Supporting the National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks

About this grant

The goal of a statewide afterschool network is to bring together policymakers, educators, childcare providers, youth development workers, program developers, advocates, parents and others interested in improving outcomes for children and youth through school-based/school-linked afterschool programs. Networks serve as vehicles for joint planning; sharing of resources and best practices; building bridges to and between federal, state and local afterschool initiatives; and forging partnerships necessary for comprehensive statewide afterschool policies. As the afterschool field grows, the National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks will further connect networks in a learning community to encourage an exchange of expertise, ideas, promising practices, successes and challenges.Multiyear funding will enable the Collaborative Communications Group to organize four national meetings of networks; maintain a comprehensive Web site and host a listserv; support monthly open discussion conference calls and quarterly network coordinator calls; develop orientation kits for new networks and network coordinators; and document the successes and challenges of the networks.During the past three years, the Collaborative Communications Group supported the development of the National Network by providing assistance to the Afterschool Technical Assistance Collaborative and strengthening individual state efforts.