The NAA Mission
The National Afterschool Association is the professional membership association for people who work with and for youth during Out-of-School time.
NAA fosters positive youth outcomes by supporting, developing, and advocating for afterschool professionals and leaders. The Association is the leading network of OST professionals.
As a national association, we deploy our mission through people-centered programs and partnerships. We build equity, access, and connections to create a strong, valued profession that benefits kids, families, and communities.
Illinois AfterSchool Network is the Illinois affiliate of the National AfterSchool Association. NAA and its state affiliates share a mutual purpose and agreement to support, develop and advocate for Out-of-School Time professionals and the profession. NAA and its state affiliates build connectivity among stakeholders and create opportunities for engagement to ensure a vibrant future of the OST profession.
OST professionals who are not current paid NAA members and live in Illinois, are eligible for FREE NAA membership with an IAN membership. If you prefer, NAA membership may be purchased directly from NAA on a sliding scale from $25-$150 per year.
NAA has State Affiliates across the United States. Illinois AfterSchool Network aligns with NAA’s mission to inspire, connect and equip afterschool professionals. Affiliates’ missions and strategies promote quality afterschool programs and professional development in their states.
The strong and supportive relationships between NAA and its State Affiliates creates a national network that builds connectivity among stakeholders and creates opportunities for engagement that ensure vibrant future for our field.
Dual Membership
Most State Affiliates offer benefit packages that include membership in the National AfterSchool Association for one year. You can also view State Affiliate events on our website by clicking here.
NAA Provides
- Publications, resources and services that reflect best-practice thinking of the profession.
- Dissemination of ideas and information that support the professional development needs of members in the field.
- The only national convention in the field for afterschool professionals.
- A user-friendly, informational website and regular electronic communications for members.
- Access to affordable training, technical assistance and professional development for afterschool program staff.
- Access to a members-only professional resources and consultation services.
NAA Advocates
- We participate in efforts to create public awareness about the importance, benefits and return on investment of afterschool programming.
- NAA is working to assure that the vision of high-quality learning experiences for all children and youth, both in and out of school, becomes a reality through the application of the NAA core competencies in afterschool programs. NAA recognizes that quality afterschool programs provide positive child and youth development and meet a critical need for keeping kids safe and families productively employed.
- NAA fights for families who need a wide range of interesting and age-appropriate programming choices available and accessible when their children are not in school.
Building a Thriving OST Workforce
- As the professional membership organization for people who work with and for youth during out-of-school time, the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) invests in the growth and development of and advocates for OST professionals. In this role, NAA maintains a continual eye toward the needs of the field and works to identify ways to support its membership better.
- In 2022, the NAA team began working earnestly to gather input from the field and develop guidelines, resources, and examples to help OST programs create a thriving workforce. More than ever, this work seems especially timely as the field faces an unprecedented workforce crisis.
- The NAA Thriving OST Workforce initiative comprises national workforce summits, needs assessments, and field and funder education.
- During the robust 35+ year history of the National AfterSchool Association, and now as part of the Thriving OST Workforce Initiative, NAA has produced several foundational bodies of work that define the identity of OST professionals and the profession, including:
Downloads
NAA Out-of-School Time Job Quality Standards
NAA Out-of School Time Job Quality Standards Usage Guide & Assessment
NAA Core Knowledge Skills Competencies for OST Professionals (rev2021)