Philadelphia Out-of-School Time Professional Development Project
The City of Philadelphia has initiated the Philadelphia Out-of-School Time Professional Development (PD) Project, designed to coordinate and strengthen out-of-school time (OST) activities throughout the City. To learn more click on the list below or scroll through.
Funded by the Philadelphia Department of Human Services and overseen by the Public Health Management Corporation, the project is 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 time staff can advance their skills in working with youth. This coordinated, research-based system of OST PD:
- builds upon formal youthworker competencies
- incorporates provider and stakeholder input
- increases collaboration and decreases duplication of resources
- is accessible to multiple networks and agencies
- includes diverse formats
- yields tangible credits and credentials
- coordinates with program monitoring and quality improvement
- culminates 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 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.
