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This Fall 2022 issue of AfterSchool Today highlights current field efforts and promising practices to build a future that provides professionals with job quality commensurate with their contributions and impact. It includes the voices of direct care staff and what they need, and examples about compensation, leadership development, and career pathway strategies.
The 2011 NAA national Core Knowledge and Competencies (CKCs) have been revised in 2021 with an eye toward equity and culturally responsive practices. The retitled Core Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies (CKSCs) reflect updated research and best practices in promoting equity, inclusion, access, and antiracism in youth work. There are 10 content areas, which each have a rationale, as well as skills and competencies that are grouped into three categories: identify, apply, and amplify. The 2019 companion self-assessment tools and guide on practices that support effective social-emotional learning can be found at SEL to the Core: Building from Foundational Youth Development to Support Social and Emotional Learning.
This guide is designed to ensure a strong and equitable workforce pipeline of professionals ready to serve as the field works to increase access to out-of-school time experiences. This guide includes three sections with strategies to make changes in systems, policies, funding, and practice: (1) Recruitment and hiring; (2) Onboarding and professional development; and (3) Performance reviews and feedback. Each section includes best practices to increase equity and mitigate bias, guiding questions, and a rich list of related resources.
This issue brief explores research data, as well as interview and survey data, to frame efforts to support and retain afterschool leaders of color. It suggests approaches for changes in institutional structures and policies that may currently pose barriers to people of color advancing up the career ladder. There are also recommendations for supporting emerging leaders and building skills both on technical management like budgeting, staffing, and board development, as well as competencies needed to produce system change.
The Fall 2019 issue of AfterSchool Today, the quarterly magazine of the National Afterschool Association (NAA), contains articles relevant to discussion on quality and equity: Allyship in Racial Equity on page 12, Shifting Systems with mention of WA racial equity policy screen on page 13, and Working Toward a More Equitable Future on pages 14-15. You can access this issue, including these articles, at the link provided. Our friends at NAA ask that we remind you that the magazine is a benefit of membership with the National Afterschool Association. If you are interested in receiving future issues of AfterSchool Today magazine please visit www.naaweb.org to join.
This guide is designed to supplement National AfterSchool Association (NAA) Core Knowledge and Competencies for Afterschool and Youth Development. It includes eight field-tested, research- and evidence-based practices and who, why, and how to implement these practices. These practices include competencies such as getting in touch with your own social-emotional competencies, building in coaching and reflection for continuous improvement, and providing opportunities for voice, choice, and leadership.
This resource defines the principles and practices that guide ethical decision-making strategies to ensure safe, nurturing environments and positive relationships in afterschool programs. Ethical responsibilities are organized into four sections: (1) children and youth, (2) families, (3) colleagues, and (4) community and society. It also includes an overview about ethical decision making, definitions, and a bibliography.
This infographic lists the 10 categories of the NAA (National Afterschool Association) core knowledge and competencies (CKCs). The CKCs articulate what professionals need to know and be able to do for a program to be considered high quality. This infographic presents the 10 core knowledge areas in an easy-to-read-and-remember format.
These evidence-based standards foster nutrition and physical activity outcomes for children in grades K-12 attending out-of-school time programs. Originally developed in 2011 and then adopted and disseminated by the National Afterschool Association, the standards were refreshed in 2018. A Spanish translation of the standards is available at https://indd.adobe.com/view/3d41ae98-aa4e-4050-be00-0335b6913ba0 and a self-assessment tool is available at HEPA Standards Self Assessment Tool.