Commitment to Quality
High quality programming and staff practices are essential to serving youth with optimal impact. As youth-serving professionals and programs, we are committed to a continuous quality improvement process that prioritizes results to support the whole child. We believe that when we consistently assess, plan, and improve our practices, the youth we serve achieve better outcomes. Adopting GSAN’s Assess, Plan, Improve framework equips us to evaluate the current state of our programs and develop targeted strategies to enhance effectiveness, ultimately leading to the positive development and success of our youth.
Featured Micro-Learning
Foundations of Positive Youth Development
Building Strong Peer to Peer Relationships
Building Strong Youth Adult Relationships
Engaging Hard to Reach Youth
Promoting Academic Success in Youth Programs
Risk Management & Youth Emotional Safety
Emergency Procedures and Evacuation
Risk Management & Youth Physical Safety
The ASYD Quality Standards
Quality Element 1: Programming & Youth Development
A quality program designs and implements a flexible, well-rounded daily schedule that supports the physical, social, and cognitive development of all youth by providing programming and activities that are well-organized, developmentally appropriate, and offer opportunities to gain new knowledge and skill.
Quality Element 2: Linkages with the School Day
A quality program communicates and collaborates with school personnel to ensure that afterschool programming and activities complement and support school day learning, support performance standards, and build strong content knowledge and academic skills in youth.
Quality Element 3: Environment & Climate
A quality program offers a safe, welcoming, and well-maintained environment that supports the physical comfort and developmental needs of all youth. The space in intentionally designed to support strong programming and reflect youth voices, interests, and ways of engaging.
Quality Element 4: Relationships
A quality program fosters and nurtures positive relationships and interactions among staff, youth, families, and communities; provides respectful environment that is from teasing, bullying, and violence; and values the unique perspectives and experiences each person brings.
Quality Element 5: Health & Well-Being
A quality program supports and promotes the overall well-being of youth by fostering emotional safety, connectedness, and opportunities to be physically active. It encourages healthy habits and daily routines while creating an environment where all youth feel valued and engaged.
Quality Element 6: Staffing & Professional Development
A quality program employs staff and volunteers who value each youth and their lived experiences, understand youths’ physical and developmental needs, and develop mutually respectful working relationships with coworkers, youth, families and caregivers and other partners.
Quality Element 7: Organizational Practices
A quality program has a clear mission and well-defined goals, sound fiscal management, and clear policies and procedures that support quality and sustainability.
Quality Element 8: Evaluation & Outcomes
A quality program has measurable program and outcomes-based goals that are co-created by stakeholders; and a system and plan in place for gathering data, engaging in data-driven decision-making, implementing program improvement strategies, and regularly reassessing outcomes.
Quality Element 9: Family & Community Partnerships
A quality program builds meaningful relationships and collaborates with families and caregivers to enhance programming and foster the healthy development of youth. A quality program develops community partnerships to establish an educative community and form an interconnected network that supports the holistic well-being of youth.