diverse group of people with speech bubble illustrations above them

Founded in 2004, Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) at Center for Schools and Communities is one of 50 statewide afterschool networks funded through the Mott Foundation and a host of other funders.

Our mission is to promote sustainable, high quality out-of-school time (OST) youth development programs through advocacy and capacity building to enhance the welfare of Pennsylvania’s children, youth and families.

With nearly 3,000 members, over 6,000 recognized OST providers, over 100 partners, and serving in all 67 counties, PSAYDN has grown the network by providing services and supports that influence and impact afterschool on national, statewide, and regional levels.

The Future is Now. Empowering Youth through STEM Excellence in OST. Webinar series. April 10 session is 11 AM to 12 PM. Introduction to STEELS

Join us for the first session of our The Future is Now: Empowering Youth through STEM Excellence in OST webinar series!

Introduction to STEELS: Leveraging the new STEM Standards in OST
April 10 | 11 a.m – 12 p.m. ET

This session will introduce the new Standards for Science, Technology & Engineering, and Environmental Literacy and Sustainability, and Pennsylvania Technology and Engineering (STEELS) and their importance in structuring effective STEM education in OST programs. It will also provide an overview of the standards and tools needed to understand and implement them effectively and their impact on student learning. Act 48 credit available.

PSAYDN Youth Development Digest

Get the latest resources, tools, opportunities, and stay connected with PSAYDN’s growing network.

Donate to the PSAYDN Fund

Through the Susquehanna Education Foundation, donate to the PSAYDN Fund to expand access to out-of-school (OST) programming, provide vital resources to all communities, build advocacy efforts, award scholarships and foster a lifelong love of learning in children, youth, and families.

  • youth holding homemade poster stating "Afterschool programs make the future bright"
  • Youth Keynote, Neha Shukla, addressing attendees from Capitol steps
  • Senator Mike Regan speaking to attendees, with group of students and afterschool leaders standing behind him, on Capitol steps
  • Senator Lynda Schlegel-Culver speaking at podium on Afterschool Advocacy rally
  • Representative Elizabeth Fiedler addressing attendees of rally, on Capitol steps. Group of students standing behind her.
  • Representative Doyle Heffly standing at podium on Capitol steps and addressing attendees.
  • New PSAYDN director, Contrell Armor, welcoming attendees, on Capitol steps
  • Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis smiling and speaking to attendees on Capitol steps during 2023 Afterschool Advocacy Rally

About PSAYDN

PSAYDN supports and advocates for sustainable, high-quality afterschool programs by drawing together key decision-makers committed to improving outcomes for youth, their families, and communities. PSAYDN is part of a national collective of Statewide Afterschool Networks committed to improving and advancing afterschool opportunities across the nation. Statewide Afterschool Networks now exist in 50 states across the country, with new states added every year since 2001. These networks are all focused on improving education and out-of-school time opportunities for children and youth, particularly low- income children, and are geared toward achieving three primary goals around partnerships, policy, and quality.

Mission

The mission of the Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network is to promote sustainable, high-quality out-of-school time youth development programs through advocacy and capacity building to enhance the welfare of Pennsylvania’s children, youth and families.

Vision

PSAYDN’s vision is that all children and youth deserve access to high quality out-of-school time programs that promote positive youth development and support the successful transition to adulthood.

Goals

  1. Create a sustainable structure of statewide, regional and local partnerships, particularly school-community partnerships, focused on supporting policy development at all levels.
  2. Support the development and growth of statewide policies that will secure the resources that are needed to sustain new and existing afterschool programs.
  3. Support statewide systems to ensure programs are of high quality.

Closely tied to PSAYDN’s mission, vision and goals is our Statement of Quality – a collective of principles and ideals to guide all afterschool stakeholders and decision makers in the actions of afterschool programming, regardless of the program purpose or ages served.

PSAYDN’s Statement of Quality in Afterschool

The four core areas necessary for a quality afterschool program are structure and management, positive connections, safety and health, and activities.

Structure and Management

  • Well-trained, consistent staff and volunteers that represent the community being served.
  • Written policies and procedures that are consistently used and updated and supported by management.
  • Sustainable funding and sound fiscal management.
  • Continuous improvement methods including evaluation, outcomes measurement, participant and family input, strategic planning, and professional development.

Positive Connections

  • Positive relationships between and among youth and staff.
  • Strong partnerships with families, schools, businesses and other community stakeholders.
  • Opportunities for youth to contribute to the well-being of the community.

Safety and Health

  • Safe and accessible environment.
  • Clean and well-maintained facilities.
  • Programming and environments which promote fitness, good nutrition and healthy choices.

Activities

  • Activities that are intentionally designed, age-appropriate, develop skills, promote learning and foster positive youth development.
  • Activities that contain varied content, learning strategies and combine different academic, recreational and cultural elements.
  • Activities that are youth-centered, responsive to youth interests and actively involve youth in program development, planning and implementation.
  • Activities that promote understanding and respect for youth’s and others’ cultures.

Our partners and supporters

PSAYDN gratefully acknowledges support from a diverse network of partners and supporters who are crucial to developing and sustaining our initiatives. Most of PSAYDN’s program resources, professional development and advocacy efforts are products of local, regional, state and national collaborations.

logo. Afterschool Alliance
logo. Center for Schools and Communities
logo. C S I U. Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit
logo. Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
logo. e p l c
logo. Overdeck Family Foundation
logo Pennsylvania Department of Education
logo. stem education coalition
logo. stem next opportunity fund

Please contact PSAYDN if you or your organization are interested discussing new collaborative opportunities that will support high quality out-of-school time for children and youth in Pennsylvania.