S.A.F.E. gets contract extension

Program in Washington Township gets deal through 2004; sees enrollment on the rise.

By: Mark Moffa
   WASHINGTON — As Assistant Director Melissa Csillan is busy signing T-shirts, Director Marci Rubin is taking pictures. This day marks the conclusion of eight weeks of hard work.
   It’s the last day of the S.A.F.E. summer camp in Washington and about a dozen of the students participating in one of the group’s summer programs are putting on a dance show.
   Ms. Rubin is smiling — for more than one reason.
   Her company, S.A.F.E. (School-Age Fun and Enrichment) has been providing child care and development services to the township for two years, and an agreement recently was reached with the school district to continue the contract through June 2004.
   Parents and school officials reportedly were not happy with the previous provider, but S.A.F.E. seems to have met their needs.
   The organization, which is for-profit, was brought into the township in September 1999 to provide students with care before and after school.
   The company’s before- and after-care programs provide activities for students in middle and elementary school. Every month features a different theme and clubs are formed to learn subjects such as sign language or Spanish, or to practice dance or crafts. And when school is closed, S.A.F.E. is open all day.
   "The whole philosophy of what we do is to provide a variety of activities," Ms. Rubin said.
   Ms. Rubin, who has operated a similar program in West Windsor for 10 years, is proud of the Washington program’s success. It’s enrollment numbers have risen steadily — 190 students signed up the first school year, 268 last year, and S.A.F.E. already has more than that enrolled for this school year.
   Last summer, 109 students participated in its activities; that number rose to 187 this summer.
   "They (parents) know how important S.A.F.E. is for the community," Ms. Rubin said.
   Ms. Csillan said she was particularly proud of the summer program’s success. S.A.F.E. offered a wide variety of topics this summer, including science, travel, cheerleading, sports, art, and dance.
   The summer program was five-weeks long last summer. This year, S.A.F.E. offered an eight-week program, and plans to do the same next year.
   Ms. Rubin said all of S.A.F.E.’s programs help children build self-esteem, and stimulate social, physical, and mental growth.
   She has a master’s degree in business from Rider University, and has teaching and supervisory certifications. Ms. Rubin stresses staff development as one of her priorities and touts the organization’s high employee retention rate as a sign that people are happy with S.A.F.E.
   S.A.F.E. is a member of the New Jersey School-Age Child Care Coalition, and one of Ms. Rubin’s goals for this school year is to obtain accreditation from the National School-Age Care Alliance.
   To receive the national recognition, S.A.F.E. must meet 36 standards set by the NSACA, Ms Rubin said. Her hope is to receive accreditation as soon as possible, but she said the fact that S.A.F.E. does not have its own facilities will make the process difficult.
   The organization rents space from the school district for its programs, all of which are held at the township’s schools.
   Other goals include offering enrichment classes that would be open to any student in the district — not just those who attend S.A.F.E. Before or After Care, Ms. Rubin said.
   She also would like to start a parent advisory council for S.A.F.E. to collect input from parents on how the company could improve its service.
   On the business side, Ms. Rubin said the operation is going well, although S.A.F.E. still is recovering from the initial startup costs. Ms. Csillan said a good portion of the profits are put back into the business for equipment and supplies — not to mention the insurance costs — needed to keep the programs running.
   "You can’t have a good program unless you put something into it," Ms. Rubin said. She added that employees tend to stay with the company. "If you treat them well they’re going to stay."
   Tuition costs for the after-care program range from $40 a month to stay until 5:30 p.m. one day a week to $218 a month for students at Sharon School staying until 6 p.m. five days a week.
   The deadline for enrolling in before- or after-care for the upcoming school year is Friday, Ms. Csillan said. Interested parties should call 259-1547 for registration packets.