Mission Statement
The mission of the SoDakSACA is to promote quality Out-of-School Time programs for children and youth through professional development and public advocacy.
SoDakSACA History
Prior to 1998, South Dakota out-of-school time (OST) directors and their staff did not know one another, and there was no formal network to provide support for this group. There was also no conference or training available specifically geared for school-age care professionals.
Interest in forming an affiliate organization to the National School-Age Care Alliance (NSACA) grew, after a statewide conference on school-age care in 1998, sponsored by the state Child Care Services office. Many directors and staff also attended the national NSACA conference in San Antonio in 1999, and our goal became one of forming our own organization and becoming affiliated by the next NSACA conference in April 2000.
Our first official meeting was called to order in October, 1999, at the South Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children (SDAEYC) conference in Aberdeen, SD, with election of officers and board members, and the passage of by-laws.
In late October 1999, Sioux Falls was the site of the first SoDakSACA sponsored workshop. Jim “Mr. H-A-P-P-Y!!” Atkinson attracted approximately 90 new members.
SoDakSACA officially became a NSACA, now known as NAA (National Afterschool Association), affiliate in March of 2000.
Since that time, SoDakSACA sponsors the SoDakSACA Conference annually in October, and also the Afterschool Day at the Capitol each year in January or early February at the State Capitol Rotunda. In recent years, SoDakSACA has co-sponsored the statewide Lights On Afterschool event. SoDakSACA began hosting the annual OST Directors’ Retreat in 2013 to continue this unique leadership training opportunity for directors, which was started by the Division of Child Care in 2004.
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events at this time.
Recent News
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
South Dakota School Age Care Alliance
"Out of School Time" in South Dakota!
SoDakSACA voted to endorse the NAA Core Competencies
Click here to learn about NAA Core Competencies!
SoDakSACA is the South Dakota Affiliate of the National AfterSchool Association.
The South Dakota Network for Children and Youth is the SD Affiliate of the National AfterShool Association. NAA and its State Affiliates share a mutual purpose and agreement to support, develop, and advocate for Out-of-School Time professionals and the profession. NAA and its State Affiliates build connectivity among stakeholders and create opportunities for engagement to ensure a vibrant future for the Out-of-School Time profession. OST professionals who are not currently paid NAA members and live in South Dakota, our state affiliation and an Annual Fall Conference registration make you eligible for a free NAA membership. If you prefer, NAA membership may be purchased directly from NAA on a sliding scale from $25 to $150.
Program Highlight
If you would like your after school program highlighted, please submit program information and pictures to Stacey.ross@k12.sd.us
If you haven't completed the survey yet, please take 15 minutes to do this.The Afterschool Alliance wants to hear from you! As someone who understands the vital role afterschool and summer programs play in the lives of young people, families, and communities, we encourage you to support our partner through their open survey.
Consider taking 15 minutes to help the Alliance! 3to6.co/survey ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Register by Dec 14 for the best price!Earlier this month, the National AfterSchool Association team met in-person to review the hundreds of session proposals we received for NAA Convention 2025. As we shared last week, the US presidential election occurred right in the middle of this convening, which led us to view our session selections in light of the current political climate of our nation.
While this did not cause us to change our choice of selected sessions, we did walk into the room on Wednesday with a renewed sense of purpose — about the importance of community, of Convention, and of the association’s unique ability to platform ideas and initiatives representing diverse perspectives from across the country.
Session selection is always an exciting process for those of us at NAA, as we get to not only envision learning tracks that dovetail with our priorities but also gain a deeper understanding of what priorities feel critical to those in the field. In March, NAA25 participants will see many highly-rated sessions from past years but will also have a chance to learn from a number of first-time Convention presenters who are bringing a new perspective to our community.
As a team, we are deeply grateful for all NAA members and partners who submitted proposals for NAA25, and we look forward to seeing so many of these sessions come to life in Nashville in March!
Are you interested in attending NAA25 as a participant? Consider registering by Dec. 14 to take advantage of our lowest available registration price! loom.ly/-8LY9Zw ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
#STEMDayHappy #STEMDay! We're celebrating because we know afterschool programs are a natural place for youth to explore, innovate, and develop interest in STEM—especially for those traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields. 💪
#AA3PM aa3pm.co/STEM ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook