About the Alaska Afterschool Network
The Alaska Afterschool Network is the only statewide organization dedicated to increasing afterschool and expanded learning opportunities for school-age children, youth, and families in Alaska. A program of Alaska Children’s Trust, the Alaska Afterschool Network supports, strengthens, and advocates for the out-of-school time field. Explore our work below or get to know us through our weekly newsletter.
What Is Afterschool?
Any program or activity that occurs outside of school's regular hours (on or off school grounds) that significantly increases youth well-being, academic achievement, and successful high school graduation. The Alaska Afterschool Network supports not only afterschool programs, but also before school and summer programs. Together, these types of programs are called out-of-school time (or OST) activities. A key element of afterschool is that youth connect with supportive adults and build skills that remain valuable throughout their lives.
Who We Are
The Alaska Afterschool Network is a network of over 300 nonprofit, private, tribal, and government organizations that promote high quality afterschool programs as a critical component in the positive development of Alaska’s youth.
OUR MISSION
To support, strengthen, and advocate for quality afterschool programs and activities for children, youth, and families throughout Alaska.
We see our work as divided into three roles:
The network brings together the afterschool community to build a cohesive system that promotes collaboration and a unified voice.
The network shares professional development opportunities and best practices to promote continuing education that fosters high-quality programs.
The Network increases awareness of the impact of afterschool programs, increase access to afterschool programs and influence public policy at the local, state, and national levels.
VISION
We envision an Alaska where every child and youth can access quality out-of-school time programs and activities.
About the Alaska Children’s Trust (ACT)
The Alaska Afterschool Network is a Program of the Alaska Children’s Trust
In 2013, the Alaska Children’s Trust partnered with the C.S. Mott Foundation and several Alaskan organizations to establish the Alaska Afterschool Network to support the health, safety, academic, and social-emotional needs of children, youth, and families during out-of-school times.
ACT is a catalyst for the development of community-based child abuse and neglect prevention in Alaska. ACT aims to give children, families, and communities the knowledge, skills, supports, and resources to thrive.
Founded in 1988, ACT is focused on changing the way Alaskans think about child abuse and neglect prevention, focusing on community activities (like afterschool!) and public policies that prioritize prevention right from the start to make sure Alaskan children remain safe. ACT recognizes that healthy child development is an essential building block for community and economic development.
As the statewide lead organization focused on the prevention of child abuse and neglect, ACT is committed to ensuring Alaska’s children and families live in safe, stable and nurturing environments. This includes the high-risk hours before and after school when children are most like to be left without direct parental or adult supervision and are most at risk of being victims of violent crime, juvenile delinquency, gang violence, and engage in risk-behaviors such as substance abuse and suicide.
A Thank You To Our Funders
Out-of-school time is a critical support for Alaska’s children. The Alaska Afterschool Network extends a huge thank you to our funders for providing the resources needed to strengthen, advocate, and support afterschool in Alaska.
Acknowledging Dena’ina land
The Alaska Afterschool Network acknowledges that our offices in Anchorage are located on the ancestral and unceded traditional territories of the Dena’ina People. Our work occurs across the entirety of the land currently known as Alaska and spans the territories of all its Indigenous peoples. We acknowledge this not only in thanks to the Indigenous communities who have held relationship with this land for generations but also in recognition of the historical and ongoing legacy of colonialism. Additionally, we acknowledge this as a point of reflection as we work towards dismantling colonial practices in our work to support, strengthen, and advocate for quality afterschool programs and activities for children, youth, and families throughout Alaska.