November is National Native American Heritage Month!
This month, PSAYDN celebrates the rich histories, diverse cultures, and enduring contributions of Indigenous peoples across Pennsylvania and the nation. Out-of-school time programs play a vital role in honoring and sharing Indigenous knowledge, values, and traditions that continue to shape our communities and our youth.
Let’s take time to learn, reflect, and uplift Indigenous voices.
Exciting news for Pennsylvania’s out-of-school time community!
Pennsylvania has officially dedicated $11.5 million in the newly passed 2025 state budget to support BOOST (Building Opportunities through Out-of-School Time) programming across the Commonwealth. This investment strengthens opportunities for youth, supports working families, and reinforces the critical role that afterschool and summer programs play in learning, safety, and workforce development.
PSAYDN celebrates this milestone and thanks our partners, advocates, and policymakers for prioritizing the well-being and success of Pennsylvania’s young people.
Featured Stories
America After 3PM Report Shows High Demand for Afterschool Programs in PA
Afterschool Alliance’s fifth edition of America After 3PM provides new insights about children and families during the hours of 3 to 6 p.m., when schools let out and many parents are working. Data from parents show afterschool programs remain an urgent priority, and millions of families who want to participate are missing out.
In Pennsylvania, the demand for afterschool programs is incredibly high. Parents value the benefits afterschool programs provide for young people—keeping them safe, helping build life skills, and getting them excited about learning—and say afterschool programs help them keep their jobs and provide peace of mind. Still, just a fraction of Pennsylvania families who want afterschool programs have them.
This November, let's do our part in practicing gratitude. The benefits of practicing gratitude are many, and it is a wonderful way to teach kids about positivity, empathy, and appreciation for the world around them.
This briefing paper from our friends at Temescal Associates offers tips and resources to teach kids how they can help others.
The Urgency for Action: Advocating for Family & Community Engagement
Nov. 19, 1 p.m. | Virtual
Family and community engagement is essential work that supports children, families, schools, and communities. National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) seeks to advance policies that create the conditions and reduce the barriers for successful and effective family and community engagement. From securing funds in the federal budget to making sure educators are prepared to engage families and community partners, change takes leadership and advocacy. This webinar will provide an overview on the importance of advocacy, different ways to advocate, updates on current policy issues, and next steps participants can take to advocate at the federal, state, and local levels.
Highlighting how OST programs build career pathways, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness.
Scott Mann, director of Education at VentureLab, will share how out-of-school-time (OST) programs are uniquely equipped to prepare youth for their future careers. He will highlight how starting entrepreneurship education early within OST settings fosters creativity, problem-solving, and other key employability skills. Participants will explore how K12 OST programs can strengthen Pennsylvania’s workforce pipeline by starting early to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets and discuss ways to partner with community and industry to expand opportunities for youth to develop workforce readiness.
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) Community Youth Organization (CYO) Course
Jan. 7-8, 2026 | Virtual
Course for Community Youth Organizations (CYO) provides youth-serving organizations with practical strategies to prevent bullying, reduce incidents of bullying, and enrich peer relationships in out-of-school settings. The CYO Coach Course prepares youth program leaders to train and support a community youth organization with implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.
Carving Out Time for Yourself During the Holidays: Self-care Tips for Emotional and Physical Well-being
Nov. 20, 12:30 - 1 p.m. | Virtual
Taking time for yourself during the busy holidays can help you recharge and manage stress. Learn practical tips to support yourself in this season. This session will include a guided mindfulness practice.
Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention and Child Exploitation Awareness Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Office of School Climate and Well-being has youth suicide awareness and child exploitation awareness resources to assist educators in all grade levels, including:
When students change schools due to homelessness, foster care, or court-ordered placement, they often face lost credits and barriers to graduation. Act 1 of 2022 ensures that students who experience educational instability are not penalized for circumstances beyond their control.
The Act 1 Graduation Plan Toolkit helps schools and districts put Pennsylvania’s Act 1 of 2022 into practice — ensuring every student has a clear path to graduation. The toolkit empowers schools to provide equitable, consistent supports and maintain strong communication across districts.
The Toolkit includes:
Step-by-step guidance to identify eligible students and implement Act 1 protections.
Templates for assigning a school Point of Contact and developing individualized graduation plans.
Tools to support credit transfer, course waivers, and participation in extracurricular activities.
Strategies to reduce barriers such as fees, fines or enrollment delays.
Complete your FAFSA in minutes at StudentAid.gov to unlock grants, scholarships, loans, work-study funds, and other financial aid for college or technical school.
Pennsylvania Afterschool Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) is an initiative of Center for Schools and Communities, division of Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit
275 Grandview Avenue, Suite 200, Camp Hill,PA,17011
