School Age Summer Staff Orientation Series

Goal of the Series The school age summer orientation series has been designed to help you understand the basics of caring for school age children & youth The school age summer orientation series has been designed to help you understand the basics of caring for school age children & youth

Understanding the series Each module consists of:  Objective of the module  Training Content With a Youth: Activities With a Youth: Activities With a Peer: Read and Reflect With a Peer: Read and Reflect With a Supervisor: Self Assessment With a Supervisor: Self Assessment

What you will need  Print the PDF that goes with this course. The link is located by the link you clicked to open this module.  Paper and pencil  Approximately one hour of “quiet” time  Access to a printer  Optimistic outlook to gaining new knowledge

Module 1 Professionalism

Objective To review professional standards and assess your own performance

Introduction In this module, you will do the following: Self assess your professional skills in your work with children and youth Self assess your professional skills in your work with children and youth Learn about applying ethics in your child care program. Learn about applying ethics in your child care program. Identify resources to help you develop professionally. Identify resources to help you develop professionally. Recognize yourself as a professional who works with children and youth. Recognize yourself as a professional who works with children and youth.

What is a Professional? A professional is a person with special skills, interests and abilities. This specialized knowledge is used to enhance the world around them. As a person who works with children and youth and their families, you will use your knowledge to offer quality services that support the children and families you work with daily. A professional is a person with special skills, interests and abilities. This specialized knowledge is used to enhance the world around them. As a person who works with children and youth and their families, you will use your knowledge to offer quality services that support the children and families you work with daily.

What is a Professional? A professional: Seeks new information Seeks new information Creates a learning environment for others Creates a learning environment for others Asks questions to gain more understanding Asks questions to gain more understanding Provides quality services Provides quality services Shares their skills with others Shares their skills with others

What is a professional? Minnesota’s Core Competencies outlines a professional as someone who: Enjoys working with children and models a positive attitude. Enjoys working with children and models a positive attitude. Exhibits good hygiene and personal appearance. Exhibits good hygiene and personal appearance. Demonstrates good work habits. Demonstrates good work habits. Consults with supervisor or resource person regarding concerns. Consults with supervisor or resource person regarding concerns. Works cooperatively with colleagues. Works cooperatively with colleagues.

What is a professional? Minnesota’s Core Competencies outlines a professional as someone who: (Continued) Behaves ethically, maintaining confidentiality and impartiality. Behaves ethically, maintaining confidentiality and impartiality. Interacts in a manner reflecting respect for self and others. Interacts in a manner reflecting respect for self and others. Performs well as a team member. Performs well as a team member. Accepts advice and constructive criticism to improve their practice. Accepts advice and constructive criticism to improve their practice.

With a Youth: Activities Using the information from the Minnesota Core Competencies (previous slides), list three ways that you will demonstrate to the children in your program that you are a professional. Think about your personal appearance, interactions with co-workers & supervisors and the way you engage children and youth.

What is a professional? Demonstrating professional skills & qualities in your work with children and youth doesn’t happen over night. By using your specialized skills and working toward proven standards, you will work your way towards exhibiting practices of a true professional!

Professional Ethics When working with kids and families, there are principles of conduct that are expected to be upheld by the staff. Staff must strive to make positive connections with the youth & families they serve. Part of that supportive and trustworthy relationship is maintaining the families right to confidentiality.

Professional Ethics PRINCIPLES OF CONFIDENTIALITY PRINCIPLES OF CONFIDENTIALITY Confidentiality can be achieved and maintained when the worker fully realizes the true value of "humaneness" and respect for the dignity of all persons. The following will assist the program staff in practicing "confidentiality principles" Confidentiality can be achieved and maintained when the worker fully realizes the true value of "humaneness" and respect for the dignity of all persons. The following will assist the program staff in practicing "confidentiality principles"

Confidentiality Information about the program, its’ employees and all participant records are confidential. Simply stated, no information about the program, its’ employees or participants should be discussed in any setting where it may be overheard by others. Information about the program, its’ employees and all participant records are confidential. Simply stated, no information about the program, its’ employees or participants should be discussed in any setting where it may be overheard by others. You are required to follow confidentiality procedures and should have permission to access information forms on file. You are required to follow confidentiality procedures and should have permission to access information forms on file. The confidentiality policies used often contain sign in out procedures as well as permission to access forms. The confidentiality policies used often contain sign in out procedures as well as permission to access forms.

