Building Quality Programs
Coaching and Consultation for Organizations committed to Quality Service
The New York State School Age Care Professional Credential Download: NYS Credential Brochure
AfterSchool Works! New York administers the most successful School-Age Care Credential program in the nation. Developed in collaboration with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services Bureau of Early Childhood Services and Cornell University, the New York State School-Age Care Credential is designed to promote quality services to children and families by providing specific standards, training, and evaluation of after-school practitioners. The New York State School-Age Care Credential Manual was developed to serve as a guide to the credentialing process.
Dignity of Children, Inc., is a host agency that provides independent studies to individuals to complete their NYS Professional Credential in 6 to 8 months.
- We meet once per week at DOC’s office: 2340 5th Ave New York, NY 10037.
- We provide an advisor for your 3 visits and support you on getting ready for your visit from Afterschool Works NY!
- Candidates can get scholarships from EIP to pay for the independent studies and credential visit. Go to http://www.tsg.suny.edu/eip.shtm to apply for EIP.
- For more information on being a candidate for the Credential program, call (646) 639-7711 or email info@dignityofchildren.com
Some of the projects DOC has designed are:
- Adult Literacy Program
- Supplemental Education Services
- Mentoring programs
- Professional Development model
- Capacity Building Project
- Program Evaluation and Self-assessment
If you are interested in designing a program and need guidance, contact us at info@dignityofchildren.com
Dignity of Children, Inc. (DOC) is offering a partnership with organizations to build the quality of children and youth programs, creating an environment that facilitates emotional/social and academic growth, creativity and leadership for all participants.
Goals:
- To develop the skill level of staff members
- To transform classrooms to encourage independence, leadership, and creativity
- To create project-based learning curriculum; to encourage competence and self-esteem and exploration of the world.
- To create strong and sustainable structures and systems
- For effective communication to all stakeholders, family, children/youth, and staff (staff and family handbook)
- For risk management practices (safety, health, and nutrition)
- To formulize practices that can support programs, attract and retain a stable, qualified workforce that promotes positive outcomes for children and youth
- To attain National After School Program Accreditation through the Council on Accreditation: www.coaafterschool.org
Methods:
“Capacity building, capacity development, empowerment and strengthening—all describe an increase in the ability of a social organization to achieve the goals that are set by that organization.”
- Conducting a self-assessment process through observation, family and staff survey, and children focus groups
- To have clear program standards to use for measurement of quality service
- Design an accountability system for staff development and skill building at every level
- Build and support director skill level to coach, observe, and evaluate the staff performance and progress in development Implement a training model that supports, meeting the OCFS regulation, and build the skill level of staff, which supports the quality standards
- Develop policy and procedures that support ongoing quality practice
“Professional development generally refers to ongoing learning opportunities available to staff and other education personnel, through an organization for building quality Service.”
- Design a training schedule that requires all staff to be trained in baseline skills, such as; child discipline, classroom management, safety procedures, and child abuse identification and reporting within the first 90 days of employment or at the beginning of a new program
- Ongoing development by following up through observation, demonstration, and coaching individual staff
- Maintain yearly OCFS training requirements for all staff in all children and youth programs