The Louisiana Program Quality Initiative (LAPQI)
What is the Louisiana Program Quality Initiative?
The LAPQI Project is designed to improve the quality of afterschool programs across the state of Louisiana through free on-site technical assistance for licensed and certified programs; more information available to all afterschool programs about best practices, program evaluation, and accreditation; and increased community education about the importance of high-quality afterschool programs. The project builds upon the partnership between the Louisiana Center for Afterschool and the Louisiana Department of Education, and fosters the shared goal of delivering these services to every region in the state.
What are the outcomes of LAPQI?
The LAPQI Project seeks to:
⬧Improve afterschool program quality across the state of Louisiana.
⬧Ensure that afterschool programs are ready and able to access additional state resources.
⬧Build the capacity of LAPQI in terms of time, skills, resources, and relationships.
⬧Collect data that can be used to inform ourselves and our stakeholders about the connection between on-site technical assistance and afterschool program quality.
Why is LAPQI important?
From social development to academic benefits, a variety of research indicates that afterschool programs can have a positive impact on the lives of children, but the most dramatic improvements occur when the programs are of high quality. High-quality programs are culturally relevant, plan activities and infrastructure based on proven best practices, and continuously self-evaluate. The staff members in these programs have undergone specialized training and have access to numerous resources and supports. In the state of Louisiana, resources tend to be unequally distributed, and children and families in rural and / or economically disadvantaged areas find the availability of high quality programs to be very limited. Many afterschool providers are struggling to meet the needs of the children and families they serve, and often these programs are unaware of the resources available to them.
How does LAPQI impact afterschool programs?
Through the LAPQI Project, Quality Coaches are increasing the training they offer to all types of afterschool programs, thereby building their awareness of best practices, accreditation, and program assessment. These educational events are instrumental in ensuring that providers across the state have some familiarity with the steps toward program improvement. However, in order for systemic change to occur, many programs need ongoing support and access to outside resources. Through the LAPQI Project, Quality Coaches are able to dedicate time to building long-term relationships with licensed and certified programs by offering on-site technical assistance, helping those programs assess themselves and set clear goals, and then providing resources to help the programs reach those goals.
Who is involved in LAPQI?
Any afterschool program in the state of Louisiana may participate in the LAPQI Project by attending trainings and other events or by contacting Quality Coaches for information about improving program quality and self-assessments. Licensed and certified afterschool programs may also participate in the free on-site technical assistance. LACAL is the lead agency for the LAPQI Project, which is carried out by the by the Quality Coaches. The LAPQI partner agencies are SciTEC at Louisiana Tech University, Children’s Coalition of Northeast Louisiana, Community Renewal Project of Shreveport, and Operation Pathways of Baton Rouge. The project is funded through a grant from with the Louisiana Department of Education (DOE).
Where does Quality Improvement take place?
The LAPQI Project takes place over all of Louisiana, dividing the state into five geographic areas:
•Northeast -Joyce Landrum, Children’s Coalition of Northeast Louisiana
email - JLandrum@childrenscoalition.org
•Southeast -Kevin Lewis, Operation Pathways of Baton Rouge
email - KLewis@operationpathways.org
•Central -Andrew Ganucheau, Louisiana Center for Afterschool Learning
email - aganuch@latech.edu
•Northwest -Callie Dean, Community Renewal Project of Shreveport
email - Callie.B.Dean@gmail.com
•Southwest -Andrew Ganucheau, Louisiana Center for Afterschool Learning
email - aganuch@latech.edu
The LAPQI Project is designed to improve the quality of afterschool programs across the state of Louisiana through free on-site technical assistance for licensed and certified programs; more information available to all afterschool programs about best practices, program evaluation, and accreditation; and increased community education about the importance of high-quality afterschool programs. The project builds upon the partnership between the Louisiana Center for Afterschool and the Louisiana Department of Education, and fosters the shared goal of delivering these services to every region in the state.
What are the outcomes of LAPQI?
The LAPQI Project seeks to:
⬧Improve afterschool program quality across the state of Louisiana.
⬧Ensure that afterschool programs are ready and able to access additional state resources.
⬧Build the capacity of LAPQI in terms of time, skills, resources, and relationships.
⬧Collect data that can be used to inform ourselves and our stakeholders about the connection between on-site technical assistance and afterschool program quality.
Why is LAPQI important?
From social development to academic benefits, a variety of research indicates that afterschool programs can have a positive impact on the lives of children, but the most dramatic improvements occur when the programs are of high quality. High-quality programs are culturally relevant, plan activities and infrastructure based on proven best practices, and continuously self-evaluate. The staff members in these programs have undergone specialized training and have access to numerous resources and supports. In the state of Louisiana, resources tend to be unequally distributed, and children and families in rural and / or economically disadvantaged areas find the availability of high quality programs to be very limited. Many afterschool providers are struggling to meet the needs of the children and families they serve, and often these programs are unaware of the resources available to them.
How does LAPQI impact afterschool programs?
Through the LAPQI Project, Quality Coaches are increasing the training they offer to all types of afterschool programs, thereby building their awareness of best practices, accreditation, and program assessment. These educational events are instrumental in ensuring that providers across the state have some familiarity with the steps toward program improvement. However, in order for systemic change to occur, many programs need ongoing support and access to outside resources. Through the LAPQI Project, Quality Coaches are able to dedicate time to building long-term relationships with licensed and certified programs by offering on-site technical assistance, helping those programs assess themselves and set clear goals, and then providing resources to help the programs reach those goals.
Who is involved in LAPQI?
Any afterschool program in the state of Louisiana may participate in the LAPQI Project by attending trainings and other events or by contacting Quality Coaches for information about improving program quality and self-assessments. Licensed and certified afterschool programs may also participate in the free on-site technical assistance. LACAL is the lead agency for the LAPQI Project, which is carried out by the by the Quality Coaches. The LAPQI partner agencies are SciTEC at Louisiana Tech University, Children’s Coalition of Northeast Louisiana, Community Renewal Project of Shreveport, and Operation Pathways of Baton Rouge. The project is funded through a grant from with the Louisiana Department of Education (DOE).
Where does Quality Improvement take place?
The LAPQI Project takes place over all of Louisiana, dividing the state into five geographic areas:
•Northeast -Joyce Landrum, Children’s Coalition of Northeast Louisiana
email - JLandrum@childrenscoalition.org
•Southeast -Kevin Lewis, Operation Pathways of Baton Rouge
email - KLewis@operationpathways.org
•Central -Andrew Ganucheau, Louisiana Center for Afterschool Learning
email - aganuch@latech.edu
•Northwest -Callie Dean, Community Renewal Project of Shreveport
email - Callie.B.Dean@gmail.com
•Southwest -Andrew Ganucheau, Louisiana Center for Afterschool Learning
email - aganuch@latech.edu
