Afterschool, summer, and other out-of-school time (OST) programs can be a great resource for families and communities. In addition to fostering kids’ personal growth, these programs provide a safe space for kids to flourish.
Make sure you work with the right technology solution to plan and execute safe practices in your youth program so families know their kids’ safety is your highest priority.
When parents or guardians enroll their kids in your program, they aren’t just counting on you to enrich their kids’ learning—they’re entrusting you with their kids’ safety. For most parents, safety is an extremely high priority. Forty-five percent of parents say they tend to be overprotective, whereas just 20 percent say they give too much freedom.
When parents or guardians enroll their kids in your youth program, they give you a vote of confidence that you’ll protect their kids from physical harm and promote their mental and emotional well-being.
In fact, this expectation of safety may be one of the factors motivating parents’ decisions to get their kids involved in an OST program. According to the Afterschool Alliance, 82 percent of parents agree that afterschool programs help keep kids safe.
Youth program leaders must partner with parents and guardians and share their commitment to keeping kids safe. Safety should be a top priority as you plan your program, instate policies, and implement systems to manage your program.
The right software solution can go a long way toward helping you make your program a safe space for kids.
Creating policies around snacks, field trips, and pickups is a must, but how can you ensure everyone in your program is aware of these policies and follows them consistently? Your staff needs the right data and the necessary tools to uphold safety standards. This is where youth program software comes in.
Let’s look at some practical ways the right software can help you fulfill your commitment to safety.
Safety starts with planning. You need to think through how you’ll prevent safety issues and proactively respond in the case of an incident or emergency. Youth program software can help you plan your program and stay organized as you create schedules and policies. Arly even equips youth programmers with courses about logistics, policies, and procedures planning along with resources on safety and injury protocols to help you feel fully prepared from the start of your program.
A solution such as Arly can also help you collect all the necessary information about students during enrollment—such as whether they have allergies and medical conditions—and have this information accessible to staff and volunteers. You can also have authorized people for pickup on file so you never inadvertently put a child at risk as they leave.
As you partner with families to maintain kids’ safety, you want to keep lines of communication open. You can use your youth program platform to facilitate direct communications with parents and participants, keeping them in the know and providing them with an easy means of sharing important information about their kids or asking questions. Don't forget to take advantage of multiple communication channels, including phone, email, and direct messaging through your app.
You can use Arly to make your safety policies and training materials readily available to staff during onboarding and ongoing professional development. Ensure everyone knows the right safety protocols to follow. Professional development courses can also empower staff to create a positive culture in which kids feel safe and can thrive.
Safety is paramount in any youth program. The tools and resources available through Arly make it easier to plan and execute programs that uphold safety at every level.
Want to learn more about Arly and how it can help you deliver high-quality youth programming? Request a demo of the platform today!