Links: National Organizations

• Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is responsible for federal programs which promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities.

• Adolescence Directory On-Line (ADOL) is an electronic guide to information on adolescent issues. It is a service of the Center for Adolescent Studies at Indiana University. Educators, counselors, parents, researchers, health practitioners, and teens can use ADOL to find Web resources for topics concerning adolescents.
• Afterschool Alliance is an organization that works to ensure that all children have access to affordable, qaulity afterschool programs. 

• After School @ HFRP, an initiative of the Harvard Family Research Project, works to identify areas of challenge and opportunity in the emerging after school field. It focuses especially on issues related to after school evaluation, research, and accountability. HFRP also houses an OST evaluation database. The database is a tool for evaluators who are planning an OST program evaluation, allowing them to quickly get detailed information about previous OST evaluations by searching the database using relevant criteria. Practitioners can read the profiles to better understand evaluation options and methodologies. Follow this link for more information.

• Forum for Youth Investment (FYI) is self-described as an “action tank.” FYI’s goals revolve around the idea that all youth should be “Ready by 21” in the education, work and life spheres. FYI provides members of the afterschool field with information and tools in order to expand and create greater opportunities for the youth population.

• National Afterschool Association (NAA) is a professional association dedicated to improving afterschool programs and providing a forum for new education and developments in the field. They participate in the advocacy, public policy, and professional development arenas.

• National Center for Quality Afterschool aims to improve the teaching and learning aspect of afterschool programs in order to encourage student achievement. On their website they provide learning tools, lesson plans, and curriculum guides.

• National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks is a place for state networks to connect and collaborate in order to promote their collective mission of sustainability, quality, and growth of afterschool programs, particularly in underserved communities.

• Program in Education, Afterschool and Resiliency (PEAR) continuously integrates research, theory, and practice for lasting connections between youth development, school reform, and mental health.

• The After-School Corporation advocates for sustainable public funding in the afterschool field by developing strategies for afterschool growth, training afterschool educators, and conducting research.

• The Wallace Foundation supports and promotes education programs, with a special emphasis on out-of-school time learning.