Select Language:
Search

Tag: APOST

News

May 6, 2026

APOST Announces Summer Professional Development Courses

Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) will offer eight workshops from May to August as part of its summer professional development series.

Learn More

Registration, which is required for all courses, will close three days prior to each event or when the session is full. 

All workshops take about two-and-a-half to three hours and locations vary. Specific time and location details are listed on the workshop’s event registration page.

For workshops that are held at CoLab18, APOST will provide parking validation for attendees who park in the Nova Place garage.

Participants are encouraged to complete a full set of the Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) Youth Work Methods Workshops from The Forum for Youth Investment in one season.

The summer workshops include:

For more information on summer professional development courses, visit APOST’s website.

News

May 5, 2026

Allegheny County Executive Announces Expanded Access to Child Care, OST Programs

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato recently announced a new initiative to strengthen stability, opportunity, and quality of life for working families in the county by expanding access to child care and out-of-school time (OST) programs.

Learn More

As part of the coordinated Forward with Families initiative, the county has a goal of creating 5,000 new slots over the next five years.

Led by the Allegheny County Department of Children Initiatives, the expansion of slots will focus on increasing capacity, supporting providers, and addressing gaps in care, especially for infants and toddlers, evenings and weekends, and before- and after-school programming.

Forward with Families includes a multi-pronged approach to addressing challenges facing families today. The five pillars of the initiative are:

  • Health and well-being
  • Child care caregiving and learning
  • Employment and education
  • Housing and food
  • Savings and cash

Allegheny County is also promoting a refreshed tool – the Forward with Families Program Finder, where county residents can input information about their address, children, and what kind of program they are looking for and find options for child care, out-of-school time slots, and summer camps.

Additional components of Forward with Families will be announced in the coming months.

“Young people learn how to collaborate, create, problem solve, and dream in out-of-school time programs, all skills that are needed for healthy individuals and communities,” said Karen Dreyer, executive director for Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST). “The county’s investments will get us closer to closing the gap to ensure that all youth have access to high-quality OST learning opportunities.”

News

April 1, 2026

UnConference: Out-of-School Time

Trying Together, in partnership with APOST and Allegheny County DHS, will host UnConference: Out-of-School Time on Thursday, June 11 at the Boys & Girls Club of Western PA’s Estelle S. Campbell Clubhouse.

This UnConference is intended to be a collaborative, interactive approach to high-quality summer programming for school-age children. The audience will be educators, staff, and administrators working with children in summer programs; engaged parents and caregivers; and early childhood education and out-of-school-time advocates.

The UnConference will begin with a keynote presentation by Twanda Clark-Edgal, a learning strategist for LIGHT Social Change Agents LLC, and will be followed by morning and afternoon sessions. A light breakfast with coffee and tea and a boxed lunch will be provided as part of the registration fee.

There will also be an add-on option for those interested in taking part in a First Aid/CPR training on June 10 (with an additional fee).

A total of 4.5 PQAS and Act 48 credit hours are available for attendees.

Free parking will be available in the Teamster’s temple parking lot across the street from the Boys & Girls Club and metered parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Registration must be completed by June 1. Please have the following information ready before registering you or your group: name/email, dietary needs, accessibility requests, and session preferences.

Register now!

 

Details

UnConference: Out-of-School Time

  • Thursday, June 11
  • 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  • Boys & Girls Club of Western PA, Estelle S. Campbell Clubhouse
  • $25
  • Registration

 UnConference: Out-of-School Time + First Aid/CPR Training Add-on

  • First Aid/CPR Training: Wednesday, June 10 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • UnConference: Thursday, June 11 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Boys & Girls Club of Western PA, Estelle S. Campbell Clubhouse
  • $60 (bundled with UnConference ticket)
  • Registration

Sessions

MORNING SESSIONS (10-11:30 a.m.)

