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Environment/Climate
A quality program provides a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment for all participants, staff members, and families.

More on Environment and Climate
A quality program has a space that supports youth development and encourages positive interactions among peers and adults. Everyone feels safe from intimidation, teasing, bullying, and violence, and mutual respect is encouraged. The physical space is well-equipped for all program activities. All health codes are met and safety drills are done frequently.

Click here to fill out the Environment/Climate section of the QSA Tool electronically.

Zooming In
For definitions of what each quality indicator might look like at performance levels 1-4, click here.

Taking Action

Tips for Success As you reflect on your program’s environment and climate, keep in mind that the physical, emotional, and social space should always support positive youth development and encourage positive interactions among peers and adults. Here are a few tips to help you create a youth-centered space: Establish specific ways to welcome young people into the program, such as holding orientations, organizing a buddy system, creating a welcome committee, etc. Involve young people in creating community agreements. Make the space youth-friendly – post young people’s work in the classrooms and community spaces, display magazines and books of interest, play music, or decorate with comfortable and colorful furniture. Give young people a voice and opportunities for healthy self-expression through hands-on activities, such as poetry, drama, dance, rap performance, sports, etc.

Try This! Youth as Resources Prepare young people to walk through the program space and give their feedback about everything from the way staff members greet youth to the art on the walls. You might create a checklist of questions to help guide their observations and document their feedback. Here are two suggestions for encouraging young people to share their feedback and ideas. Mapping Project Ask the group to draw a map of the program (artistic talent not required) and then color the spaces where they feel most comfortable. Use the maps as a jumping-off point for discussion about what makes a space comfortable and welcoming. Use the information gathered to create comment cards so that other young people and adults can give feedback about the spaces. Bring your group together after the walk-through to share observations and brainstorm solutions for areas of improvement. Discuss what action the group may need to take to change the environment.

Research, Tools and Templates, and Resources

Research

Afterschool Space That Works, New Jersey School-Age Care Coalition
Paper on creating positive physical environments for youth

Everyone Plays!: A Review of Research on the Integration of Sports and Physical Activity into Out-of-School-Time Programs, Policy Studies Associates
Report summarizing research regarding sports and physical activity in out-of-school-time programs and the lessons that can be learned from this research

Healthy Choices Afterschool: Investigation of the Alignment of Physical Activity and Nutrition Programs/Curricula and the National Afterschool Association Program Standards, National Institute on Out-of-School Time
Twenty programs (curricula and materials) that could be used in existing out-of-school time programs are measured against the 6 National AfterSchool Association standards

Promoting Physical Activity and Healthy Nutrition in Afterschool Settings: Strategies for Program Leaders and Policy Makers, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Bureau Programming ideas, policies, resources for promoting physical activity and nutrition in afterschool

Tools and Templates

Facilities Assessment Form, NYS Center for School Safety
Checklist of considerations for creating a safe space for youth

Resources

A Place of Their Own: Designing Quality Space for Out-of-School Time, National Institute on Out-of-School Time
Video and accompanying booklet provides an introduction to understanding and planning indoor and outdoor spaces for after-school and youth programs (Cost is $15.00)

Afterschool Resource Center, Food Research Action Center
This page outlines a reimbursement program, that all NYS programs are eligible for, to provide suppers to children 18 and under at no cost to the program.

New York State Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
This website offers detailed information about using Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports to promote healthy development among youth. The website also lists the schools in New York State that are using this strategy with students (which may have implications on how partering afterschool programs might operate).

Nutrition Guidelines for Afterschool and Summer Programs, Food Research and Action Center
Fact sheet including the MyPyramid for Kids food pyramid, sample menus, and federal programs’ meal pattern requirements

Nutrition in Afterschool, Ohio Afterschool Network
Fact sheet that includes talking points on the importance of quality childhood nutrition, healthy ideas for snacks and parties, food safety, and alternatives to using food as a reward

Positive Strategies for Challenging Behaviors, Act for Youth, Pardeice Powell McGoy, Cornell Cooperative Extension of New York City
This 18 minute, web-based training module discusses how youth workers can approach managing inappropriate behaviors in youth development settings.

Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance Center, U.S. Department of Education
Resources, training opportunities, and publications to help school districts develop comprehensive plans for any emergency or crisis, including natural disasters, pandemic influenza, violent incidents, and terrorist acts

School Safety Drills, Michael Dorn and Sonayia Shepherd, School Safety Analysts
Video on school safety drills including information relevant to any youth program provider

School Safety Planning, Michael Dorn and Sonayia Shepherd, School Safety Analysts
Video on school safety planning including information relevant to any youth program provider