Reinforcing Commitment to Excellence in Youth Programming
For South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM), becoming an APOST Quality Campaign Partner is more than a designation. It is a reflection of our organization’s ongoing commitment to providing meaningful, high-quality experiences for young people.
The recognition comes after a long process of training, assessment, reflection, and improvement through the Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) Quality Campaign. The initiative helps youth-serving organizations evaluate and strengthen their programs through a continuous quality improvement framework rooted in research and best practices.
For SHIM Children and Youth Director Mary Pannier, the designation represents both an achievement and an opportunity.
“Programs are so busy day-to-day that it can be difficult to pause, reflect, and evaluate what’s working and where we can improve,” she said. “Being part of the APOST cohort gave us a structured way to do that.”
The designation also serves as a visible affirmation of SHIM’s commitment to excellence.
“It’s a recognizable stamp that shows the work we’re doing meets a certain standard of quality,” Mary explained. “We can be proud of what we’ve accomplished while still recognizing that there will always be opportunities to grow.”
Building on a Strong Foundation
SHIM participated in the Quality Campaign in 2019, but when APOST revamped the initiative, Mary saw an opportunity to renew the designation while strengthening practices already underway.
Particularly exciting was the campaign’s alignment with the Weikart Center’s continuous quality improvement framework, which SHIM had informally adopted after Mary completed Weikart training two years ago.
“It felt like a very natural next step,” she said. “The framework aligned closely with the work we were already doing and gave us additional structure and guidance to deepen that work.”
The designation also reinforces SHIM’s broader mission of building self-sufficiency and community. While after-school programs are often viewed simply as a safe place for children to stay until parents finish work, SHIM’s approach extends far beyond supervision.
“We’re trying to do so much more than childcare,” Mary said. “We’re helping young people build skills, confidence, resilience, and connections that support them through the challenges they’re facing now and prepare them for future success.”
Understanding Quality Improvement
At the heart of the Quality Campaign is the Program Quality Assessment (PQA), a research-based tool designed to evaluate the environments and experiences youth programs provide.
The assessment examines key elements of program quality, including physical and emotional safety, staff interactions, youth engagement, cultural responsiveness, leadership opportunities, and supportive learning environments.
“The process really focuses on creating the conditions where young people can thrive,” Mary explained. “It looks at the environment we’re creating and the ways staff and youth interact.”
Multiple staff members conduct observations at different times and independently document what they see. The team then comes together to compare observations, discuss evidence, and collectively score the program against quality indicators.
The process helps organizations celebrate strengths while identifying opportunities for improvement.
“It gives you a chance to recognize what’s going well and also focus on areas where you can make the program even stronger,” Mary said.
Strengthening the Field
Beyond individual organizations, Mary believes the APOST Quality Campaign plays an important role in elevating the entire out-of-school-time field.
Over her decade of experience working with youth programs, she has seen a growing movement to professionalize the field and establish shared standards of excellence.
“Universal standards help strengthen and legitimize the work,” she said. “APOST is providing guidance, support, and leadership that helps programs across Allegheny County thrive.”
The organization’s efforts create opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and collective improvement among youth-serving organizations throughout the region.
Learning Through Reflection
A key component of the Quality Campaign is reflection.
After completing her training, Mary trained SHIM team members to participate in the assessment process. Each conducted independent observations before coming together for collaborative scoring sessions.
The discussions required participants to examine evidence, share perspectives, and reach consensus on each assessment area.
“That collaborative reflection is incredibly valuable,” Mary said. “You’re hearing different viewpoints and learning from one another while building a fuller picture of the program.”
The process also helped staff view observation and feedback as tools for growth rather than criticism. The experience has even influenced how SHIM approaches staff development and onboarding.
“As we bring on new staff, we’ll continue emphasizing observation and feedback as part of our culture of learning and improvement,” Mary said.
Turning Assessment into Action
One of the most meaningful outcomes of the process was the ability to identify practical improvements and implement changes quickly. For example, staff recognized opportunities to provide healthier snack options for participants and successfully developed a new system to make that happen. Other improvements addressed issues the team had long recognized but had not yet prioritized.
“The assessment gave us stronger evidence and motivation to make those changes sooner,” Mary said.
Looking ahead, SHIM hopes to expand opportunities for youth leadership and voice, potentially through initiatives such as a teen advisory council or youth leadership board.
Creating more opportunities for young people to help shape programming is a natural extension of our organization’s commitment to empowerment and self-sufficiency.
A Culture of Continuous Growth
Among all the accomplishments associated with the designation, Mary is most proud of the staff who committed their time and energy to the process.
“Youth work is incredibly demanding,” she said. “Every young person has unique needs, and our staff consistently put those needs first. The fact that they were willing to fully engage in this process despite everything on their plates is something that makes me really proud.”
More broadly, the Quality Campaign reflects SHIM’s growing commitment to evaluating and strengthening its impact across all programs.
“We’re moving beyond simply meeting needs,” Mary said. “We’re asking how well we’re meeting those needs, how we can improve, and how we can maximize our impact.”
Advice for Other Organizations
For organizations considering participation in the APOST Quality Campaign, Mary’s advice is simple: secure staff buy-in and stay focused on the mission.
“Help your team understand the purpose behind the process and how it benefits young people,” she said. “Be open to both the strengths and the challenges you uncover.”
She also emphasized that while the process requires commitment, APOST structures it in a manageable and supportive way.
“They paced it well and made it achievable,” she said. “As long as you keep connecting the work back to the children and communities you serve, it’s absolutely worth it.”
More Than an After-School Program
Ultimately, Mary hopes the designation helps the community better understand the depth and impact of youth programming.
“After-school programs aren’t just babysitting,” she said. “We’re trying to accomplish so much in a short amount of time, and our staff go above and beyond every day to support young people in whatever way they need.”
She credits SHIM’s success to the dedication and passion of the youth program team.
“I’m incredibly fortunate to work with people who truly believe in this work,” she said. “Even when we identify areas for growth, it’s never because they aren’t giving everything they have. The care and commitment they bring is real.”
For SHIM, the APOST Quality Campaign designation is both a recognition of excellent work already happening and a promise to continue striving for even greater impact.
“The work is important,” Mary said. “The impact is real. And we’re committed to continuing to grow so we can serve every young person as well as possible.”
