Resources

Last year, I felt like a Gen Xer living in a millennial's world. Wait—who am I kidding? That's exactly what I was! This year is different. I realized that I'd somehow grown from latchkey, Doc Martens, and MTV of the '70s and '80s to afterschool for all, casual Fridays and Twitter for the 21st Century!

Social workers use the phrase, "Be where the client is." It's meant to teach how to initially engage the client by meeting them where they are, versus telling them how and where to be.

The NAA Expert Hub is now live! This new service will help afterschool and expanded learning programs connect with vetted experts for projects and training programs. NAA member organizations can use the NAA Expert Hub to find experts at no cost.

The Partnership for Children & Youth (PCY) recently released Finding Common Ground: Connecting Social-Emotional Learning During and Beyond the School Day.

Join the National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment (NCASE) on Thursday, August 11, from 3 – 4:30 p.m. EDT, to learn about emerging strategies for intertwining subsidy with quality in school-age care.

In afterschool programs, safety is a crucial element.

Gaylynne Mack is the executive director of the Big Buddy Program in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Gina Warner, NAA president and CEO, spoke with Gaylynne about her work in afterschool and in the city she's called home since 1986.

We all know social and emotional skills are important to develop in youth, but the learning doesn't have to stop there. Similar competencies in adults, known as emotional intelligence, could be further developed to enhance leadership skills.

Summer is a popular time for back-to-school planning. From professional development and curriculum planning to supply purchasing and equipment upgrades, there are lots of options. That's why we've created the NAA Back-to-School Buying Guide!

The Three Little Pigs: A classic fairy tale, or a fun way to introduce structural engineering? The Very Hungry Caterpillar: A cute story about caterpillar obesity, or a platform to launch a topic on moving, growing insects and life cycles? Incorporating literacy into STEM activities or vice versa is a great way to promote abstract and creative thinking. Literacy can provide motivation for young people who are not immediately drawn to STEM subjects, and it can provide easy pathways to STEM for staff who might be intimidated by math and science.