Professional Development Project

The City of Philadelphia has initiated an Out-of-School Time (OST) Professional Development (PD) Project, designed to coordinate and strengthen activities throughout the City.  To learn more click on the list below or scroll through.

Introduction

Funded by the Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) and overseen by the Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), the project will be administered by the Center for Youth Development (CYD) at the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and the Out-of-School Time Resource Center (OSTRC) at the University of Pennsylvania.  The goal of this project is to provide a diverse range of opportunities through which OST staff can advance their skills in working with youth.  This coordinated, research-based system of OST PD will:

  • build upon formal youthworker competencies

  • incorporate provider and stakeholder input

  • increase collaboration and decrease duplication of resources

  • be accessible to multiple networks and agencies

  • include diverse formats

  • yield tangible credits and credentials

  • coordinate with program monitoring and quality improvement

  • culminate in positive staff and youth outcomes.

 

This project reflects the vision for Philadelphia’s Out-of-School Time Strategy: “All Philadelphia children and youth will have access to high-quality, age appropriate, out-of-school time (OST) programs and activities that promote their education, safety, development and successful transition into adulthood, and, as a result, enrich families, neighborhoods and communities.”

 

Working Definitions

The National Institute on Out-of-School Time (2000) defines OST programs as "encompassing a wide range of program offerings for young people that take place before school, after school, on weekends, and during the summer and other school breaks."  OST programs offer safe, structured activities that help children master new skills and develop into responsible and successful adults (National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, 2001).  Research in the OST field confirms a strong connection between professional development for staff and positive experiences and outcomes for youth (National Youth Development Learning Network, 2006).  For the purpose of this project, professional development refers to a spectrum of activities, resources, and supports that help practitioners work more effectively with or on behalf of children and youth.

 

Activities and Products

Philadelphia’s OST PD Project will be shaped by needs assessments, workgroup meetings, stakeholder feedback, and other sources of information. Activities and products will include:

  • A common set of staff competencies in which the OST PD is anchored

  • Regular PD provider workgroup meetings in which staff administering OST PD share information and collaborate

  • OST provider meetings in which staff can learn about and help craft the initiative

  • An inventory of existing PD offerings and formats, used to understand the current landscape and inform new offerings

  • A citywide system of reciprocal trainings, available to staff from different networks and organizations

  • Online PD sessions and networking opportunities

  • A  web-based resource library and training calendar

  • Up to 70 new OST PD opportunities

  • Greater access to existing workshops, resources, peer networking opportunities, directories, organizations, and research

  • Increased credential opportunities for OST workshops, including PA Keys, Act 48, and higher education credits.

 

For More Information

Nancy Peter, M. Ed., Out-of-School Time Resource Center: npeter@sp2.upenn.edu

Dr. Cheryl Oakman, Center for Youth Development: coakman@uwsepa.org

Wendy Anne Johnson, Public Health Management Corporation: wjohnson@phmc.org   

Thomas Sheaffer, Office of Health and Opportunity, City of Philadelphia: thomas.sheaffer@phila.gov