We are proud to announce that Keystone Community Services’ Community Kids Afterschool Program has recently earned accreditation through the Minnesota Afterschool Accreditation Program (MAAP). Community Kids completed a rigorous quality improvement process, was assessed to ensure that they met all required indicators, and received an accreditation endorsement. Community Kids provides academic support and enrichment for students in kindergarten through 10th grade after school and during summer at the West 7th Community Center in Saint Paul.
“The accreditation process takes a tremendous amount of time and dedication, but it’s clear that achieving it benefits children, families, and teachers”, said Julie Murphy, Community Kids Program Director. “We are very proud of the improvements we put in place that raised our level of quality and made Community Kids an even better place for youth to learn, grow, and shine after school.”
The MAAP accreditation system was created to set professional standards for afterschool programs, and to help families identify high quality programs. To earn MAAP Accreditation, a program must meet research-based quality standards in five foundation areas; Administration, Wellness, Activities, Relationships and Environments. This includes an evaluation of the program’s policies and practices by an outside observer from the accrediting body. It typically takes nine to eighteen months for a program to navigate the entire process. Programs are accredited by MAAP for a three year period.
Keystone’s Community Kids Program is a Federal 21st Century Community Learning Center, administered through the Minnesota Department of Education. For more information, contact Julie Murphy, Program Director, 651-298-5493, x.214, jmurphy@keystoneservices.org.
MAAP is sponsored by the Minnesota School-Age Care Alliance (MnSACA), a private non-profit organization whose mission is to support professionals and promote quality within the school-age care field. To learn more about MnSACA or MAAP accreditation, contact 651-789-3586 or maap@mnaeyc-mnsaca.org.