In Pennsylvania, after-school programs are provided by a diverse network of organizations... Boys & Girls Clubs, Child Care Centers, Community Centers, Faith-based organizations, Home-based child care providers, Parks & Recreation Departments, Police Athletic Leagues, School-Age Care Programs, Schools, YMCAs, and YWCAs. In 1993, a group of stakeholders representing organizations throughout the Commonwealth and committed to the expansion of high quality after-school programs gathered together to form the Pennsylvania School-Age Child Care Alliance. Out-of-School-Time is an important pillar in youth development in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania's School-Age Professionals are recognized, valued, respected, and appreciated. Prior to 1993, there were loose groups of administrators and providers talking about school-age child care scattered throughout Pennsylvania. Many of these groups were in some way connected to the regional School-Age Projects. The Western Region had the only Pennsylvania affiliate to the National School-Age Child Care Alliance (NSACCA), the Western Pennsylvania School-Age Child Care Alliance.
A proposal is submitted on behalf of Pennsylvania to sponsor the 1994 National School-Age Child Care Alliance Conference. Diane Barber is notified that Pennsylvania's proposal to host the conference in Philadelphia is accepted. A statewide Leadership Institute was held in Philadelphia with trainers from the Wellesley School-Age Child Care Project. Forty-two people from across Pennsylvania attend. The group discusses the formation of a statewide SACC organization. Tracey Ballas & Betty Gehring are the trainers. Tracey Ballas and Steve Rosen from the National School-Age Child Care Alliance (NSACA) were invited to conduct SACC coalition building trainers as a track at the annual Pennsylvania Association of Child Care Agencies Conference in Harrisburg The SACC Coalition Committee meets and adopts the name Pennsylvania School-Age Child Care Alliance (PENN SACCA) and christens the group the PENN SACCA Strategic Planning Committee. Using the regional School-Age Project's mailing lists and newsletters, a survey was mailed to 3,000 names.
219 surveys were returned to the Lancaster Recreation Department who tallied the results. To the question, "Would you be interested in becoming a member of this organization?" 75% of the respondents answered yes. The 1994 NSACCA Conference is held in Pennsylvania. Overall attendance is 1,200 with nearly 400 people from Pennsylvania. Conference provides PENN SACCA with a nest egg of over $28,000. ($5,000 is later donated to the New Jersey SACC Alliance for their help with the conference) . The PENN SACCA Strategic Planning Committee conducts a day and a half strategic planning retreat to set direction and organizational structure for PENN SACCA. The committee develops a mission statement for the organization and three year strategic plan with objectives and action steps. By-Laws are adopted, membership fees are set, and the group elects an interim Board of Directors. Suzanne Zanella, Vice Chair; PENN SACCA distributes first membership brochures through the regional School-Age Projects.
PENN SACCA publishes first newsletter PENN SACCA Reports. October 1995 PENN SACCA membership elects first Board of Directors. PENN SACCA holds first annual meeting. PENN SACCA incorporates as a non profit corporation with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PENN SACCA amends its by-laws. Resource Bank survey results presented by Nancy Schall provided a "snapshot" of our members, including a listing of respondents and their expertise in SACC. PENN SACCA launches "High Five" campaign in support of school-age child care training and subsidy funding. The Public Policy committee delivers 5,000 traced hands to state legislators with messages from children, parents, and staff describing the importance of school-age child care services. PENN SACCA submits a proposal to host the 2000 National School-Age Child Care Alliance Conference in Pittsburgh. The proposal is accepted. Second Annual Meeting is Held in Harrisburg. PENN SACCA awarded advanced determination by the IRS of 501 (c) (3) status.
2nd Board of Directors election held. PENN SACCA files for official affiliate paperwork with NSACA. PENN SACCA holds first statewide SACC Conference -- The SACC Quilt: Piecing it all Together -- over 150 people attend. The conference was held at Millersville University. Carol Broderick and Carmen Weachter were co-chairs. PENN SACCA holds second statewide SACC Quilt: Piecing it all Together Conference at Millersville University. Valerie Clark and Nancy Schall were co-chairs. PENN SACCA holds third statewide SACC Quilt: Piecing it all Together Conference at King's College in Wilkes-Barre. PENN SACCA hosts NSACA National Conference in Pittsburgh, with over 2000 conferees. Suzanne Zanella was Conference Chair and liason to the national board. PENN SACCA holds fourth statewide SACC Quilt: Piecing it all Together Conference at Millersville University. PENN SACCA sponsors NSACA Endorser Training , resulting in fourteen trained endorsers from four different states.
Nine PENN SACCA board members (Kathe Trimble, Sharon Schweninger, Leslie Roesler, Brenda Rochester, Nancy Schall, Lynn Karavanich, Mary Jane Hostetter, Valerie Clark and Diane Barber) were a part of that group. Endorsers support the final step for programs seeking accreditation through NSACA. 5th Annual Conference for School Age Child Professionals at Millersville University, chaired by Nancy Schall. PENN SACCA changes conference format into a Professional Development Forum to offer more in depth discussion of school age needs and issues. Held at the PENN STATER Conference Center in State College. Chaired by Lauren Haag. Professional Development Forum- held at the PENN STATER Conference Center. Chaired by Lauren Haag PENN SACCA Board of Directors creates a three year working action plan under the leadership of Susan Sofayov, YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh. The plan emphasizes strengthening the infrastructure of PENN SACCA. SAC Quilt: Piecing it All Together, Healthy Bodies and Fit Minds at the PENN STATER Conference Center.
We invited the National Institute on Out-of-School Time to facilitate Links to Learning, a 2 day session addressing how after school programs can connect activities after-school to children’s learning during the school day. Our website got a new look. Thanks to Diane Barber for her creativity! PENN SACCA participates in Lights On Afterschool. This is a national public awareness effort to show parents, local legislators, and other members of the public how afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. SAC Quilt – Piecing It All Together – Respect For All Children – PENN SACCA’S 10th Annual Conference at the Penn Stater Conference Center PENN SACCA urges centers to participate in Lights On Afterschool. Save the dates sent out to members via constant contact. Board of Directors meet for a strategic planning retreat and Board Training facilitated by NonProfit Leadership Institute of Duquesne University. We adopt a new mission, ‘PENN SACCA supports school age professionals’, and a new vision, ‘To create strong School-Age Professional networks in half of Pennsylvania’s counties by 2013.’
Members are encouraged to show support for Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide celebration of afterschool programs. Time for a change! We moved our conference to November and in Harrisburg! Our 11th Annual Conference ‘Creating Quality’ at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg-East was a great success! We celebrated our 15th birthday with help from Jim Atkinson, Mr. Happy at the Friday night reception at the conference. The 12th Annual Statewide Conference, Building Networks - Achieve Quality through Pride and Accountability at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg East. Conference Co-Chairs: Connie Morak and Thomasine Washington The 13th Annual Statewide Conference, Networking - Moving Together One SACC Program at a Time was held at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg East. National trainers, Mike and Chelsea Ashcraft and Laurie Olhoff presented to our school age professionals. Out-of-School-Time professionals enjoyed the 14th Annual Statewide Conference at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg East.