The National AfterSchool Association (NAA) is launching the implementation pilot for the National Youth Development Foundational Practices Credential, an important milestone in a multi-year national effort to strengthen and recognize the youth development workforce.
The pilot will expand access to the credential for youth development practitioners through five implementation partners that represent diverse professional learning and workforce development models. Together, NAA and its partners will support practitioners in earning the credential while generating insights that will inform future implementation and broader adoption across the field.
Developed by NAA in collaboration with practitioners, researchers, and field leaders, the National Youth Development Foundational Practices Credential is the first national, competency-based credential created specifically for the youth development profession. The credential provides a portable and accessible pathway for practitioners to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and practices that define high-quality youth development, supporting professional growth while strengthening the workforce that serves young people.
The five implementation partners — Camp Fire, School’s Out Washington, the California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC), the Andy Roddick Foundation’s Learn All the Time Network, and the Expanded Learning Alliance (ExpandLA) — will integrate the credential into existing professional learning systems and workforce development initiatives, helping practitioners access the credential while informing future implementation.
“The youth development profession has long deserved a competency-based credential that reflects the skills and expertise practitioners demonstrate every day,” shared Gina Warner, Chief Executive Officer of NAA. “We’re honored to work alongside organizations that share our commitment to strengthening the workforce and ensuring practitioners have access to meaningful opportunities for professional recognition and growth.”
Selected through an invitation-based application process, the implementation partners were chosen for their organizational readiness, commitment to workforce development, and complementary approaches to supporting practitioners. Together, they represent national, state, and regional leadership in advancing professional learning and strengthening the youth development workforce.
Five Organizations Advancing Implementation
Camp Fire: Camp Fire will integrate the credential into its Learning Lab professional development system, coaching model, and program quality framework, engaging affiliates across its national network to support practitioner learning and growth.
School’s Out Washington (SOWA): School’s Out Washington will incorporate the credential into its program quality initiatives and coaching supports, strengthening pathways for youth development professionals through its expanded learning network across Washington while connecting professional learning to demonstrated competencies.
California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC): California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC), a California statewide afterschool intermediary, will partner with Woodcraft Rangers, a Southern California OST provider, to integrate the credential into established professional development pathways while exploring and designing scalable technical assistance strategies.
The Andy Roddick Foundation’s Learn All the Time Network: Learn All the Time will embed the credential within its OST Essentials professional learning model and work alongside Foundation Communities to support practitioners serving young people throughout the Austin region.
Expanded Learning Alliance (ExpandLA): ExpandLA, an intermediary serving Los Angeles County, will pilot the credential through its workforce development and career pathways initiatives, connecting higher education and expanded learning providers to test the credential as both a practice-based learning experience and an early milestone in long-term career advancement.
The National Youth Development Foundational Practices Credential is built around four foundational areas of practice that reflect the core competencies of effective youth development professionals. Rather than recognizing participation in professional learning alone, the credential recognizes demonstrated practice, providing practitioners with meaningful recognition of their expertise while creating a stronger foundation for professional growth across the field.
As implementation begins, NAA and its partners will gather insights from participating organizations and practitioners to inform future implementation and broader adoption of the credential. Together, this work represents another important milestone toward a more recognized, connected, and supported youth development workforce reflecting the knowledge, skills, and impact of the professionals who help young people learn and thrive every day.
The implementation pilot is supported by The Wallace Foundation, whose investment in strengthening youth development systems has helped advance this work.
For more information about the National Youth Development Foundational Practices Credential, visit NAA’s website.