Arkansas

Arkansas Out of School Network

The mission of the Arkansas Out of School Network (AOSN) is to create safe, healthy and enriching experiences for Arkansas youth during out-of-school time (OST). The goal of AOSN is to strengthen, expand and sustain Arkansas’ school-based and school-linked services to children and youth, ages five to 19 during OST.

Current Projects and Initiatives: 
  • The Arkansas Out of School Network serves as a vehicle to bring together key stakeholders and has an array of partners who have committed staff, resources, and technical assistance to support afterschool programs. AOSN’s work is currently organized into four main categories: 
    • Program Quality
    • Professional Development 
    • Communication and Public Education 
    • Finance and Resource Development
  • AOSN Network Coordinator Laveta Wills-Hale was recognized by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation as one of 40 leaders shaping the future of Arkansas.
  • AOSN continues its work with the Leadership in Action Cohort and the Arkansas Youth Development Institute (YDI) – 20 essential courses for youth development practitioners.
  • AOSN continues it work with the Arkansas Out of School Time Credential Online –This credential is designed for OST staff who work with youth kindergarten through twelve (12) years of age. It consists of 24 certificate modules and twelve credential modules based on a set of eight competency goals that can be used to evaluate knowledge and performance of individual staff and offered for college credit. launched by ASU Childhood Services.