School Age Solutions
Who We Are
School-Age Solutions is comprised of agencies, groups and individuals who support out- of-school programs and have partnered together to:
- invest in the development of infrastructure
- to facilitate the development of sustainable services
- support professional development; and
- to develop outcomes and accountability measures that reflect a wide range of formal and informal learning opportunities.
We are a “starting point” partner with the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction.
For more information on the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, please visit http://www.hamiltonpoverty.ca
Our Vision
“A level playing field” for the children of Hamilton. (Dr. Dan Offord)
“Making Hamilton the best place to raise a Child”
Our Goals
We will work towards a community system in Hamilton to ensure all children ages 6-14 years are offered equal access to high-quality programs during their out-of-school hours and improve the quality and accessibility of programs.
What We Do
We support and promote the development of a coordinated, community-wide strategy, where age and developmentally-appropriate programs are designed for a variety of settings where children live and play. Our efforts will be directed towards building community awareness and best practices. We are committed to improving the capacity of our community to address the many facets of out-of-school programs. We support healthy child development by bringing the community together to increase access to high-quality programs for children 6-14 years of age during out-of-school hours.
Our Commitment
We support the broad community goal of “Making Hamilton the Best Place to Raise a Child” by:
- acting together to create a synergy of coordinated efforts to accomplish those things we could not do alone.
- respecting the mission, vision and decision-making authority of individual organizations.
- fostering innovative community responses and strength-based practice based on evidence and best practices.
- involving families and the broader community, whenever possible, in identifying the problems and finding the solutions.
- respecting diversity and celebrating our differences as well as our similarities.
- sharing resources, talent and expertise to create a healthy community environment for all children.
- evaluating what we do.
- sharing what we learn with others.
- advocating for universal accessibility to high-quality out-of-school programs.
Our Outcomes
School-age children of Hamilton will have access to high-quality out-of-school programs in their neighbourhoods. There is a continuum of community programs and services, from cradle to career, for all children and families which makes Hamilton “the best place to raise a child.”
Key Considerations
“Accessible” out-of-school programs respond to culturally diverse needs and interests, are affordable for families, and inclusive of all children including those with special needs and challenges and culturally diverse interests. Accessibility is enhanced when programs are located in schools or at other facilities in neighbourhoods; and transportation is either available or not necessary.
“High quality” out-of school-programs engage families, have committed leadership and strive to observe best practice guidelines.
Out-of-school programs are key components of healthy communities, and require stable funding support to remain viable over time.
A “cradle-to-career” continuum of community services can be delivered through a neighbourhood hub. School-Age Solutions defines a hub as…
- a gathering place in the neighbourhood,
- facilitating access to a continuum of community services,
- for children of all ages and their families,
- cooperatively led and supported by community partners and families.