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Derrick Carnes
Director of Communications
Email | 463-900-7614

News

Welcome to our Newsroom, where you can find the latest news and updates on out-of-school time in Indiana. For more opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter.

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 7, 2024 – The National AfterSchool Association (NAA), the voice of the afterschool profession and lead organization for the advancement of afterschool professionals and leaders, has selected Sam Barnett, our Associate Director of Advocacy, as one of NAA’s 2024 Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders. NAA sought to highlight emerging young leaders who are active in the broader afterschool community, demonstrate contributions that influence beyond individual programs, are actively engaged in efforts to elevate the afterschool field, have a proven passion for development of themselves and others, and demonstrate persistence in their work to grow as leaders.

January 17, 2024 (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – An Indiana Senate committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 2, which aims to improve child care in the state by removing certain regulations and expanding opportunities in the sector. Authored by Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso), the bill intends to boost benefits for child care workers, reduce entry barriers, and maintain quality and safety in child care. It proposes an expedited review of child care regulations by the Early Learning Advisory Committee. The bill also seeks to make child care more accessible to workers’ children and offers public subsidies for currently employed child care workers. Furthermore, it streamlines the process for public schools to join the On My Way Pre-K program and increases accessibility to child care vouchers. The bill includes provisions for creating micro child care centers and reducing age requirements for certain roles in child care. The bill now proceeds to the Appropriations Committee.

November 16, 2023 (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – Today, five Indiana education and youth-serving nonprofit organizations released The Expanded Classroom, a new report that explores the need for out-of-school time learning, details current programs around the state, and provides recommendations for how existing and future programs can have an even greater impact on Hoosier students, especially those who lack […]

November 10, 2023 (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – Today, Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) announced the Engage Every Student Indianapolis initiative, a pledge made collaboratively with Central Indiana’s out-of-school time youth service providers to make high-quality before and after school programs accessible for all Pre-k through 5th grade IPS student who wants to participate. All students deserve the […]

October 31, 2023 – Youth Today published an article written Karen Pittman, former CEO of the Forum for Youth Investment, highlights innovative efforts by funders to address the challenges faced by the youth workforce, including low pay, limited benefits, and low status. From Indiana’s own Lilly Endowment, Inc and their investment in youth programs, to […]

September 28, 2023 (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – Lilly Endowment Inc. has approved grants totaling more than $85 million to 187 organizations as part of its Strengthening Youth Programs in Indiana (SYPI) initiative. The goal of SYPI is to empower youth-serving organizations throughout Indiana to enhance the academic, physical, and social well-being of young people aged five […]

May 5, 2023 (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – We are excited to share an update on the recent efforts of the Indiana Afterschool Network (IAN) during the last legislative session to support out-of-school time (OST) learning opportunities in Indiana. Our Engagement Team has been diligently working to build stronger systems of support for expanded learning opportunities in […]

February 7, 2023 (WASHINGTON D.C.) – The National AfterSchool Association (NAA) has selected Jamie Scott, MB Education Zone Director for Edna Martin Christian Center, as one of NAA’s 2023 Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders. In selecting its 2023 Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders, the National AfterSchool Association sought to highlight emerging young leaders who are active […]

January 24, 2023 (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – We are thrilled to announce a $20 million investment to help youth development professionals who implement programs that support the educational, social, emotional, and physical development of Indiana youth (ages 5-18). Funding for the Indiana Youth Worker Well-Being Project is made possible through a Lilly Endowment Inc. grant to […]

December 5, 2022 (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – It was winter of 2021 when our staff began to reach out to local and national partners to discuss the potential re-design of the Indiana Afterschool Network’s website. After a year of discovery meetings, stakeholder interviews, user surveys, design sessions, copywriting, resource curation, content review, and quality assurance testing, […]