Promoting Quality Through Professional Development

This brief describes the need to understand and implement evaluations of out-of-school time professional development initiatives.  Also included is a table that more easily illustrates the evaluation model in practice with examples from the field.

For more resources on developing and evaluation strategies check out The Evaluation Exchange (Harvard Family Research Project)!

Core Competencies for Afterschool Trainers

This document lists nine core competencies by category.  A list of indicators is used to outline specific behaviors or actions an afterschool trainer would demonstrate when they have mastered the indicator.

This simple list of core competencies and indicators can be used by afterschool supervisors, professionals, and trainers to orient, train, and monitor afterschool workshop facilitators.

To learn more from the leading voice of the afterschool profession, visit the National Afterschool Association!

Don't Stop Collaborating - Just Stop Creating New Collaboratives

Many states and communities have multiple task forces, partnerships and councils working on overlapping youth issues. This policy brief calls attention to the problem of collaboration overload and suggests ways to tackle it. Check out these tips for working collaboratively without creating redundancy.

For more resources on helping kids be Ready by 21, check out The Forum for Youth Investment!

Development of the OSTRC Conference Evaluation Toolkit

A pilot study to develop a toolkit which will measure the connection between and impact of out-of-school time professional development trainings on student outcomes.

To find more research on youth development, go to the Journal of Youth Development website!

Helpful Websites:

The University of Pennsylvania Out-of-School Time Resource Center

Resources for staff support and professional development.

Next Generation: Youth Work Coalition

Brings together individuals and organizations dedicated to developing a strong, diverse afterschool and youth development workforce.