Introduction to the School-Age Care Profession

This course provides entry-level knowledge and skills for individuals as they begin to or intend to care for school-age children in group or family child care settings. This course will provide a foundation for the importance of Out-of-School time programs and explore the philosophy and goals for high quality programs. It examines and identifies the rules and regulations governing group and family child care for school-age children and the responsibilities of the providers.

This course will fulfill the first introductory non- credit course requirements for a school-age group leader (teacher) as specified in DCF Chapter 251 for group child care in Wisconsin's Administrative Code as it applies to school-age programs. 

Guiding Children’s Behavior in Out-of-School Time Programs

This course explores our individual understanding of behavior guidance and how our experiences and philosophy influence how we guide the behavior of the children.  The importance of relationship building with children is an essential component to behavior guidance will be explored.  This course will also share multiple strategies for dealing with challenging situations and the many techniques we have available to help children gain the skills to regulate and monitor their own behavior. 

This is a Tier 3 training opportunity, carries 15 hours of continuing education credits, is approved by YoungStar, and is part of an alternative pathway to becoming a group leader.

School-Age Curricular Framework

School-age Curricular Framework defines and explores curriculum within the context of after school programs and help staff develop the resources necessary to create intentional learning experiences and activities to support both academic and social-emotional learning of school age children.  Participants will gain an understanding of key elements and developmental concepts that go into creating a framework for curriculum and develop strategies for activity and lesson planning.  Developmentally appropriate practice will be explored as well as the creation of desired outcomes and goals and the impact of climate and physical environment that fosters learning.

This is a Tier 3 training opportunity, carries 15 hours of continuing education credits, is approved by YoungStar, and is part of an alternative pathway to becoming a group leader.

Trauma‐Informed Care Approach to Out-of-School Time Programs 

Trauma is one of the key leverage points that can underlie serious behavioral health problems and contribute to problematic behaviors, life circumstances, and community consequences for many children. Early identification of trauma resulting from Adverse Childhood Experiences is critically important. School‐age afterschool programs, equipped with the knowledge of how to be trauma informed and trauma responsive can play a vital role in not only identifying a need for trauma related intervention but provide engaging experiences that build positive adaptive skills and social and emotional skills for kids who at the end of their school day may have exhausted their self‐regulation capacity.

Participants will understand the wide spectrum of adverse childhood experiences and the impact these have on the development and behavior of children in afterschool care as well as understand brain development in early childhood and adolescence and the impact of trauma.  Strategies and resources available to afterschool providers will be explored that can be immediately and effectively implemented within the context of afterschool program.  And how to create an afterschool environment and begin to examine individual capacity that builds supportive relationships with children and youth in order for them to acquire self‐regulation and sensory processing skills to manage their life situations.

This training provides 15 hours of continuing education Tier 3 training and is approved to meet educational requirements for the Social Emotional and Inclusion of Children with Special Needs high quality practice in YoungStar. 

Positive Youth Development for the Youth Work Professional

Positive Youth Development for the Youth Work Professional examines the foundations of Social-Emotional Learning, the benefits of this specific skill development for youth and adults, and how to incorporate this learning into Out-of-School Time (OST) programs.

The 12-hour training is designed for independent learning, collaborative discussions, and live online sessions that provide participants with foundational information and best practices for implementing SEL into any OST setting.  This training was developed by the Wisconsin Out of School Time Alliance and is delivered by local trainers with experience and knowledge in school-age informal environments.

This training provides 12 hours of continuing education Tier 3 training and is approved to meet educational requirements for the Social Emotional and Inclusion of Children with Special Needs high quality practice in YoungStar. 

Designing and Assessing Child Outcomes

Designing and Assessing Child Outcomes in OST Programs is a 12-hour blended format course that explores the importance of creating group and individual child outcomes, how to identify and develop meaningful outcomes, how to align those outcomes with SMARTIE goals and translate these goals into effective program activities. This course also discusses documentation and assessment of progress in reaching the desired outcomes.

This is a Tier 3 Registry approved training opportunity and supports the YoungStar Curriculum and Learning Environment criteria. 

 Visit our course page to register.  Click here for a print version of our course calendar.