Providing youth safe places to grow outside the classroom
San Francisco is home to more than 50,000 elementary and school age youth and nearly 25,000 high school age youth, all of whom need positive opportunities and activities in the hours away from school. Out of school time programs are at the core of the Department of Children, Youth & Their Families service delivery system and its largest investment with more than 130 programs funded at over $20 million.
Out of school time programs meet a number of community needs:
Safe, structured place for children while parents work
Offers youth development supports and opportunities to assist youth in becoming healthy, successful adults
Learning activities that can complement the lessons of the school day
Enrichment opportunities designed to explore the world around them
Healthy physical fitness and recreational activities
A place to have fun!
The Art of Inclusion for Afterschool Providers
DCYF-funded organizations please visit www.snipsf.org and view the Training and Technical Assistance tab to register for upcoming workshops designed to help include children with disabilities in afterschool programs. There are two new offerings for programs that have attended the basic inclusion workshop: Working with Families and The Road to Inclusion – a deeper look at creating an inclusive program. These workshops help DCYF-funded organizations meet the Out of School Time Standards. On-line registration is available for the fall workshops. SNIP is also available to come to program sites and provide customized staff training.
Responding to a Public Priority
The out of school time movement and its programs have gained serious momentum in recent years. Though out-of-school time has always been essential to the safety and development of young people, over the past decade, parents, families, and communities have made these programs a visible, public priority. According to Election Poll 2004 by the Afterschool Alliance in Washington, DC, nationally, 9 out of 10 voters agree that they want all children and teens to have some organized activity or safe space to go after school. Parents and families want to be assured that when young people are not at home or school, they are in a safe place with caring adults where they can learn, grow, and have fun. San Francisco is no different.
Out of school time refers to more than the traditional “afterschool,” it includes the time before and after school hours, during holiday breaks, and summer weeks. Out of school time covers the wide range of programs that promote learning, take place outside of regular school hours and enhance the cognitive, social, physical, artistic and/or civic development of youth. Out of school time programs provide a safe, accessible space, operate at both school and community sites, and encourage youth to explore the world around them.
System Building for the Future
San Francisco’s current system of out of school time is vast, made up of public and private programs, and has much to offer youth and parents. Yet this host of programs is, at times, uncoordinated with a number of missed opportunities at collaboration and cohesive programming. In response, DCYF is working with its funded agencies, local intermediaries, and foundations to create a more integrated out-of-school time system in San Francisco. The hope is that a coordinated effort will:
Increase funding and availability of programs
Broker citywide enrichment opportunities
Centralize information
Build on the quality of existing and new programs
Increase the quality of experiences of youth in programs
To meet this goal, DCYF has adopted the Youth Development Supports and Principles in creating Minimum Compliance Standards and High-quality Standards for all of its funded agencies. Youth development principles and practices build upon young people’s assets and support them to develop skills and a sense of belonging and empowerment.
Read the Out-of-School Time Newsletter
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