Play on Purpose: Theatre Games for Youth and the Adults Who Support Them
Presenter: Katie Trupiano, City Theatre

This highly interactive workshop invites participants to experience the power of theatre games as tools for building stronger, more joyful summer learning environments for both children and staff. Through movement, storytelling, improvisation, and collaborative play, attendees will explore how theatre-based activities support social-emotional learning, positive behavior management, and staff well-being. Participants will rotate through hands-on games, practice facilitation techniques, and reflect on how play can be intentionally woven into daily routines in out-of-school time settings. The session emphasizes inclusive approaches that honor student voice, choice and creativity. Attendees will leave with a toolkit of games, adaptations, and implementation strategies for summer programming.

Beyond Behavior: Trauma-Informed Practices to Support Every Child in OST Programs
Presenter: Tameka Anderson, Cultivate Potential Strategies

This interactive session equips OST educators and caregivers with trauma-informed strategies to support children’s social-emotional well-being. Participants will learn to recognize signs of trauma, understand how unaddressed ruptures impact behavior, and practice practical repair techniques to help children self-regulate. Through real-life scenarios, role-play, and hands-on tools, attendees will leave with actionable methods to foster safer, more supportive out-of-school environments, strengthen relationships, and manage challenging behaviors with confidence. Ideal for summer program staff, after-school educators, and caregivers, this session emphasizes actionable skills that transform understanding into daily practice.

Before the Program: How Emotional Regulation, Caregiver Well-Being, and Leadership Presence Shape Out-of-School Time Environments
Presenter: Toye Penny, Love You More International

Before programs, policies, and behavior strategies take hold, leadership presence sets the tone. This 90-minute interactive session explores how emotional regulation and caregiver well-being directly shape safety, behavior, and connection in out-of-school time environments. Participants will examine how stress, trauma, and depletion show up in leadership and staff dynamics, and how grounding practices can interrupt reactive cycles before burnout or breakdown occurs. Through guided reflection, discussion, and practical application, attendees will leave with trauma-informed strategies to strengthen leadership capacity, support mental health, and cultivate stable, sustainable OST spaces where both caregivers and children can thrive.

Supporting Youth Mental Health in Summer & OST Programs: Practical Tools for Educators, Families, and Youth Leaders
Presenter: Dr. Britnee Weatherspoon, Erika’s Lighthouse

Youth mental health challenges often emerge or intensify during out-of-school time, including summer programming. This interactive session equips educators, OST professionals, and caregivers with practical strategies to promote depression awareness, social-emotional well-being, and help-seeking among school-age youth. Participants will explore adaptable activities, family engagement approaches, and culturally responsive practices that support inclusive environments. Drawing from public health, education, and youth mental health programming experience, this session emphasizes actionable tools that are free and can be immediately applied in summer camps, afterschool programs, and community youth settings.

Regulate & Recharge: Simple Tools for You and Your Community
Presenter: Tessa Karel, Open Up

This interactive 90-minute session explores simple, engaging self-regulation tools that support calm, focus, and connection in out-of-school time settings. Participants will experience adaptable practices including gentle yoga, breathing exercises, thought strategies, and social games that help youth navigate moments of dysregulation. Activities are designed to be inclusive, trauma-aware, and accessible across ages and abilities. By practicing together, participants will leave with concrete tools they can use immediately to support individual well-being and strengthen a culture of community care in their programs.

AFTERNOON SESSIONS (12:45-2:15 p.m.)

Stop Making it Easy
Presenter: Cristina Ramirez, DashStrom

In an era of screen passivity, AI, and helicopter parenting, children aren’t developing the social-emotional connections they need to thrive. One key aspect of SEL is learning through struggle. This hands-on session reveals how children rise to their innate potential through challenge, not ease. Attendees experience a modified DashStrom game and feel the internal shift when facing something hard and pushing through. We then unpack the psychology behind that transformative moment, leaving participants more empowered to handle their own challenges while equipping them with practical strategies and coaching language to help children overcome theirs in OST programs.

