IGNITE AFTERSCHOOL

In 2024, Ignite Afterschool supported professional development and continuous program improvement (CPI) resources for Minnesota's afterschool community. In 2024, Ignite launched the new Professional Development Exchange (PDX) resource with three Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions, training over 70 program managers, coordinators, and directors across the state to support their front line youth work staff in afterschool effective practices. The PDX Peer Learning Community (PLC) was launched as a new offering to provide ongoing support for trainers, including workshops, peer discussion, planning tools, and guest speakers. Ignite Afterschool facilitates a continuous program improvement coordinating council of 11 partner organizations that work together to operate the annual, statewide M3 Continuous Program Improvement process. The 2023-2024 M3 Continuous Program Improvement cycle with two virtual kick off sessions as well as open and closed huddles. Ignite hosted a virtual training for 20 program staff to use the Program Quality Assessment tool. I-SAC (Ignite School Age Care Accreditation) worked with 24 school-age care sites to maintain their accreditation and 6 sites began the continuous improvement and accreditation process with 5 securing accreditation. All sites participated in four continuous improvement coaching sessions with a coach and small cohort of other school age sites. They also completed a modified M3 Huddle - tailored to the school age care audience. In Fall, we launched year two of the i-SAC model with 15 sites involved in three different coaching cohorts. Additionally, 13 sites from our interim process worked toward re-accreditation and have participated in check-in sessions with I-SAC In 2024, Ignite also convened a Policy Coordinating Council that meets monthly with over 16 organizations. Ignite started an Extended Learning Time policy work group and was represented on the Youth on Boards work group with other partners. Ignite continued to support a youth-led policy effort called the Cannabis Awareness and Education Council for Youth (CAEC) that engages 11 young people in policy and health education efforts that provide factual information on the impact of cannabis use under age 24. CAEC members successfully advocated that two youth seats be added to Minnesota's Cannabis Advisory Council. They also entered into partnerships with My Health and Allina to hold youth listening sessions and support the development of youth education curriculum.