2025 50 State Afterschool Network Leaders Meeting: Full Schedule

2:00pm MDT

Network Showcase: Materials Drop-Off

Sunday April 13, 2025 2:00pm - 5:00pm MDT

Get ready to highlight your good work, inspire, and spark ideas for others! We're organizing a showcase where everyone can explore and gain insights into the innovative work being done by the networks. To participate, do one of the following and drop it off at the registration desk:

Option 1: Bring a sample of resources and materials you want to share with fellow attendees such as annual reports, one-pagers, toolkits, engaging activities, or fun swag.
Option 2: Create an informal poster presentation and include your materials there. You can use the "Optional Team Time" on Monday to prep.

Sunday April 13, 2025 2:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Mountain View Foyer

Network Share

9:00am MDT

Network Showcase

Monday April 14, 2025 9:00am - 5:00pm MDT

Mountain View Foyer

Stop by the Network Showcase to explore and gain insights into the innovative work being done by the networks! We'll have samples of resources and materials from the networks such as annual reports, one-pagers, toolkits, engaging activities, fun swag, and more!

Monday April 14, 2025 9:00am - 5:00pm MDT
Mountain View Foyer

Network Share

3:30pm MDT

Network Share: Continuous Improvement in School-Age Care

Monday April 14, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT

Puma ABC Meeting Room

A discussion about the unique design needed to support continuous program/quality improvement for school-age care programs. Learn about Ignite's new i-SAC accreditation and continuous program improvement process. We modified our existing M3 CQI/CPI process to work for school-age care. How are you supporting the unique needs of this program type in your state?

Speakers

Devin Hanson

Program Specialist - School Age Care Accreditation, Ignite Afterschool (MN)

Monday April 14, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT
Puma ABC Meeting Room

Network Share

3:30pm MDT

Network Share: Digital Equity

Monday April 14, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT

Eagle AB

Discuss opportunities for after school networks to participate in digital equity/access work through upcoming federal and state funding. State digital equity plans are being developed with opportunities to include after school. NH will share examples on Digital Navigators, connections to STEM, and workforce development, and TN will lead a conversation about Digital career exploration, equity (kids of color/girls/rural), service to community and seniors, private funds, etc.

Speakers

Mary Graham

Tennessee Afterschool Network

Shelli Roberts

NHAN

Monday April 14, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT
Eagle AB

Network Share

3:30pm MDT

Network Share: From Headache to Home Run: Shifting State Funding for Afterschool

Monday April 14, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT

Badger B

Over the last few years, New York experienced overwhelming administrative issues with afterschool contracts leading providers to return funding rather than run programs. The NYS Network for Youth Success utilized a multi-prong approach to resolve this issue, including mobilization of our Public Funding Task Force, advocacy through state leaders, and partnership with the funding agency, resulting in an all-new afterschool funding stream crafted with care to promote quality and reduce burdens. Let's talk about some key takeaways from this process and the resulting program that can inform other afterschool funding streams.

Speakers

Kelly McMahon

New York State Network for Youth Success

Monday April 14, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT
Badger B

Network Share

3:30pm MDT

Network Share: Innovations in Professional Development

Monday April 14, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT

Hawk ABC

What Professional Development models and approaches have worked best coming out of Covid? How have the needs of the field changed and how have you been creative or thinking outside the box to respond? Two examples from Ignite: 1) In late 2023, Ignite Afterschool launched PDX (Professional Development Exchange)- a twist on typical PD design with a hybrid model that builds the capacity of afterschool site/program managers to coach, train and support their own direct service youth workers. 2) Young Nonprofit Leaders Club: a 7 month training cohort of young professionals (HS - 24) learning nonprofit management skills.

Speakers

Keem Anderson

Ignite Afterschool (Minnesota)

Po Eh

Ignite Afterschool (MN)

Hay Blute Paw

Ignite Afterschool (MN)

Monday April 14, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT
Hawk ABC

Network Share

3:30pm MDT

Network Share: Vermont Afterschool's Youth Empowerment Framework

Monday April 14, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT

Bear AB

Youth voice can not only be cultivated, it can be turned into action and can create change in their lives and communities. Our Youth Empowerment Model walks adults through 4 phases of working with youth to bring their thoughts and ideas to life. We will talk through the 4 phase model, how the Search Institute's Developmental Relationships Framework fits into each phase, some example tools & ideas for bringing each phase to life, and how this model has worked in a wide variety of settings. From individual advocacy and action, to developing community change projects, our Youth Empowerment Framework provides the guardrails to ensure the youths' voices are leading the way.

Access session slides HERE.

Speakers

Matt Wolf

Vermont Afterschool

Monday April 14, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm MDT
Bear AB

Network Share

4:15pm MDT

Network Share: Creating Professional Development Experiences and More Using the Iterative Design Process

Monday April 14, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT

Hawk ABC

As afterschool networks, we often create or facilitate professional learning experiences and educational materials. Yet many of us do not come from a background where we were taught to design for adult learners. In this network share, we will give you a crash course into the iterative design process and how it can be used to frame professional learning and support provided by your network.

Speakers

Christine Jones Monaccio

Professional Development and Quality Coordinator, Virginia Partnership for Out-of-School Time

Monday April 14, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT
Hawk ABC

Network Share

4:15pm MDT

Network Share: Engaging Youth in Advocacy

Monday April 14, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT

Bear AB

Florida After School, Inc. just completed our second "Teen Day at the Capitol" with sell-out success. As we craft unique opportunities to engage young people at the state level and embrace equity of access, we want to share our lessons learned and ask others what they are doing to activate youth voice and choice beyond their own communities.

Speakers

Holly McPhail

Communications & Strategy, Florida After School, Inc.

Monday April 14, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT
Bear AB

Network Share

4:15pm MDT

Network Share: Shifting our Stance on Workforce

Monday April 14, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT

Eagle AB

CAN's exploration of how we express “Adult Nurturance” as our foundation for workforce exploration. We believe that by centering the needs, gifts, and talents of our workforce, we can leverage that into different conversations about recruitment (Into) and Retention (Through) in Expanded Learning/OOST spaces and Elevation (Beyond) into other fields where a Youth Development foundation would prove beneficial. We wlll share how our work in everything from registered apprenticeships to the SOC code work all connect to creating better learning and leading opportunities for our field which can result in more rewarding experiences for our young people and communities.

Speakers

Tiffany Gipson

Director, Equity and Quality, California

Tiffany Gipson is the Director of Equity and Quality with the California AfterSchool Network (CAN). She started with CAN as a member of the Leadership Team and quickly transitioned to a staff position in August 2017.Before becoming a part of the CAN Team, Tiffany was the Technical... Read More →

Monday April 14, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT
Eagle AB

Network Share

4:15pm MDT

Network Share: STEM Partnerships – Creating an Engineering Mindset

Monday April 14, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT

Puma ABC Meeting Room

Partnerships that support professionals, youth, and families to collaborate towards a shared goal and assist each other in understanding concepts through interaction.

Speakers

Regina Sidney-Brown

Delaware Afterschool Network

Monday April 14, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT
Puma ABC Meeting Room

Network Share

4:15pm MDT

Network Share: The bigger the team, the bigger the budget, with more grants and reports and projects to manage!

Monday April 14, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT

Badger B

If your network has 10 or more staff, join this small table discussion to share how you are managing large teams, organizing their work, and dealing with multiple reports/projects.

Speakers

Terri Foulkes

Executive Director, Missouri AfterSchool Network

Terri Foulkes is the Network Lead for the Missouri AfterSchool Network. The Missouri AfterSchool Network builds systems across the state that improve, support, and sustain high quality afterschool programs.

Monday April 14, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm MDT
Badger B

Network Share

5:00pm MDT

Developing Equitable, System-Level Strategies to Strengthen Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Mental Health Support for the Out-of-School Time (OST) Community

Monday April 14, 2025 5:00pm - 5:30pm MDT

Eagle AB

A multi-state led discussion about Strengthening Social-Emotional Learning and Mental Health Supports for the OST Community. Those participating in the NCASE  Peer Learning Group will provide strategies and examples of work being done in their states (AZ,DC,KY,NV,NY,OH,UT,WV).

Speakers

Michele Ritchlin

Executive Director, Ohio

Monday April 14, 2025 5:00pm - 5:30pm MDT
Eagle AB

Network Share

5:00pm MDT

Network Share: Amplifying Youth Voices: Initiatives and Insights from ACT Now and MASP

Monday April 14, 2025 5:00pm - 5:30pm MDT

Bear AB

Youth voice has been a focal point in numerous discussions in recent months. Afterschool for Children and Teens Now (ACT Now) and the Michigan After School Partnership (MASP) have recently initiated youth afterschool ambassador programs aimed at amplifying youth voices within their networks. This dialogue will delve into the process undertaken by the Illinois and Michigan networks to establish these programs, or experiences thus far, and the insights we have gained along the way. We eagerly anticipate sharing our endeavors and extending support to other networks, while also learning how others have involved young people in their initiatives!

Speakers

Tiffany Ellison

ACT Now Illinois

Angelique Nichols

Michigan Afterschool Partnership

Monday April 14, 2025 5:00pm - 5:30pm MDT
Bear AB

Network Share

5:00pm MDT

Network Share: Elevating the OST Profession in Nevada

Monday April 14, 2025 5:00pm - 5:30pm MDT

Hawk ABC

This sharing session will highlight the recent work being done in Nevada around quality, including the newly released Out-of-School Time Professional Pathways Certification, revised quality standards, and a technical assistance program.

Speakers

Kendra Gipson

Network Lead, Nevada Afterschool Network

Monday April 14, 2025 5:00pm - 5:30pm MDT
Hawk ABC

Network Share

5:00pm MDT

Network Share: Statewide Afterschool Networks and Community Schools Efforts

Monday April 14, 2025 5:00pm - 5:30pm MDT

Puma ABC Meeting Room

How can involvement in statewide community schools efforts build better partnerships and elevate afterschool priorities? Hear from two of the statewide afterschool networks that are also serving as the statewide community schools network about what's worked for them. Learn about community schools opportunities in your state, and discuss potential for your network's involvement.

Speakers