Power in Partnership: Practical Strategies for Youth-Adult Collaboration in Summer and Out-of-School Time Programs
Presenter: Saher Mahmood, Community. Leadership. Action. Youth. LLC (C.L.A.Y LLC)

Many programs value youth voice but struggle to translate that value into structures where young people meaningfully influence decisions. This interactive session explores how authentic youth–adult partnership can strengthen engagement, leadership development, and program culture within summer and out-of-school time settings. Participants will examine real examples from youth leadership initiatives, reflect on how decision-making currently functions within their own programs, and participate in collaborative activities to design youth leadership structures that fit their setting. Attendees will leave with practical tools, including leadership structure templates, meeting guides, and youth engagement strategies, that can be implemented immediately to strengthen youth participation and shared leadership.

Trauma at the Center: Strengthening Pathways to Resilience

Presenters: Ingrid Fulton-Edwards, LCSW & Denise McGill-Delaney, MSW, Gwen’s Girls Inc.

Trauma at the Center: Strengthening Pathways to Resilience explores how trauma shapes behavior, relationships, and decision-making across the lifespan and how it can impact child and youth engagement in OST programming. This interactive workshop equips participants with practical, trauma-informed strategies to recognize trauma responses, respond with empathy, and build environments that promote healing and growth. Grounded in resilience research and relational practices, the session highlights protective factors such as safe relationships, emotional regulation, and community support. Participants will leave with tools to shift from “What’s wrong?” to “What happened?”—strengthening pathways that help individuals, families, and communities move from surviving to thriving.

Bring an Umbrella: Preparing for the Unexpected in Summer Camp
Presenters: Nicole Fratich, Amanda Peretin, and Heather Buchmann, The Learning Lamp

Don’t get caught in the rain of unpredictability without an umbrella! Session participants will add strategies and resources to their teaching toolkit to prepare for material and curriculum challenges that arise, whether that be making the most of a restrictive budget or keeping all children engaged. Participants will develop a personalized reference guide of strategies to help them develop quick learner modifications for different age groups and abilities, as well as complete a challenge that will have them racing the clock to develop an activity using materials they already have on hand.

Supervision For Super Summer
Presenter: Betsy Saatman, PA Key

This session equips staff of summer programs with practical strategies to supervise youth effectively, ensure participant safety, and create high-quality, engaging experiences. Participants will explore core supervisory skills for the dynamic nature of summer programming.  Together we will review different types of supervision needed, how to plan a program with supervision as the priority and how to effectively communicate to ensure that the program runs smoothly, participants are safe and engaged.

About UnConference

The UnConference is an innovative, hands-on professional development training format in which a deeper experience is provided around a particular theme. Local and national speakers are invited to present and participants are encouraged to engage hands on in the workshops.

The day concludes with a roundtable discussion on how to apply these experiences and ideas in the early childhood environment and share ideas on how to partner with new colleagues.

Thank You To Our Sponsors and Partners

A huge thank you to our series sponsor PNC Grow Up Great and workshop partners APOST and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

 

News

March 11, 2026

UnConference: Out-of-School Time

Trying Together, in partnership with APOST and Allegheny County DHS, will host UnConference: Out of School Time on Thursday, June 11 at the Boys & Girls Club of Western PA’s Estelle S. Campbell Clubhouse.

The UnConference will begin with a keynote presentation by Twanda Clark-Edgal, a learning strategist for LIGHT Social Change Agents LLC, and will be followed by morning and afternoon sessions. A light breakfast with coffee and tea and a boxed lunch will be provided as part of the registration fee.

There will also be an add-on option for those interested in taking part in a First Aid/CPR training on June 10 (with an additional fee).

A total of 4.5 PQAS and Act 48 credit hours are available for attendees.

