Programs and Professional Development

Issue Coalitions : Coalitions of members focused on collaborative efforts around three areas currently: youth development, aging, and family strengthening.

Peer Networking Group : Peer networks of leaders of member organizations with parallel responsibilities (e.g., youth development program VPs, COOs) that convene literally and virtually to share common concerns, learn, and, in many instances, take collaborative action. It serves as a professional development outlet.

Essence of Leadership Awards : Annual recognition program for a national executive, a national board volunteer, a member of the media, and a national public or civic leader.

Policy Collaboration : Two policy groups of representatives of member organizations-one on youth development, the other on broader health & human service/nonprofit sector issues-that meet and communicate regularly to coordinate strategy.

Benchmarking : Surveys and other means to document common practices and data of national nonprofit health & human service organizations. At present, an annual salary and benefits report, conducted in partnership with the National Health Council, available to members only.

Business Services/Benefits : Partnerships formed by the National Assembly or groups of members to provide savings or effect efficiencies for member organizations and their affiliates or constituent organizations.

Publications : Reports and how-to guides, typically the result of collaborative initiatives of the Assembly and its members. Also, a fundamental of the sector: Standards of Accounting and Financial Reporting for Voluntary Health and Welfare Organizations , produced in partnership with the National Health Council. Coming: publications of the Amherst Wilder Foundation on nonprofit management/leadership practices and concerns.

Web Sites : Websites or pages provided as vehicles for the exchange of information: www.nassembly.org , the primary site; www.nydic.org , National Youth Development Information Center, diverse information on youth development issues and programs; www.youngeramericansact.org , information on the proposed act, a priority of the Assembly's National Collaboration for Youth; coming: sites on state juvenile justice collaboration and family strengthening policy. Two of the sites allow the free posting of relevant positions, internships and conferences.

Newsletter : The semi-monthly electronic Health & Human Services Newsbytes , available to anyone interested.

Nonprofit Standards & Accountability : Monitoring and providing sector input to standards-setting efforts, striving for the highest common denominator.

Special Initiatives : Collaborative efforts, often grant-funded and typically generated by an issue/affinity group or peer council of the Assembly. Current Initiatives: