Would you put a driver behind the wheel of a car alone after a single driving lesson? Probably not!
And while kids' healthy development is the most pressing concern in our field, we often do just this—provide a single training to youth workers and expect them to be ready, from becoming a STEM whiz to being trauma-informed. It may be due to a lack of money or time, and certainly not for a lack of concern. There's simply not enough support for youth work professionals trying to help kids thrive.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused tremendous destruction and loss, most notably among marginalized communities. Moreover, it exposed profound inadequacies at many institutions that support those communities, especially in public education and healthcare.
NAA's "Stories That Shape Us" series shines a spotlight on the authentic stories and varying career paths of the afterschool profession. Told from the perspectives of NAA members themselves, each story is unique and highlights the differences but also the commonalities of the dedicated professionals serving youth around the country in out-of-school time today.
It's no secret the work of those in the youth development field is complex. Add in the turmoil of our society, various crises, and the chronic and systemic underfunding of our nation's early childhood education—including school-age childcare—systems, and it becomes even more undoubtedly so. Now, it's clear; we must do something to ensure the afterschool workforce continues to exist and thrive.
NAA's "Stories That Shape Us" series shines a spotlight on the authentic stories and varying career paths of the afterschool profession. Told from the perspectives of NAA members themselves, each story is unique and highlights the differences but also the commonalities of the dedicated professionals serving youth around the country in out-of-school time today.
For anyone who says diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) trainings are ineffective and counterproductive, as someone who has facilitated across dozens of organizations big and small, corporate, nonprofit and educational, here is a non-definitive list of things to consider:
NAA's "Stories That Shape Us" series shines a spotlight on the authentic stories and varying career paths of the afterschool profession. Told from the perspectives of NAA members themselves, each story is unique and highlights the differences but also the commonalities of the dedicated professionals serving youth around the country in out-of-school time today.
Because Discovery Education recognizes that learning takes place in all environments, they've recently made available some robust afterschool resources.
NAA's "Stories That Shape Us" series shines a spotlight on the authentic stories and varying career paths of the afterschool profession. Told from the perspectives of NAA members themselves, each story is unique and highlights the differences but also the commonalities of the dedicated professionals serving youth around the country in out-of-school time today.
NAA's "Stories That Shape Us" series shines a spotlight on the authentic stories and varying career paths of the afterschool profession. Told from the perspectives of NAA members themselves, each story is unique and highlights the differences but also the commonalities of the dedicated professionals serving youth around the country in out-of-school time today.
National AfterSchool Association • 2961A Hunter Mill Road, #626 • Oakton, VA 22124 • info@naaweb.org