Free parking will be available in the Teamster’s temple parking lot across the street from the Boys & Girls Club and metered parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Registration must be completed by June 1. Please have the following information ready before registering you or your group: name/email, dietary needs, accessibility requests, and session preferences.

Registration is now open for the UnConference. See more details and workshop information.

Details

UnConference: Out of School Time

  • Thursday, June 11
  • 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  • Boys & Girls Club of Western PA’s Estelle S. Campbell Clubhouse
  • $25

Add-On: First Aid/CPR Training + UnConference: Out of School Time

  • First Aid/CPR Training: Wednesday, June 10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • UnConference: Thursday, June 11 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Boys & Girls Club of Western PA
  • $60

News

January 2, 2026

Allegheny County Announces New Out-of-School-Time Programs Dashboard

The Allegheny County Department of Children Initiatives (DCI) has created a new Out-of-School Time (OST) Programs Dashboard to explore the locations of OST programs in the county.

Learn More

The interactive tool, which was developed in partnership with RAND and made possible with funding from the McElhattan Foundation,  is intended to make data and information supporting children more available. 

The tool allows users to explore the locations of OST programs throughout Allegheny County and relate these to other features, such as schools, public transportation, youth population, and community needs.

Using the Tool

The tool’s filters are available using selectors on the website’s top right-hand corner that display programs based on certain features, such as their location on school property, program type, by community level of need, and/or municipality. 

The tool’s Select a School District Boundary feature helps to focus the map and display both OST programs and schools within the district’s boundary.

The map’s More Tools menu provides additional features that allow users to search the map by address, toggle feature layers, and change the basemap.

Map Popups show more information based on the selected layer – for example, OST Programs, Community Need Index, and Youth Population provide detailed, unique information when visualized in the Layers tool.

All filters can be reset by selecting the Reset Arrow on the bottom right that appears after a filter is applied. Selecting the reset button returns the dashboard to its default settings and position. 

To search for out-of-school-time programs in your community, check out the OST Programs Dashboard.

News

December 10, 2025

APOST Releases Spring Professional Development Calendar

Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time has released its schedule of professional development workshops for the spring.

Learn More

The organization will offer 13 workshops that run from January through April. Registration is required for each workshop and closes three days prior to a session or when the course is full.

Each workshop takes about two-and-a-half to three hours and locations vary. Location details are listed on the registration page for each workshop.

For workshops that take place at CoLab18, APOST will provide parking validation for attendees who park in the Nova Place garage.

In the event of low registration, Weikart workshops may be cancelled and advance notice will be provided.

APOST’s spring professional development calendar includes the following workshops:

For more information, visit APOST’s spring professional development offerings website.

News

October 13, 2025

Applications for APOST Managers Consort Due By Oct. 21

Those interested in taking part in Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time’s 2025-26 managers consort must submit an application by Tuesday, October 21.

Learn More

The program is aimed at new out-of-school time program managers looking to gain knowledge and skills that will help them to be more effective within their own organization. The consort will also include discussion on how to advance professionally within the out-of-school time field.

The learning consort will run from November through April and include 15 people who identify as new managers within out-of-school time programs. It will consist of several sessions, including a closing celebration.

The sessions will be a mix of in-person and virtual and will cover a variety of topics. The consort’s expected time commitment is approximately 30 hours, which includes time spent on homework assigned between sessions. The assignments are estimated to take up no more than one hour per month.

All participants will deliver a five-minute presentation at the closing celebration about their OST impact project, which is due at the culmination of the project. 

Session topics will include:

  • Overview and community building
  • Leadership, management, and coaching
  • Program evaluation
  • Crafting impactful stories
  • Nonprofit financial management and fundraising 101

Those interested in applying must do so no later than 5 p.m. on October 21.

News

September 30, 2025

APOST to Sponsor OST Professional in TALI’s Emerging Leaders Program

Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) announced that it will sponsor one out-of-school time (OST) professional to participate in The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI)’s Emerging Leaders Program.

