Connecticut

Connecticut After School Network

The Connecticut After School Network (the Network) is a statewide coalition of policymakers, educators, childcare providers, youth development workers, program directors, advocates and state agencies working together to ensure that all children have the opportunity to participate in high-quality out-of-school time programs.

Connecticut After School Network
Accomplishments: 
  • The Network launched a statewide After the Bell Policy Symposium on education and community partnerships.
  • The Network coordinated the advocacy campaign to maintain $4.5 million in dedicated state funding for afterschool in the state budget.
  • The Network led a collaborative process with the Department of Public Health to make substantial changes to the childcare center regulations that have jurisdiction over afterschool programs.
  • The Network implemented a statewide system of training and technical assistance, including a training and consultation service that brought workshops directly to afterschool program sites. Instructors conducted 56 workshops that provided training to 1,431 staff on a broad range of topics.
  • The Network provided quality advising visits and database technical assistance for state-funded afterschool grantees at 61 sites.  
  • The Network conducted five statewide conferences, including events specifically for program directors and middle and high school programs.
  • The Network organized the Director’s Seminar Series—a series of five half-day workshops and five regional roundtable luncheons for program directors and site coordinators.
  • The Network continued a free monthly webinar series and added new ones in collaboration with other northeast statewide afterschool networks.
  • The Network created a series of six quality enhancement tools entitled, Staff Meeting Starters for program directors. These include step-by-step guides, resources and all materials needed to conduct an engaging and meaningful staff meeting.
Current Projects and Initiatives: 
  • The Network is conducting a strategic planning effort to be completed in late winter 2012.
  • The Network is facilitating an intensive policy development initiative with state officials and key stakeholders that will result in a statewide plan for expanded learning opportunities in December 2012.
  • The Network is gathering input from youth, parents and providers through focus groups and surveys to help inform statewide policy.
  • The Network is also expanding communications efforts, including new print materials, upgrades to the network website, social media efforts and organizational branding.
  • The Network is piloting a peer-to-peer learning community model for afterschool program directors.