Extension Service, labor organizations, arts organizations and museums, PTA, local chapter of NAACP and La Raza, local businesses, libraries, community centers, and local churches, synagogues and mosques. Ask each one if he/she could contribute ideas, time or money to help start an afterschool program in your community.
  4. Call a meeting of the parents and other individuals who are interested in starting an afterschool program.  Your list might include educators, local police, organizations that work with children, local businesses and elected officials.

Use the information contained in this Kit as a basis of discussion. Talk about the benefits to the community and to families of a high-quality afterschool program.

Assign people at the meeting to complete tasks such as:

  • assessing the community’s after school needs and the resources that may be available to create afterschool
  • programs that help meet those needs
  • talking to elected officials about obtaining financial support for the program
  • finding out how other communities got afterschool programs started
  • talking with teachers about activities that might be offered in the program
  • copying and distributing the Afterschool Action Kit to everyone interested
  • developing a fund-raising plan

Getting Your Employer Involved in Afterschool:

Employers have a vested interest in afterschool programs. Afterschool programs alleviate anxieties of employees with children. They also help develop a stronger future workforce by offering students new learning opportunities. 

  • Ask your employer to donate a product or service to the program, or to allow employees to volunteer at the afterschool program once a week.
  • See if your employer will get her/his business and/or civic associations involved in supporting afterschool programs.
  • Ask him/her to visit the afterschool program and see what goes on. Perhaps your employer would like to talk to a group of children about what your company does.
  • See if your employer would like to give a group of children from the afterschool program a tour of your business.

Tell your leaders that you want afterschool in your community
Contact local media about the need for afterschool

Source: www.AfterschoolAlliance.org

7/31/2008

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