A key component of IAN’s state-level advocacy strategy is cultivating strong, sustained relationships with public officials who support the out-of-school time field.  The Guardian of OST Award is presented annually to a member of the Indiana General Assembly who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing OST-related policy issues and fostered a policy environment that supports youth, families, and providers across the state. This year, Representative Dale DeVon has done just that. His support to increase public funding to OST and his help getting two new OST seats added to the Early Learning Advisory Committee (ELAC) has made him well-deserving to be this years Guardian of Out-of-School Time.