Learn More

The program addresses the needs of rising Black leaders and their allies by using the pillars of academic instruction, alumni mentoring, and peer networking to hone the skills professionals who are growing in the leadership phase of their career need to move into higher levels of management, successfully navigate challenges they may encounter, and support their ascent up the organizational ladder.

Candidates may include strong individual contributors with supervisory aspirations and those in managerial positions. Applicants must have a minimum of three to five years of professional work experience in corporate, nonprofit, government, or entrepreneurial sectors. A bachelor’s degree or five years of additional, equivalent, and relevant experience is required.

The program’s sessions are held once a month on a consecutive half-day Friday (noon to 5 p.m.) and half-day Saturday (8 a.m. to noon) from January through June. All sessions are held in person on the Carnegie Mellon University campus. 

The deadline to apply is Oct. 15. Those interested can apply online. 

News

September 3, 2025

Deadline to Apply for APOST’s Lights On Afterschool Mini-Grant is Sept. 23

Those interested in applying for Allegheny Partners for Out of School Time’s (APOST) Lights on Afterschool 2025 mini-grants must do so by Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Learn More

Celebrating its 25th year, Lights on Afterschool is a nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families, and communities. The program is meant to draw attention to the many ways afterschool programs support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things – such as science, community service, robotics, poetry, Tae Kwon Do, and other new skills.

APOST celebrates Lights on Afterschool by awarding mini-grant funds to local out-of-school time programs to showcase their work and share the importance of their mission.

The deadline to apply for APOST’s mini-grants is 5 p.m. on Sept. 23. To be eligible, organizations must be located within Allegheny County and qualify as a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

A maximum of one award will be given per event or project.

Mini-grant requirements include:

  • Events or projects must take place within the week of Monday, Oct. 20 to Friday, Oct. 24.
  • Events or projects must be submitted to the Lights on Afterschool Directory by Monday, Oct. 13.
  • At least one photo of the event or project must be sent to APOST to be shared publicly. 

Providers chosen for the grant will receive $500 to implement a Lights On Afterschool-inspired event or project. APOST staff may attend the event or participate in a project where possible, and chosen events or projects will have a chance to be spotlighted in the News You Can Use newsletter or on the APOST website.

For more information, visit APOST’s Lights On Afterschool web page.

News

August 5, 2025

APOST Announces Professional Development Courses for Fall

Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) has released its list of professional development course offerings for the fall.

Learn More

All of APOST’s fall workshops take approximately two-and-a-half to three hours and locations vary. Registration is required for all courses and closes three days prior to an event or when a session is full.

In the event of low registration, Weikart Workshops may be cancelled. Advance notice will be provided.

For workshops that take place at CoLab18, APOST will provide parking validation for attendees who park in the Nova Place garage. 

SEL Series

Participants are encouraged to complete a full set of SEL (Social & Emotional Learning) Youth Work Methods Workshops, a new series this season from The Forum for Youth Investment.

It is recommended to register for and take all three workshops in a single season because they build off one another. All three workshops are offered this fall.

More information about the SEL series is available online.

Fall Lineup

The complete lineup of courses that APOST will offer this fall includes:

  • Ask-Listen-Encourage (Thursday, Aug. 21 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at AIU)
  • Foundations & Self Awareness of Social Development (SEL Series) (Friday, Aug. 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at AIU)
  • Reframing Conflict (Thursday, Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Homewood CEC)
  • Foundations & Self Awareness of Social Development (SEL Series) (Friday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CoLab18)
  • Reframing Conflict (Thursday, Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at CoLab18)
  • Fostering Teamwork (SEL Series) (Friday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CoLab18)
  • Planning & Reflection (Thursday, Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at CoLab18)
  • Structure & Clear Limits (Friday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at CoLab18)
  • Youth Voice (Thursday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at CoLab18)
  • Promoting Responsibility & Leadership (SEL Series) (Friday, Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CoLab18)