Strategic Plan: Building a Skilled and Stable Out-of-School Time Workforce

This strategic plan presents three recommendations for building a skilled and stable out-of-school time workforce: (1) determine a national set of standards for out-of-school time workers and create training, career development opportunities, and a set of compensation benchmarks; (2) unite stakeholders at local, State, and national levels to advocate for the resources necessary to support high quality programs and a skilled and stable workforce; and (3) build on and replicate successful models like the U.S. Military Child and Youth Care System. Implementation of these recommendations will require collaboration and new partnerships across multiple national and Statewide agencies as well as the traditional fields of youth work and school-age care. Leadership is the key to halting the revolving door of turnover, guaranteeing staff a living wage, and making working with children and youth during non-school hours an attractive career option.