Professional Ethics Staff must realize that most program challenges are to be expected individualizing programs and overcoming obstacles are part of the job of working with kids. Staff must realize that most program challenges are to be expected individualizing programs and overcoming obstacles are part of the job of working with kids. Staff must not be quick to judge the actions of others. Staff must not be quick to judge the actions of others. Staff must regard the confidence of others as sacred. Staff must regard the confidence of others as sacred. Confidential information is only to be shared on a need to know basis. Confidential information is only to be shared on a need to know basis.

Professional Ethics Staff should not talk negatively about any child, co-worker, or other program personnel while at the program, school, or in the community. Staff should not talk negatively about any child, co-worker, or other program personnel while at the program, school, or in the community. Staff must remember that there are varying program& personal philosophies that come together when working with kids and their families. Staff must remember that there are varying program& personal philosophies that come together when working with kids and their families.

Professional Ethics The staff must remember that he/she carries a "public image" of the program and that each staff must represent the program in good taste. The staff must remember that he/she carries a "public image" of the program and that each staff must represent the program in good taste. The staff must respect the confidential nature of program and school records. Discipline, learning difficulties, children with special needs, family situations, should never be discussed with others. The staff must respect the confidential nature of program and school records. Discipline, learning difficulties, children with special needs, family situations, should never be discussed with others.

Professional Ethics Staff must remember that, “what you do here and say here - let it stay here when you leave here!” Staff must remember that, “what you do here and say here - let it stay here when you leave here!” Adapted from:

With a Peer: Read and Reflect With a Peer: Read and Reflect After work at a local restaurant, you overheard two staff members from your program discussing confidential information about a participant in the program and about the participants parents. Many people were in earshot of the conversation. After work at a local restaurant, you overheard two staff members from your program discussing confidential information about a participant in the program and about the participants parents. Many people were in earshot of the conversation. On your own paper list your professional responsibility in this situation.

Key Points Becoming a professional isn’t achieved overnight, it takes work and practice to get it right In order to support children and families we need to maintain a confidential relationship In your journey to becoming a skilled professional, there are many resources and organizations to support you.

With a Supervisor: Self Assessment Print the worksheet “Professional Development” from the PDF that goes with this course and answer the questions. Print the worksheet “Professional Development” from the PDF that goes with this course and answer the questions. Once you have completed this give it to your supervisor Once you have completed this give it to your supervisor Review the resources in the following slides. Visiting the websites of each of these will provide you with more ideas on being a professional! Review the resources in the following slides. Visiting the websites of each of these will provide you with more ideas on being a professional!

Resources MNSACA Core Competencies The competencies were developed by the Professional Development Council and MnAEYC (Minnesota Association of the Education of Young Children) to define what practitioners need to know and be able to do to provide quality education and care. The competencies were developed by the Professional Development Council and MnAEYC (Minnesota Association of the Education of Young Children) to define what practitioners need to know and be able to do to provide quality education and care. The core competencies are designed to serve as a guide for improving your work with children and families. The core competencies are designed to serve as a guide for improving your work with children and families. The competencies are worded so that they can be measured or demonstrated. The competencies are worded so that they can be measured or demonstrated. You may also find the core competencies contain new ideas or provide a new way of reflecting on your teaching. You may also find the core competencies contain new ideas or provide a new way of reflecting on your teaching. Contact Information: Minnesota School Age Care Alliance 1000 Westgate Drive, Suite 252 St. Paul MN Fax:

Resources National Afterschool Association  NAA is the only national professional association for the afterschool field. With over 9,000 members and 36 state affiliate organizations.  NAA represents the voice of the afterschool field in the areas of professional development, program quality, public policy and current issues affecting children and youth in their out of school time. Contact Information: 529 Main Street, Suite 214 Charlestown, MA Fax

Resources Minnesota Professional Development Council  Supports professionals who educate, advocate and care for children, youth, and families. Their mission is to facilitate development and ongoing coordination of an inclusive collaborative of the early childhood and youth professional development system in Minnesota. Contact Information: 1821 University Ave West – Suite S-298 St. Paul, MN Phone: Fax:

Resources School-Age NOTES  School-Age Notes is a publisher and retailer of books, videos, DVDs, music CDs and other resources for after-school professionals and after- school programs and summer programs geared to school-age children.  Science and math enrichment, literacy, curriculum planning, staff training, discipline, summer programs, arts and crafts, fitness, games, cooking, drama, multicultural activities and many more topics are covered in resources offered through School Age Notes Contact Information: P.O. Box 476 New Albany, OH :30 am - 4:00 pm Eastern Time Toll free fax fax General Inquiries (ex. mailing address changes) Web Inquiries

Congratulations You have successfully completed Module 1