I recently attended the 2026 National AfterSchool Association Convention in Washington, DC. When they asked how many people were first time attendees more than half raised their hands. This could mean a couple of things, 1) programs have faced incredible turnover and have to invest in professional development for staff, 2) there are more programs […]
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After twenty-two years of service, Michelle will be stepping down as Executive Director of the Network and retiring on June 10, 2026. Message from Michelle – It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to lead this organization and to work alongside all of you who are so deeply committed to ensuring […]
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We have all been there…sleeping in the middle of the night, watching a tv show, or enjoying some solitude and out of nowhere comes {Beep} {Beep}, a few seconds go by {Beep} {Beep}. Trying to remember when we changed the batteries last, at the same time pressing the button to be sure the current one […]
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We’re gearing up for our 4th annual Fun for the Field Resource Fair, and this year we’re switching it up a bit! We’ve been listening to both Vendors and Afterschool Practitioners, and we understand that sometimes those types of resources can be a challenging part of programming. Hoops to jump through, budget constraints, staffing, etc. […]
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In our field there are several times throughout the year that programs are able to highlight what is going on in their communities. Local stories, making local impact. Best practices are often hidden in plain sight in out-of-school time. We work in isolation at our sites or programs, often down the road from another program. […]
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Kids and teens everywhere have world-changing ideas that deserve the spotlight! That’s why the Mott Million Dollar Challenge is going all-in on innovation and backing the next generation of genius. Supported by funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Mott Million Dollar Challenge is powered by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) in collaboration […]
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School-Age Funding Available! The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) announced today that a “Request of Application (RFA)” is open for programs across the state to apply for slots funded through the CT Early Childhood Education Endowment. Part of OEC’s larger goal of improving the equitable access to affordable, high-quality care and education for Connecticut […]
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Through the years the term quality has been a cornerstone of excellence, something we always hope our programs are or take for granted that there are no glaring issues. Quality is like putting air in the tires of your program. When your car tires are full you get better gas mileage, when they are low […]
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Clean out your closets to help support the CT Network for Children and Youth. It is time to declutter and make room for the new. If you need a little inspiration, here is the nudge you need. For the next couple of weeks, go through your closets and drawers and bag up your gently used […]
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Staff are trained and the kids are back in school. The program has been running for a week or two now, and the summer planning you did to start the year is already beginning to take shape. Staff understand the expectations and implement the program activities with enthusiasm and fidelity to the why of what […]
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