Quality Development of Out of School Services

 

Quality Development of Out of School Services (QDOSS), hosted a conference on the 14th December 2006 in Dublin Castle. The topic was Out of School Services – their role in influencing and enabling educational outcomes for children and young people.  A report entitled 'Quality Development of Out of School Services: An agenda for development,' compiled by Dr. Paul Downes, Director of the Educational Disadvantage Centre, St Patrick's College was also launched at this conference.  The keynote speaker was Professor Robert Halpern, Chair of the Research Council at the Erikson Institute Graduate School in Child Development, Chicago.  He holds the position of Faculty Associate at the Chapin Centre for Children at the University of Chicago.  His current research focuses on the evaluation of after-school programmes for poor children and their families.  Brian Lenihan, Minister for Children, opened the conference.

QDOSS member organisations include Barnardos, Border Counties Childcare Network, Children’s Research Centre, Educational Disadvantage Centre, St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Foroige, Limerick City Childcare Committee, Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, and Youth Work Ireland.  The QDOSS network called for a national strategy on Out of School Services, at the conference.

Professor Halpern also conducted a seminar in Belvedere House, at St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra on Wednesday 13th December. This was attended by representatives from QDOSS member organisations, as well as from the Irish Youth Foundation.

QDOSS will be jointly chaired by Dr Paul Downes and Dr Catherine Maunsell of St Patrick's College until June 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated: Friday January 19 2007