About Utah afterschool network
The Utah Afterschool Network (UAN) is a non-profit organization that was established in 2005 by a consortium of over 100 afterschool practitioners, youth advocates, and leaders of state agencies. The UAN works to connect key decision makers and resources to establish statewide structures that foster policies committed to funding and sustaining quality afterschool/out-of-school time programming.
The UAN is dedicated to ensuring that all children in Utah have access to high-quality afterschool programs. They believe that these programs are essential for the academic success, social-emotional development, and overall well-being of children. The UAN works with schools, community organizations, businesses, government agencies, and other stakeholders to create a comprehensive system of support for afterschool programs.
One of the primary goals of the UAN is to increase access to quality afterschool programs for underserved populations. They recognize that many low-income families do not have the resources or opportunities necessary for their children's success in school. To address this issue, the UAN provides training and technical assistance to program providers on how best to serve these populations.
Another important aspect of the UAN's work is advocacy. They work closely with policymakers at all levels - local, state, and national -to ensure that funding for afterschool programs remains a priority. The UAN also advocates for policies that support high-quality programming such as professional development opportunities for staff members.
The UAN has developed several initiatives aimed at improving access and quality within Utah's afterschool system. One such initiative is their Quality Improvement System (QIS), which provides program providers with tools and resources needed to improve program quality through self-assessment processes.
Additionally, they offer an online database called "Utah Afterschool Programs" which allows parents/guardians or anyone interested in finding an after-school program near them can search by location or type of activity offered by different organizations across Utah.
In conclusion:
The Utah Afterschool Network (UAN) plays an essential role in ensuring all children have access to high-quality after-school programming throughout Utah State regardless if they come from low-income families or not; they provide training & technical assistance on how best serve underserved populations while advocating policies supporting professional development opportunities among staff members so everyone can benefit from these services equally! Their Quality Improvement System (QIS) helps improve program quality through self-assessment processes while their online database "Utah After School Programs" makes it easy finding nearby activities offered by different organizations across UT!