2022 will be a year of amazing OST opportunities, and we want to provide resources that genuinely empower you and your organization.

To do that, we are seeking feedback from all staff at your organization - from administration to front-line care providers - which will help guide the creation of our future professional development opportunities.

The survey should take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. And, if you complete the survey by 5:00pm EST on October 22 you will be entered to win a $100 gift card.

Feel free to contact Keith Monfreda with questions.

The Indiana Afterschool Network is excited to release our new myIAN User Guide.

This "how to" manual covers all of the functionality of the myIAN platform - from creating and sharing new assessments in the IN-QPSA, to searching for a particular resource in the My Afterschool Locker.

With helpful screenshots and step-by-step instructions, you can utilize this guide to familiarize yourself with myIAN's quality tools or to look up how to accomplish specific tasks. Download the guide below to enhance your quality journey today!

10:00 AM EST | 2nd Thursday of the month

10:30 AM CST | 3rd Friday of the month

ID: 1779419731 | Password: Ykkye3MbV53

11:00 AM CST | 3rd Wednesday of the month

10:00 AM EST | 4th Monday of the month

3rd Tuesday of every month | 12:00 PM EST

11:00 AM CST | 3rd Thursday of the month

11:00 AM EST | 4th Wednesday of the month

You are invited to IYI’s 2021 KIDS COUNT® Conference! Participants will empower each other to create change, develop innovative programs, and to create the roadmap to address the rapid changes to kids’ academic, emotional, social, and physical needs – and the professional changes of the youth worker field. Click the link above for more information and registration.

The theme for the 2021 conference is “STEM Education Meets a Global Challenge.” Presentations will include strategies that address social distancing and virtual learning in STEM education. The conference is an opportunity for teachers and schools to learn about effective lessons, policies, partnerships, assessments, and education strategies in STEM. Click the link above to learn more!

Afterschool professionals help equip their youth with the skills needed to succeed in a world that we can only imagine. Challenge yourself to explore new perspectives, make key connections, and build lasting relationships that will strengthen the afterschool field at the NAA's 2022 Convention.

Most of us already know that relationships matter in any field, but particularly in education and youth work. The question is: how? How do I build life impacting relationships with the students/youth I serve? How do I build resourceful relationships with my colleagues? How do I build supportive relationships with my students’ parents?

Based on the book Relationships That Work, this workshop presents a framework—the practice of four essential skills that will posture and position any educator to a place of relational readiness. 1.) Reflecting (on why I am here); 2.) Directing (the fuel of my emotion); 3.) Connecting (building relational bridges across differences) and 4.) Protecting (my mind, my heart, and my body from toxic, hurtful people). Cost: $5

October 14, 2021 | 3:00 PM EST

Over two 75-minute sessions with Jobs for the Future (JFF), you’ll learn how to use JFF’s Possible Futures (PF) Engineering and Design curriculum unit to introduce students to careers that require an engineering mindset. Get ready for interactive sessions that are designed to be a supportive learning community. You will be introduced to the 20-lesson unit and do some deep dives into lessons that use the engineering and design process to solve real-world problems. Participants will walk away with the knowledge and strategies they need to make the PF Engineering and Design unit work for their program.

Lights On Afterschool - River City Drumbeat Discussion

October 25, 2021 | 6:00 PM EST

River City Drumbeat, a new documentary about the River City Drum Corp afterschool program, is a powerful story of music, love, and legacies. Edward White devoted his life to leading the African-American drum corps he co-founded with his wife in Louisville, KY three decades ago. Together they inspired youth from their neighborhood to thrive by connecting them with the art and cultural traditions of their African ancestors. River City Drumbeat follows this creative community of mentors, parents, and youth making their way in a world where systemic forces raise obstacles to fulfilling their dreams.

Join the Afterschool Alliance in conversation with River City Drum Corp as participants watch short clips from the film and discuss aspects of the program and its impact.

GOOD DOCS is providing complimentary access to River City Drumbeat from Oct 24-28. Visit their website to sign up to receive a code to stream the film, and click below to register for this discussion today!

For families with qualifying incomes (128%+ of the federal poverty level), classified as essential workers, the state of Indiana can cover up to 80% of tuition fees for kids up to age 12, including early learning, before-school, after-school, and summer learning programs. Programs that wish to accept scholarship funds are required to complete a 30-minute information webinar, which is available 24/7, so you can complete it when it is convenient for you. To complete this session:

Build, Learn, Grow Stabilization Grants are non-competitive and designed to provide short-term funding to early care & education and out-of-school time programs that have faced increased costs and challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing them to stabilize their operations and build capacity for the future. Applications will not be accepted after Dec. 30, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST. Click the link above to visit the website for full eligibility criteria, allowable expenses, and more information on the application process.

Getting funding and long-term sustainability can feel daunting, but with the right tools, you can set your program up for success. The Afterschool Alliance has recently updated and revamped their Funding Database. You can use the new search functions to find the latest funding opportunities for afterschool, including recovery and COVID-relief funding.