NCASE Resource Library
This brief addresses how to leverage afterschool time for preparing students for a career from career awareness activities for K-6, and then career exploration, career preparation and career training for middle school and high school youth. It includes numerous city and national examples and recommendations to strengthen career readiness in afterschool.
This issue brief summarizes how afterschool and summer programs can support positive outcomes like relationships and relationship skills, sense of agency, and identify development. It includes links to research.
The American Institutes for Research updated their landscape scan of state afterschool networks to find out which states have developed various quality supports. The summary shows which states have or are in process with their quality standards, quality assessment tools, core knowledge and competencies, aligned professional development, credential systems, QRIS, and skill-building initiatives.
The Path to Quality resource portal provides state system planners with step-by-step guidance and resources to develop quality afterschool systems including information on: (1) designing quality standards, (2) resources and tools aligned to quality standards, and (3) staff supports.
This issue brief provides an overview of the prevalence of mental health issues for children and youth. It explores how schools are often the de facto mental health system for children; therefore, schools could be a first step for afterschool programs wanting partnerships for support on mental health needs.
This is an online toolkit for program leaders who want to start or improve an afterschool program. It includes 96 ready-to-use tools that include practical tips and Voices from the Field. For example, there are tools on hiring, conducting a needs assessment, logic model planning, and activity ideas like creating a warm and welcoming environment and homework help.
This issue brief describes the importance and impact of involving families in youth development programs. It presents examples of how programs that are part of the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development have used three strategies to engage families: communication, participation, and partnerships.
This journal article documents one OST director’s journey through the process of becoming credentialed. It explores fears and challenges and what she—and her program participants, families, and staff—ultimately gained from the process. This story can bring a personal experience to life for state system planners creating or supporting a school-age credential.
This article explores the challenges and potential of school-afterschool partnerships. Based on interviews with school administrators, afterschool leaders, and front-line staff in three schools, the findings reveal both disconnections and opportunities for fuller communication and collaboration.
This self-assessment tool is designed to help afterschool program staff reflect upon their own social and emotional competencies and how their teaching practices promote the development of social and emotional competencies among youth. It includes a section on action planning for personal and professional improvement.