Indiana Afterschool Network
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We see Indiana as a place where ALL K-12 youth have access to high quality learning experiences beyond the school day that prepare them for success.
Focus Areas:
- Build a case for Out-Of-School Time Programs to help funders and individuals understand the importance of their support.
- Provide increased program access for students. Help communities identify new opportunities, coordinate resources and expand programs.
- Create alignment and relationships between education and workforce to increase student success. OUR GOALS
- Create stronger teams and higher quality programs by establishing standards, best practices, and evaluative tools that help measure success.
- Build a case for the importance of out-of-school time as integral to student growth and development. By doing this, we help foundations, organizations, and individuals understand the value of investing money, time, and resources in out-of-school time.
- Provide increased access to students by enlarging existing programs, developing new opportunities, and bringing more awareness to all programs.
- Nurture the alignment of education and workforce by improving communication and helping students understand their communities and the roles they play within them. HISTORY
IAN began in 2001 as a grassroots effort of school districts and afterschool providers, supported by the Indiana Department of Education. By 2007, IAN had engaged diverse leaders to obtain funding from national and local foundations, corporate sponsors, and several Indiana city/county government entities. We now have thousands of partners across the fields of education, youth development, business, government, faith-based and community organizations in Indiana and nationally. Among those we enjoy the generous support of the C.S. Mott Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, the Lumina Foundation, and many corporate supporters. IAN works closely with the Afterschool Alliance and the National Afterschool Association.
10/02/2026
How can literacy strengthen STEM learning?
For Nakeisha Washington, Founder and CEO of Nyla Nova STEM, the Indiana OST Literacy Credential helped her intentionally connect literacy to STEM education for youth.
“This experience strengthened my ability to intentionally connect reading, writing, vocabulary, speaking, listening and math literacy to engaging STEM learning.”
At Nyla Nova STEMversity, Nakeisha brings that approach to her team and the young people she serves – connecting literacy skills with opportunities to explore, create and solve problems.
Nakeisha said it best: “Learning never stops when you are committed to making a greater impact.”
👉 Learn more and explore the Indiana OST Literacy Credential: https://www.indianaafterschool.org/literacy-playbook-credentials/
10/02/2026
Looking for practical ways to create a more supportive workplace for youth-serving professionals?
The next Youth Worker Well-Being webinar will explore strategies for supporting part-time and non-traditional staff, including how to identify gaps in benefits access and design practical supports that meet the needs of a varied workforce.
Designing Support for Part-Time & Non-Traditional Staff
🗓 Thursday, October 8
⏰ 12 – 1 PM ET
💻 Virtual via Zoom
Learn more and register: https://iyi.org/youth-worker-well-being-project/events/
10/01/2026
IAN was proud to bring the out-of-school time perspective to the Indiana Chamber of Commerce's 2026 Childcare Summit, where state leaders, employers, providers, and community partners came together to discuss the future of childcare and Indiana’s workforce.
IAN Senior VP of Engagement Brent Wake moderated a panel on how quality before and afterschool programming supports student success and helps parents remain active in the workforce. The session featured leaders from Indiana's OST field, including Justin Armstrong of AYS, Inc., Anthony Williams of the YMCA of Muncie, and Lana Taylor of the Indiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs.
School-age care is an important part of the broader childcare conversation, and the OST voice needs to be at the table as Indiana considers solutions for children, families, and the workforce.
🔗 Read the Indiana Chamber’s full article on the 2026 Childcare Summit: https://www.indianachamber.com/indiana-chamber-childcare-summit-sparks-discussion-action/
The updated Indiana Afterschool Quality Standards are here!
IAN has released the 2026 Indiana Afterschool Quality Standards, offering OST programs a clearer, more practical framework for strengthening program quality and supporting continuous improvement.
The new standards are organized into eight domains, separating Program Practice from the Program Systems that help sustain quality. They also introduce Emerging, Building, and Innovating maturity levels, making it easier for programs to identify where they are now and what growth can look like over time.
👉 Explore the updated standards: https://www.indianaafterschool.org/indiana-afterschool-standards/
09/25/2026
As of 2026, over 9,000 Indiana third graders have not yet mastered reading at grade level.
MyLocker provides the tools to help out-of-school time professionals change this outcome. Unlock guides, toolkits, and sample activities to make impactful adjustments in your program’s everyday activities. 📚
🔗 To access these resources, create your MyIAN account at myian.indianaafterschool.org
Source: 2026 IREAD Statewide Summary Results from Indiana Department of Education
You spoke, we listened. The new MyIAN is officially live! 🎉
Shaped by feedback from Indiana’s out-of-school time field, MyIAN brings IAN’s primary quality tools together in one streamlined place to help providers reflect, learn, and strengthen their programs.
