GMCC’s youth program, LakeStreet Youth Labs, has officially achieved I-SAC Accreditation, a premier certification that recognizes high-quality school-aged care in Minnesota.
I-SAC (pronounced “eye sack”) stands for Ignite School Age Care. Developed and facilitated by Ignite Afterschool (www.IgniteAfterschool.org), I-SAC Accreditation is a robust process that ensures programs achieve and demonstrate a high level of quality, safety and professionalism. DCYF Certified programs that attain I-SAC Accreditation are eligible for higher Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) reimbursements.
To receive I-SAC Accreditation, programs must demonstrate excellence in all of the following six areas:
● Intentional Program Design
● Supportive Relationships & Environment
● Youth Voice & Leadership
● Responsiveness to Culture & Identity
● Community & Family Engagement
● Youth Safety, Organizational Management & Staff Support
–
Research Proves That Quality Matters
Research* shows time and again that high-quality programming positively impacts young people’s school attendance, behavior and academics, while also strengthening skills like communication, teamwork, resiliency and self-esteem.
“We’re delighted to have achieved I-SAC Accreditation,” remarked Meghann Gordon, Director of Youth Initiatives at GMCC. “High quality programming has always been important to us, our staff and the families we serve, and I-SAC Accreditation gives us a concrete way to demonstrate that we’re providing young people with high-quality enrichment that keeps them safe.”
“We congratulate LakeStreet Youth Labs on achieving I-SAC Accreditation,” added Devin Hanson, school age care program specialist, Ignite Afterschool. “Program name has gone through nine months of work to achieve accreditation, and we applaud their commitment to high-quality, safe and effective programming that makes a positive impact on Minnesota’s young people.”
*A wealth of long-term studies, reports and research on the benefits and impacts of high-quality afterschool programming can be found on the Afterschool Alliance’s website: https://www.afterschoolalliance.org/research.cfm
–
I-SAC is Minnesota’s New, First-of-its-Kind Accreditation Process for Afterschool Programs
I-SAC is unique in that it embeds both proving and improving in the accreditation process. Typically, an accreditation process focuses on what an organization can prove, or demonstrate, at the time of accreditation. With I-SAC Accreditation, programs are also engaged in Continuous Program Improvements (CPI), which means they are always enhancing their programs to attain even better positive long-term outcomes for young people.
Programs engaged in the I-SAC Accreditation process receive personalized coaching, participate in a
shared learning cohort, and have access to the latest research and best practices in the field as part of their CPI work.
–
I-SAC Accreditation By The Numbers
● 4 Years
I-SAC Accreditation is valid for four years as long as programs demonstrate they are continuing
CPI for all four years
● 4 Customized Coaching & Learning Cohort Sessions
Programs meet with their coaches and peers four times throughout the accreditation cycle
● 6 “Building Blocks” to I-SAC Accreditation
Intentional Program Design; Supportive Relationships & Environment; Youth Voice & Leadership;
Responsiveness to Culture & Identity; Community & Family Engagement; Youth Safety,
Organizational Management & Staff Support
● 9 Months
Duration of I-SAC Accreditation Process – it follows the school calendar
● 10 Steps
The I-SAC Accreditation Process is broken down into 10 steps programs must complete
● 27 Programs
Number of programs that have received I-SAC Accreditation in the first year. Congratulations!
–
About Ignite Afterschool
Ignite Afterschool is Minnesota’s statewide network of funders, program providers, researchers and
others dedicated to young people’s engagement in afterschool. Founded more than a decade ago as
Youth Community Connections, today Ignite Afterschool is led by a collation of nearly 20 statewide
partners that join their combined resources and expertise to improve the funding, availability and
quality of afterschool and summer programming for young people throughout Minnesota. To learn
more about Ignite Afterschool, visit www.igniteafterschool.org, “like” Ignite Afterschool on Facebook or
follow @IgniteMN on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Recent Comments