New Hampshire Afterschool Network

08/21/2026

📣 NH Child Care Programs: Two things to have on your radar!

📊 Market Rate Survey: Your participation helps make sure current child care costs are accurately represented in New Hampshire, that includes school-age! There is a $50 participation gift.

💻 NHCIS: Take a few minutes to review your program profile and make sure your information is up to date. Once the Market Rate survey opens, your profile will be locked.

Your program's information helps strengthen the data used to understand child care needs across NH. For more information: https://carsey.unh.edu/center-social-policy-practice/2026-market-rate-survey

08/20/2026

💡 9 WEEKS TO LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL!

On October 22, we're shining a light on the programs, people, and opportunities that make afterschool possible across New Hampshire.

Our goal? 100 NH programs registered. Each registration lights another bulb for the 75,000 kids waiting for access.

Is your program on the map yet? 💡

👉 Register your Lights On Afterschool event! http://3to6.co/register

08/19/2026

A child's ZIP code or family income shouldn't determine their opportunities.

But nearly 75,000 NH kids would participate in afterschool if a program were available to them.

Afterschool helps bridge that opportunity gap—connecting kids to STEM, the arts, outdoor experiences, caring adults, new friendships, and so much more.

What opportunity did afterschool give YOU? 👇

08/19/2026

Our friends at the CACFP Roundtable are conducting a survey on what CACFP participants feel is most important in any changes to the program. Please consider sharing this with your networks, as they are particularly interested in collecting responses from those participating in the At-Risk Afterschool Meals program. The survey will close towards the end of August.

Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3LWLZST

We know that the USDA is planning to publish a proposed rule to align child nutrition meal patterns, including the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), to the recently published Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025 - 2030. There will be an opportunity to provide our public voice and real-life experiences in response to this rule. Even without knowing the details of the proposed rule, we know the priorities of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Based on the priorities stated in press conferences, press releases, the DGAs, and the Eat Real Food USDA memo, there are things we know USDA and HHS need to know. We want to know what’s most important/concerning/exciting to you as we anticipate the published proposed rule and get the community ready to give their unique perspective and voice as operators of this program.

Join the Growing Our Voice Session: https://www.cacfproundtable.org/post/growing-our-voice-powering-up-on-the-anticipated-usda-meal-pattern-proposed-rule?utm_source=brevo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=State%20network%20clips%2081826

Register Now for Growing Our Voice: Powering Up on the Proposed USDA Meal Pattern Rule. Growing Our Voice is a recurring learning series designed by the CACFP Roundtable to help our community understand, navigate, and confidently respond to the anticipated proposed rule that will change the meal pat...

08/18/2026

📣 Help turn New Hampshire candidates into afterschool champions!

Nearly 75,000 NH kids are waiting for access to afterschool. Make sure candidates know why OST matters to kids, families, and communities.

Check out the Afterschool Alliance's candidate talking points and start the conversation! 👇https://afterschoolalliance.org/afterschoolsnack/Help-educate-candidates-about-afterschool_05-07-2026.cfm

Want help? Reach out to us, we have candidates looking to attend programs!

This blog is part of our Advocating For Afterschool series, where we share tools and best practices to help make the case for afterschool to policymakers at the local, state, and national levels. To

08/17/2026

📵 What if we invested in more opportunities for young people to connect IRL?

Across the country, lawsuits related to social media and youth well-being are moving forward. If these cases result in settlements, communities may eventually face an important question:

How should those resources be invested to support young people?

NHAN is helping New Hampshire prepare for that conversation through Fund IRL NH, part of the national Fund IRL movement.

We're bringing together organizations from across the state to advocate for investments in the real-life experiences young people need to connect, belong, and thrive.

Our NH coalition is growing, and there's room at the table.

👉 Interested in joining Fund IRL NH? Join the coalition and help us build a statewide vision for investing in young people. https://forms.gle/9phPYN5LxeLBCS6H7

08/14/2026

COMING SOON: Lights On Afterschool!

On October 22, New Hampshire will join communities across the country to shine a light on the importance of afterschool—and we want YOUR program to be part of it!

This year, NHAN is taking Lights On even further with our 75,000 Lights of Opportunity campaign. Our goal is to have 100 New Hampshire programs register—with each one helping us represent 750 children who would participate in afterschool if they had access.

Host a celebration. Invite your community. Show off what your young people are learning and doing. And help us send a powerful message:

💡 Afterschool matters in New Hampshire.

Already planning something? Register your event and help us get one light closer to 100! 3to6.co/register

08/12/2026

❤️ More Than a Program: Why OST CARES Matters

When we talk about youth mental health, we often think about crisis response.

But what if we invested just as much in prevention?

Every day, out-of-school time professionals create spaces where young people feel safe, build trusted relationships with caring adults, develop confidence, and learn healthy ways to cope with life's challenges. Those everyday moments matter.

That's why NHAN launched OST CARES.

Through this statewide cohort, participating programs will strengthen their knowledge of youth mental health, trauma-informed practices, su***de prevention, self-care, and community partnerships—while building on the incredible work they already do every day.

By supporting the adults who support our youth, we're helping create stronger programs, healthier communities, and more opportunities for children to thrive.

Because prevention isn't one program or one conversation.

It's every welcoming environment.
Every trusted relationship.
Every young person who knows they belong.

That's what OST CARES is all about.

💙 Follow along as we highlight the incredible work of our inaugural cohort throughout the coming year.

08/11/2026

🌿 End Your Conference Feeling Recharged! 🌿

Join us for our closing session: Reset, Refuel, Recharge 💙

Feeling stressed or running on empty? This fun, interactive session with Haley Scharmann, Be Well Care Well Program Manager, will help you explore your current stress levels, discover simple ways to recharge, and leave with practical strategies to boost your well-being and reduce burnout.

You spend your days caring for others - it's time to care for yourself.

Register for the Keys to Quality Conference today! Find the Eventbrite link in the comments.