By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
The United Way BC has expanded its School’s Out program to include Oliver and Osoyoos – where child poverty rates register 19 per cent – in the upcoming school year.
The BC child poverty report card (2024) shows that it’s one in six children in BC live in poverty, with Trisha Dulku, Strategic Initiatives Manager at United Way BC saying, “We know that this number is an average, and it’s actually quite a bit higher, about six times higher in more rural and remote communities, particularly in indigenous communities, and indigenous reserves,” she says.
The School’s Out programs offer children aged 6–12 mental and physical wellness opportunities, social developmental and academic enrichment support, and nutritious snacks during critical after-school hours.
Dulku says one of the really pivotal aspects of the program is the developmental support that it provides to kids. “Ages six to 12, this middle years age range, it’s a really key time when kids are learning new things and getting a sense of who they are, and that’s what will set them up for success when they’re young adults, or even adults in the future.
“When kids are able to build that sense of empathy, gratitude, build those conflict resolution and teamwork skills at this age range, then that’s what really makes sure that they’re able to transition into high school, complete their graduation, and then actually thrive when they’re in the workplace or or even pursuing post secondary education.”
For many families, especially those experiencing financial stress, these programs — facilitated by Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre Society, and School District 53 — will be a vital source of stability,” Dulku said.
The Oliver and Osoyoos programs will be operated within the elementary school settings, at Oliver Elementary and Osoyoos Elementary Schools. It’s important that the programs are offered in a “very safe and welcoming community space”, she adds. And while two days a week is common in other locations, the program will be offered three days a week here.
Dulku said the programs are anchored by key program elements including having positive role models, and that includes adult program staff, youth mentors which often include high school students, and even role models such as community elders.
Importantly the School’s Out initiative in both Oliver and Osoyoos includes funding to create the staff positions.
“I think it’s just so valuable for United Way to be supporting the local infrastructure, the local economy, and by making sure that these jobs are available for often times, young adults or folks that are just getting their early professional forays into their career paths, or sometimes retired grannies or other folks, older folks, that might be our program leads for schools.”
Every program has a healthy snack component, and that’s “really important in this day and age,” Dulku highlights.
A lot of families and kids are missing out on healthy snacks, fruits and vegetables, she underscores. “We know that food insecurity is a key concern right now, and that’s one of the reasons why every program session includes a healthy snack, and [because] we know kids cannot learn or have fun on an empty stomach.
And School’s Out program is also aligned with each school district curriculum as well, to ensure kids can develop key literacy skills that they need to thrive, numeracy, social development as well.
As to who would qualify for the program, that is left up to those on the ground – teachers, councilors, administrators, the school district, etc – to determine. “It’s usually our school staff, our teachers who know families the best and will likely know who would most need access. That’s a key component of this partnership,” she said.
As far as the existing programs that have been operating for some time, like Rotary’s Backpack Program in Osoyoos, or the Starfish Pack Program in Oliver for instance, Dulku sees the School’s Out Program as being complementary.
“I would really say that it’s complimentary, because this is a program that’s following the school year, and it’s there as that critical support program, enrichment program for kids in critical after school hours.”
The program will run from September all the way to June, “so it’s not a one and done kind of a session, but it’s going to be consistently there for them over the school year,” she added.
While the program is just coming to Oliver and Osoyoos it’s actually been around since 2008 when The BC United Way first partnered with the University of British Columbia on middle years development programs.
“So this is a unique flagship initiative from United Way BC . . . we’ve always had a focus on ensuring that the kids in the middle years have that support that they need in critical after school hours, so that they can be set up to succeed in the future,” she said.
Dulku added that the United Way BC is able to bring the program to communities because of the support they receive from donors. “If there are any folks that are hearing this story about School’s Out and are wondering, ‘how can I make sure that this program is available in my community or in my neighbourhood, or how can I make sure that this program stays in Oliver and Osoyoos,’ I would encourage folks to donate.”
Donations can be made at uwbc.ca, with every dollar that’s donated, going back into the community that it’s raised from.
