Indiana Statewide Newsletter
March 3, 2020
News & Policy
The Census Toolkit for the Afterschool Community
Educate, Take Action, and Make Afterschool Count
This month, the U.S. Census Bureau will invite households across the country to participate in the 2020 Census, a head count of every living person in the U.S.

Getting an accurate count is critical - data from the Census will be used for the next 10 years to determine how the federal government spends over $900 billion a year. This money goes toward programs that are absolutely necessary for the communities we serve, such as free and reduced lunch, low-income housing, Medicaid, and the funding for afterschool programs. 

Afterschool professionals are in an excellent position to help with the Census - not only because it our communities, but because we're also able to reach harder-to-count populations from a trusted place.

Here are a few resources - provided by the Afterschool Alliance - to help ensure that your community is counted:

Get the facts about what your community needs to be aware of for the 2020 Census

Learn more about what's at stake and about how afterschool can play a role in getting an accurate Census count

Learn what you can do right now to get your afterschool program involved in getting an accurate count for your community
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

When we say that afterschool programs keep children and young people safe, we aren’t only talking about risky behaviors and crime.

The welcoming environments, supportive networks, and caring adults that afterschool programs offer are key protective factors for a range of issues including mental health, substance use, and eating disorders. Learn how afterschool makes an impact!
Where Do Candidates Stand on Afterschool?

With the 2020 presidential election only 10 months away, it's a good time to check in once again on where the presidential candidates stand on afterschool. While the Afterschool Alliance and the Indiana Afterschool Network are both non-partisan organizations we do track information related to support for afterschool and summer learning programs

Read more below!
Quality Corner
Indiana Quality Program Self-Assessment (IN-QPSA)
Engaging a Team to Help Drive Quality
If you are looking to enhance your program's quality, take a look at the Indiana Quality Program Self-Assessment. The IN-QPSA is a FREE online strengths-based assessment tool that helps you rate your program's performance. It includes downloadable surveys for staff, with automated reporting to help you track progress over time.

Quality Corner Tip: Engage a community self-assessment team, comprised of stakeholders in your community, in the process of completing the IN-QPSA. This team can offer rich and unique perspectives and deepen the conversation around improvement & strength areas - this builds trust and improves efforts!
Events
Professional Development, Conferences, and More
Webinar: Women and Girls: Gender Equity in Computer Science Education
March 4, 2020 | 2 PM EST
In honor of National Women’s History month, Karen Peterson, Founder & CEO of the National Girls Collaborative Project will highlight the challenges and opportunities of encouraging more girls across the country to pursue STEM activities and careers, and the importance of CS education in this process. She will be joined by voices from the field who will share information about their programs: Toni Robinson, President of Digital Girls, Inc. and Cathy Law, Director of the STEM Academy @ OSU. Register here.

Youth Opportunities Fair
March 16, 2020 | 12 PM - 7 PM | Indianapolis Central Library
Congressman Andre Carson's Youth Opportunities Fair presents students and parents with a variety of year-round and summer employment, internship, volunteer and service opportunities for youth of all ages. It is free to attend, and no registration is required. More info here.

Magnify Learning's Afterschool Project-Based Learning Workshop
March 30, 2020 - April 1, 2020 | 445 N Pennsylvania St., Suite 945, Indianapolis
In this three day workshop, you will experience a project-based learning (PBL) environment while you also learn the nuts and bolts of PBL. You will be given the skills and guidance to take your new knowledge and apply it to your own design of a project-based learning (PBL) unit that works in your afterschool program. You will leave the three day workshop with a fully reviewed project-based learning unit you are ready to implement with confidence! In addition each participant will receive a FREE follow-up coaching session after the workshop. This will be an opportunity to do a check-in and get feedback from a PBL Certified Coach after you've implemented your PBL unit.

Any afterschool employee and volunteer is welcome and encouraged to attend. Upon the successful completion of the workshop, participants receive a certificate for earning 21 CYC Certification points (7 per each day attended). Learn more here!
Regional Learning Network Meetings
Bloomington Afterschool Network
March 13, 10:00am EST
Youth Services Bureau of Monroe County
615 S. Adams Street
Bloomington, IN 47403

Heating Up for Summer with Marion County OST!
March 17 @ 12:00 PM EST
WFYI Public Media
1630 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202

Gary CAN
March 18, 11:00 AM CST
City Life Center
225 W. 5th Ave.
Gary, IN 46402

Evansville
March 20, 10:30 AM CST
St Vincent Medical Arts Building
3700 Bellemeade Ave
Evansville, IN 47714
Mark Your Calendars
2020 NAA Annual Convention
March 15 - 19, 2020 | Washington DC
Join the 2,300 members of the National Afterschool Association (NAA) community at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center for four days of networking, learning and inspiration: special events, workshops, daily keynotes and an interactive learning expo, all designed to meet the needs of the developing professionals and emerging and current leaders of afterschool. Learn more here .
2020 Indiana Summit on Out-of-School Learning
April 14 - 15, 2020 | Indiana Convention Center
Adventure is more than just hiking a new trail – it’s breaking the chain of routine and opening yourself up to new ideas. Adventure is challenging what’s possible for yourself, your program, and your kids. In Spring of 2020, the Indiana Afterschool Network will help you push your boundaries outward and learn how we can work together to dream, explore, and discover. Learn more here .
Funding Opportunities
Youth Service Zone Grants
Deadline: March 27, 2020
Funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, YSA’s Youth Service Zone grants offer organizations and schools an opportunity to work collaboratively to increase the youth volunteer rates in their community. Each zone will receive a grant of $15,000 ($5,000 to each of the three collaborative leaders) to support program activities. Applications will be accepted through Friday, March 27th at 11:59 p.m. Learn More!

2020-2021 FAFSA
Deadline: April 15, 2020
The 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now live and opened Tuesday, October 1. In order to secure state aid eligibility for the 2020-2021 academic year, students must submit the FAFSA by the state deadline of April 15, 2020. Seniors are encouraged to create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) prior to beginning the FAFSA. The FSA ID serves as a legal digital signature, and both the student and at least one parent must have one. The FSA ID can be created on the Federal Student Aid website.

21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) RFP
Deadline: August 12, 2020
The 21st CCLC Program is a federally-funded program (Title IV, part B) awarded to public school districts, charter schools and organizations, in order to provide youth a safe environment during non-school hours. This program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for youth, particularly youth who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. Any public or private organization is eligible to apply. Approximately $10.3 million will be available in this application period. Intent to Apply submissions are due March 12, 2020 via this link. Learn more here.
445 North Pennsylvania St.
Suite 945
Indianapolis, IN 46204
www.indianaafterschool.org | 317.822.8211