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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Step 1: OST Core Modules

SD OST Move to Quality – Certificate and Credential Classes

In 2002, efforts began to encourage South Dakota’s OST programs to work towards higher quality standards, and started the “SD OST Move to Quality’ initiative. This effort intended to provide consistent, ongoing opportunities for programs to improve the quality of their programs and staff. To meet the needs of OST staff and directors, Child Care Services has built a training program in a ‘stair step’ approach, which fits into SD Pathways to Professional Development System.

OST Core Modules – The OST ‘core’ module training curriculum applies specifically to school-age care, which offers the same trainings to OST programs statewide. This ‘core’ curriculum has provided consistent training specific to OST staff and directors needs; and gives students basic knowledge in ten interest areas, based on the NAA Standards for School-Age Care. This training consists of 15-hours of “core” training which has been helpful to programs to meet their 10 required hours of training in the required areas. This ‘core’ training continues to be important for programs, especially with regard to new staff and their training needs.

Core Module 1: Child Growth & Development - Fostering the growth and development of children through appropriate environment, activities, and interactions.
Core Module 2: Activity Planning - Creating enrichment activities that promote exploration and meet the needs of school-age children.
Core Module 3: Learning Environments - Ways to create a developmentally appropriate program environment.
Core Module 4: Communication & Relationships - Developing and maintaining positive relationships through the use of effective communication.
Core Module 5: Behavior Management & Guidance - Using positive guidance techniques and establishing a program environment that promotes positive behavior.
Core Module 6: Social & Cultural Awareness - Promoting social development and cultural awareness in OST programs.
Core Module 7: Health & Safety - Promoting practices that keep school-age children safe and healthy.
Core Module 8: Children with Special Needs - Promoting inclusive care for children in OST programs.
Core Module 9: Program Management & Professionalism - Understanding and promoting effective program management skills and continual professional growth.
Core Module 10: Families, Communities & Schools - Developing positive interactive partnerships with families, schools and the community.

To request more information on the OST Credential trainings,
call (605) 333-0698 or email childsrv@sanfordhealth.org

9/17/2008

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