Wyoming

Wyoming Afterschool Alliance

The Wyoming Afterschool Alliance (WYAA) was created to support and promote quality school-based and school-linked afterschool programs focused upon improving positive youth outcomes for youth and families throughout the state.

Current Projects and Initiatives: 
  • WYAA, with support from National Institute of Out of School Time (NIOST) implemented the APAS (A Program Assessment System), which builds on a common approach to quality improvement across the field.
  • The Wyoming Cross-Sector STEM Collaborative is WYAA's statewide pilot project to advance STEM learning in afterschool. The project gives afterschool program providers a structure for defining the elements of high-quality STEM activities.
  • WYAA began an initiative to understand juvenile justice issues in Wyoming and promote high-quality afterschool programs as a resource for high-risk children in grades K-12. The Juvenile Justice Initiative works to identify current programs and partnerships in Wyoming communities that focus on prevention and early intervention of risky behaviors for K-12 youth.
  • The "Core Knowledge and Competencies for Afterschool and Youth Development Professionals" was adopted by WYAA and authored by the National Afterschool Association. It outlines 10 content areas such as Child and Youth Growth and Development, Learning Environment and Curriculum, and Child/Youth Observation and Assessment.
  • The Wyoming Program Quality Practices are a companion to the Core Knowledge and Competencies, and they provide a common understanding of the essential components of quality practice in afterschool and youth development programs.