The environment of your program can have a deep impact on the overall goals of out-of-school time programs. Through this training series, participants will better understand the role of the environment and in turn will be equipped with the resources to create an atmosphere in which children’s and youth’s growth and development are supported by the ways in which the space is arranged and managed, materials are chosen and maintained, and interpersonal relationships are developed.

Quality out-of-school time programs are reliant on two key ingredients:  quality programming with specific outcomes and highly qualified staff who are well-trained and actively engaged in the process of creating quality programs. These modules are designed to give staff the knowledge and tools to plan balanced and integrated programs, help children and youth make meaning out of what they are participating in and layer learning with opportunities for participants to reflect on what they have learned.

High quality programs intentionally build collaborative relationships among families, schools and the community. These modules introduce methods for enhancing communication and collaboration among out-of-school time programs and the families, schools, communities of the children and youth served

Supporting young people’s mental health requires a comprehensive, coordinated effort across all levels of their care. Out-of-school time programs play a central role in supporting a young person’s mental health and should be seen as a core component in the mental health system for young people. Youth development staff are the caring adults that help youth heal from trauma and are also their advocates when we notice youth who are in distress. Request these trainings to strengthen the capacity and knowledge of your staff to support young people’s mental health and wellness.

Through this training series, participants will strengthen the capacity of out-school time programs to deliver high quality summer programming that meets the needs of children and youth. Staff will understand elements of high-quality programs and the process of continuous improvement to build strong summer programs. Tools, strategies and best practices introduced in these trainings are aligned with summer learning leaders in the field including the Summer Matters Campaign, ASAPConnect and the National Summer Learning Association.