School-Age & Youth Development Pilot
The School-Age & Youth Development (SAYD) credential, is an important training opportunity for out-of-school-time (OST) organizations and their leading staff.
Designed by Achieve-Boston, the SAYD is an eighteen month pilot program to test a training and credentialing system for after-school and youth workers aspiring to greater leadership in the OST sector. Pilot participants earn nine cost-free college credits and take forty-five hours of free community-based training - all of which will have a direct and immediate impact on their work with children, youth, and families. In addition, the program includes incentives designed to reduce staff turnover during and after the pilot period.
The SAYD pilot began in January 2007 and ends in June 2008.
The SAYD credential is for after-school and youth workers who are in, or who aspire to, leadership roles within their organizations. Such roles might include lead teacher, program manager or senior youth worker. It is designed for people who are ready to make a commitment to the fields of after-school and youth work and recognize the value of education and training. It is for organizations that want to cultivate particular staff, reduce the likelihood that they will turnover, and equip them to improve the work of the people around them.
Each SAYD candidate must be sponsored by his or her employer and supervisor. Sponsoring organizations commit to paying participating staff a one-time $1,000 salary bonus on the condition that such staff remain your employees throughout the SAYD program and for at least six months thereafter. The SAYD program will match the bonus with an additional $1,000 - for $2,000 in all - delivered on the same conditions. Supervisors must also agree to meet with participating staff at least three times during the eighteen month program to check in on how it is going and what, if anything, staff need to incorporate lessons learned into their work environment.
Achieve-Boston is a collaboration of nine organizations dedicated to the professional development of after-school and youth workers. Achieve-Boston operates under the aupices of Boston Beyond.