by Bela P. Shah

A new peer learning network of municipal officials and staff is now available to help cities and towns utilize their leadership to support afterschool programming and local policy development.

The Afterschool Policy Advisors? Network (APAN) ? developed by NLC?s Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Institute) ? already has 35 member cities in 22 states. Participating cities range from New York to Houston and from Lexington, S.C., to Tucson, Ariz. 

?The emergence of this network underscores the importance of afterschool and its impact on cities nationwide,? said Cliff Johnson, executive director of the YEF Institute.

More and more, municipal leaders understand the relationship between high quality accessible afterschool programs and the well being and safety of their cities and citizens.

To provide needed programs and services to young people and their families, municipalities are increasingly partnering with school districts and community-based organizations.

?Mayors and municipal leaders play a unique role in bringing together community resources,? said Kathy Livingston, school liaison and youth outreach manager, Fort Worth, Texas. ?NLC?s new network will be a catalyst for positive change around this issue.?

APAN?s goal is to help municipal officials and their senior staff develop and enhance quality afterschool programs in their cities by sharing resources, research, tools, strategies, policies and best practices.

Cities of all sizes are invited to join.

?When cities work together, they can move mountains!? said Lynn Heemstra, administrator of the Office of Children, Youth & Families in Grand Rapids, Mich. ?Our cities? children need us to advocate for quality afterschool programs and to build a case for a serious investment in their future.?

The group will focus on a variety of issues, including:

? Barriers to accessing afterschool programs;
? Standards and quality programming;
? Sustainability and funding;
? Local afterschool policies;
? Linking afterschool with in-school instruction;
? Community partnerships and coalition building;
? Building public will;
? Improving student achievement; and
? Learning about federal legislation.

?The birth of APAN is exciting,? said Dr. Grenae Dudley, executive director of Detroit?s Mayor?s Time. ?It enables a healthy exchange of information by cities concerning afterschool successes and challenges.?

?The afterschool movement in Indianapolis has made much progress in conjunction with NLC?s projects,? said Dr. David Klinkose, the afterschool programs coordinator for Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson. ?APAN is a great new way for communities to network and share ideas.?

Details: Membership is free, and the time commitment is minimal. Please contact Bela Shah at shah@nlc.org or 202-626-3057 to sign up for APAN. The YEF Institute also sponsors four other networks. They are on K-12 education, early childhood, disconnected youth and youth participation. To learn more about them, contact Anthony Keith at 202-626-3072 or keith@nlc.org.