To promote quality afterschool and summer learning experiences, the Arkansas Out of School Network offers a variety of free or low-cost training opportunities for providers and emerging afterschool leaders.  This includes the Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI), a national system that supports continuous program improvement, as well as the Arkansas Youth Development Institute (YDI), a free online professional development training for youth service providers.

In addition to these services, the Arkansas Out of School Network hosts a statewide fellowship program for emerging afterschool and summer superstars. The Leadership in Action (LIA) Fellowship Series is designed to develop strong leaders in the afterschool and summer learning field by providing participants with in-person professional development.


 
Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI)

The Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI) helps afterschool and youth programs assess, plan, and improve program quality using the Youth Program Quality Assessment (YPQA) tool. Programs begin with a self-assessment and can opt for an external review to create data-driven improvement plans. The process follows an Assess–Plan–Improve model and includes access to training and technical assistance.

All trainings are designed to support the “Environmental Assessment” requirement of Better Beginnings. Visit the TAPP Registry for current training schedules.


 
Arkansas Youth Development Institute (YDI)

The Arkansas Youth Development Institute (YDI) offers free online professional development for youth service providers. Courses cover topics like positive youth development, bullying prevention, and more—new content is added regularly.


 
Leadership in Action Fellowship (LIA)

The Leadership in Action (LIA) Fellowship is a professional development series designed to strengthen leadership in Arkansas’s Out-of-School Time (OST) community. Through expert-led sessions, peer collaboration, and ongoing support, LIA Fellows gain the tools to build responsive, high-quality programs that meet the needs of families and local communities.

This fellowship is ideal for:

• Arkansas afterschool and summer learning administrators or staff with experience in program development, planning, or team leadership

• Individuals familiar with afterschool and summer learning best practices, research, and trends