A lively discussion of the history of after school programs for children ages six through twelve. Practioners describe how centers evolved from settlement houses into full-service agencies, and from drop-in recreational settings to structured clubs and school age programs. They discuss the role governments assumed as these programs became more widespread, and the rise in state regulations. In most states, programs are legally expected to adhere to a set of licensing standards. These generally include guidelines for staff qualifications, the ratio of staff to students, and safety regulations. Also addressed are the standards for national school age accreditation, which centers running such programs are encouraged to achieve.

In the second part of the program, three possible models of school-age care are described and discussed in a classroom setting. The instructor and students talk openly and honestly about the pros and cons of in-home care, family childcare, and center-based care. The importance of providing thorough, supportive and focused training for school-age care workers in each of these settings is emphasized.

30 minutes.
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