Maine Afterschool Network

The data is in! NEW data sheds light on summer program participation, unmet demand, and parent perspectives! Join the official release webinar to dig into the findings, hear policy recommendations, and ask your questions to a panel of experts. Register now to save your spot:

Afterschool Alliance Join us for the release of brand new national and state data on summer program participation, unmet demand, and parent perspectives. This data is drawn from our hallmark America After 3PM nationwide household survey, conducted roughly every five years.

Afterschool professionals, THANK YOU for all of your dedication and hard work. This week, and every week, we take the time to appreciate your work. Please take a moment to watch this very special message from leaders in our state.

Maine Afterschool Network Afterschool Professionals, Thank you!!

Team Maine is doing GREAT things in Washington, DC at the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) Conference.

Thank you to U.S. Senator Susan Collins for meeting with the Maine Afterschool Network and afterschool providers from around the state. These programs matter to youth, families, and communities and we are grateful to share the numerous stories of impact with you.

Thank you Senator Angus S. King, Jr. for taking the time to meet with the Maine Afterschool Network and afterschool providers and to listen to stories about the positive impact afterschool programs have on communities, youth, and families.

Today, more than 200 afterschool advocates — state networks, Afterschool Ambassadors, program leaders, youth — are on the Hill meeting with their reps and speaking up for the afterschool programs our kids and families rely on!

Show them you’ve got their back. Send a message to Congress: 3to6.co/congress 💪

https://tinyurl.com/MASNgiving On any given afternoon across Maine, the hours between 3 and 6 p.m. tell two very different stories. In one, children are engaged in projects that teach real-world skills—collaborating, creating, and discovering that what they learn after school can open doors to their future careers. In another, a parent drives home from work with worry in their chest, wondering if their child is safe. The Maine Afterschool Network (MASN) exists to make sure the first story becomes every child’s story.

The latest America After 3PM: Maine Fact Sheet (2025) paints a sobering picture:

- 113,719 Maine Children want to be in afterschool programs- but only 22,065 currently are.

- Nearly 4 in 5 children are missing out on opportunities that could change the course of their education and their lives.

- Families say the biggest barriers are cost, transportation, and lack of availability. 53% cite cost, and 48% say programs simply don’t exist in their communities.

MASN directly addresses these challenges through five key statewide initiatives:

1. The Maine Out-of-School Time Conference
By uniting educators, youth workers, and program leaders statewide, the conference builds program capacity and quality. Stronger programs are better able to expand services, maintain operations, and reach more children, addressing gaps in availability.

2. Regional In-Person Trainings
These hands-on workshops equip programs with practical tools for youth engagement, program quality, and sustainability. By providing localized support, MASN helps programs overcome geographic barriers and improve access for children in rural and underserved communities.

3. The Peer Learning Community
By connecting afterschool professionals statewide, MASN fosters collaboration and the sharing of solutions to common challenges. This support helps programs develop creative approaches to reduce cost and transportation barriers, ensuring resources are used efficiently to serve more children.

4. Maine Coalition for Community Schools
MASN steers communications and convenes coalition partners statewide to support schools transitioning into community schools. This coordination expands access to afterschool programs by linking children and families to integrated academic, social, and enrichment supports, helping programs operate more effectively and sustainably. Expanding community schools increases access to afterschool programs that support children, families, and communities.

5. Career Connected Learning By implementing the STEM Next Career Connected Learning Framework, MASN programs offer hands-on, project-based experiences, mentorship, and exposure to authentic workplaces. This approach motivates participation, builds practical skills, and strengthens Maine’s workforce, addressing participation gaps and helping children see the tangible value of afterschool programs.

Engaging your elected officials: Elevating afterschool through site visits By Dawn Fickett, Director of Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs at R.E.A.C.H. After School Program. On the August 8, 2025 episode of the Policy Pulse, Dawn Fickett shared her

Happy from the Maine Afterschool Network!! This year we are working extra hard to make sure the lights stay on afterschool! These programs are essential to youth, families and communities. We need more programs, not less! In Maine, for every one child in a program, 4 would attend one if there was availability.