Log into the platform to explore:
• INQPSA: Strengths-based self-assessment grounded in the Indiana Afterschool Standards
• Indiana Out-of-School Academy: 500+ online professional learning modules
• MyLocker: Lesson plans, engagement ideas, team tools and more
Want a closer look? Join us next Tuesday, September 29 for a virtual walkthrough of the new platform and updated quality tools.
MyIAN Walkthrough Webinar:
🗓 Tuesday, September 29
⏰ 1–2 PM ET
🔗 Register: https://ow.ly/BQsI50ZQAzV
👉 Start exploring the new MyIAN today: myian.indianaafterschool.org
09/17/2026
Whether your youth-serving program is urban or rural, big or small, challenging behaviors take a toll on staff, programming, and the students.
Our latest Link IN Learn continued the conversation on behavior management – a common challenge in the out-of-school time community. IAN brought together OST providers, mental health experts, and community leaders to discuss what behaviors they are encountering in these programs.
Liz Sukys facilitated the conversation, where attendees shared their experiences, produced tools, and leveraged the experts on how to approach these situations: elopement, apathy, neurodivergence, and more.
🎤 Special thanks to Rebekah Enzler, School Care Team, for her presentation on “Kimochis" and to the Tolson Center of Community Excellence for hosting us in their beautiful community room. And thank you to Partnership for Children, and Emilly Herriott, for collaborating with us to bring everyone together.
We are grateful to have so many experts in the OST field and create space for collective wisdom. IAN is here to listen. 🤝
Tolson Center ∙ Centro Tolson
Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL)
School Care Team
The Source Elkhart County
Kosciusko Community YMCA
South Bend Code School
Oaklawn
Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County
La Casa de Amistad
Indiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs
Elkhart Community Schools
Partnership for Children
🔗 Join the next conversation:
https://www.indianaafterschool.org/regional-networking/
09/16/2026
📣 Reminder: Youth Worker Well-Being Project grant applications are due next Friday, September 25 at 5 PM ET!
Eligible Indiana youth-serving organizations can apply for up to $20,000 to invest in workplace well-being.
Funding initiatives include:
• Building Culture & Community (up to $20,000)
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (up to $20,000)
• Trauma-Informed Workplaces (up to $10,000)
🔗 Learn more and apply: iyi.org/youth-worker-well-being-project/grant-opportunities/
Want to build a healthier workplace for your youth workers? Applications for the Youth Worker Well-Being Project grants are now open through September 25 at 5 PM ET!
Funding up to $20K is available. Learn more and apply at https://iyi.org/youth-worker-well-being-project/grant-opportunities/
09/15/2026
Behavior management looks different in every out-of-school time program, but there’s a lot we can learn from each other.
OST professionals and mental health professionals from Tippecanoe County recently gathered for a Link IN Learn roundtable to talk through challenges, share experiences, and swap practical tools. The conversation covered parent discipline, bullying, supporting neurodivergent youth, and navigating equity vs equality.
🎤 Krista Konradi also introduced Kimochis, a tool that uses relatable characters to help youth communicate feelings, build connections, and practice emotional regulation.
👏 A big thank-you to George White and Bauer Family Resources for helping bring this conversation together, and to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise.
Greater Lafayette Family Shelter
Good Samaritan Project
Forest Academy
Klondike Kids Club at First United Methodist Church West Lafayette
Milestones Autism Center
Bauer Family Resources
Link IN Learns give providers space to share what’s working, learn from others, and tackle challenges together.
🔗 Register for an upcoming meeting in your region: indianaafterschool.org/regional-networking/
Coming September 22: Improved Quality Tools and MyIAN Experience
A better experience with IAN’s quality tools is on the way. Shaped by feedback from Indiana’s out-of-school time field, improvements to MyIAN and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Tools will make them easier and more intuitive for providers to navigate.
The updates launch September 22, with more information about what to expect coming later this month.
Want a closer look? Join us for a virtual walkthrough of the new MyIAN platform and improved quality tools:
Walkthrough Webinar:
🗓 September 29
⏰ 1–2 PM ET
💻 Virtual via Zoom
Register for the Sept. 29 walkthrough: https://ow.ly/Gf2h50ZMLEu
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PO Box 90122
Indianapolis, IN
46290
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