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Common Evaluation Tools Across Multi-State Programs: A Study Of Parenting Education And Youth Engagement Programs In Children, Youth, And Families At-Risk, Pamela B. Payne, Daniel A. Mcdonald Jun 2015

Common Evaluation Tools Across Multi-State Programs: A Study Of Parenting Education And Youth Engagement Programs In Children, Youth, And Families At-Risk, Pamela B. Payne, Daniel A. Mcdonald

Journal of Extension

Community-based education programs must demonstrate effectiveness to various funding sources. The pilot study reported here (funded by CYFAR, NIFA, USDA award #2008-41520-04810) had the goal of determining if state level programs with varied curriculum could use a common evaluation tool to demonstrate efficacy. Results in parenting and youth engagement indicated that with effort to select valid and reliable measures, it is possible to use common measure across curricula. Lessons learned including evaluating goodness of fit are discussed in regards to the process of conducting common measures evaluations.

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Building Sustainability In Gas- And Oil-Producing Communities, Eric Romich, Nancy Bowen-Ellzey, Myra Moss, Cindy Bond, David Civittolo Jun 2015

Building Sustainability In Gas- And Oil-Producing Communities, Eric Romich, Nancy Bowen-Ellzey, Myra Moss, Cindy Bond, David Civittolo

Journal of Extension

Extension can play a significant role in addressing the rapid development and associated impacts that can occur in oil- and gas- producing communities. Through quantitative longitudinal analysis and research-based sustainable planning, Extension can assist rural communities in Ohio to be better equipped to maximize resources, manage change, and make informed decisions affecting their residents. This article provides a framework for an effective program focused on shale development planning and offers a context for massive change taking place in rural communities across the nation.

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Hands-On Training Emphasized In The Oregon Master Beekeeper Program, Carolyn Breece, Ramesh Sagili Jun 2015

Hands-On Training Emphasized In The Oregon Master Beekeeper Program, Carolyn Breece, Ramesh Sagili

Journal of Extension

Honey bee colony declines have garnered immense public interest, and consequently there is a significant demand for the dissemination of apicultural information. The Oregon Master Beekeeper Program was developed in response to this increased interest in bees and beekeeping and a demand for a credible educational program for new beekeepers. The program focuses on hands-on training by matching students with volunteer mentors. Upon completion of the beginning (Apprentice) level, trained students may enroll in the advanced (Journey) level. This program has gained popularity and strives to educate beekeepers to promote sustainable beekeeping in the Pacific Northwest.

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Extension Sustainability Camp: Design, Implementation, And Evaluation, Roslynn Brain, Sally Upton, Brett Tingey Feb 2015

Extension Sustainability Camp: Design, Implementation, And Evaluation, Roslynn Brain, Sally Upton, Brett Tingey

Journal of Extension

Sustainability Camps provide an opportunity for Extension educators to be in the forefront of sustainability outreach and to meet the growing demand for sustainability education. This article shares development, implementation, and evaluation of an Extension Sustainability Camp for youth, grades 4-6. Camp impact was measured via daily pre- and post-journaling activities, changes in camper lunch waste produced, and a retrospective post-then-pre household evaluation follow-up. Significant awareness and behavioral changes were documented with sustainability topics ranging from land conservation to renewable energy. The camp structure and evaluation design could serve as a model for Extension educators interested in sustainability outreach.

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Crowdsourcing Extension: Communities Of Practice Provide Rapid Response, Brian Raison, Julie M. Fox, Phil D’Adamo-Damery Dec 2014

Crowdsourcing Extension: Communities Of Practice Provide Rapid Response, Brian Raison, Julie M. Fox, Phil D’Adamo-Damery

Journal of Extension

This article provides an example of how you can use eXtension's Communities of Practice for crowdsourcing information rapidly and thoroughly. It contends that unlike traditional Google or Yahoo searches, asking colleagues within eXtension provides a depth of discovery with multiple layers of vetting already built in. In addition to that, it's free. The example herein stems from a recent inquiry to the Community, Local and Regional Food Systems (CLRFS) Community of Practice and provides excerpts from the responses.

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Extension Educators' Perceptions About The Nc 10% Local Food Campaign: Impacts, Challenges, And Alternatives, Kati Ingerson, Ksu Jayaratne, Teisha Wymore, Nancy Creamer Apr 2014

Extension Educators' Perceptions About The Nc 10% Local Food Campaign: Impacts, Challenges, And Alternatives, Kati Ingerson, Ksu Jayaratne, Teisha Wymore, Nancy Creamer

Journal of Extension

This article reports on the perceptions of Extension educators who served as the Local Food Coordinators (LFCs) in promoting the North Carolina Local Food initiative. The study determined Extension agents' perceptions about the local food campaign, its impacts, campaigning partners, campaign materials, challenges, and alternatives. It was a descriptive survey research conducted with all LFCs in NC. The findings of the study support the notion that promoting local foods has positive impacts on local economies and communities, and has implications for other Extension Services to promote local food campaign as a sustainable community development initiative.

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A Food Policy Council Guide For Extension Professionals, Nurgul Fitzgerald, Kathleen Morgan Apr 2014

A Food Policy Council Guide For Extension Professionals, Nurgul Fitzgerald, Kathleen Morgan

Journal of Extension

Public interest in food systems and national prevention strategies focusing on cross-sectoral, community and systems level approaches paved the way for growing numbers of food policy councils. These councils function as organizations to discuss food-related problems, foster coordination across sectors, and influence food policies. Extension professionals can serve as "change agents," bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, form cross-sectoral collaborations, take leadership roles, and build community capacity through food policy councils. Based on expert interviews and our experiences in establishing a council, we present practice recommendations to serve as a concise how to guide for Extension professionals.

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African-American Land Loss And Sustainable Forestry In The Southeast: An Analysis Of The Issues, Opportunities, And Gaps, Colmore S. Christian, Rory Fraser, Amadou Diop Dec 2013

African-American Land Loss And Sustainable Forestry In The Southeast: An Analysis Of The Issues, Opportunities, And Gaps, Colmore S. Christian, Rory Fraser, Amadou Diop

Journal of Extension

African-Americans' connection to the land is rapidly disappearing, and with it goes the cultural, political, and socio-economic capital that has helped this population, especially in southern states. There has been a severe decline in black landownership since 1910, resulting in rural counties with predominantly black populations becoming pockets of enduring poverty. Judicious investments in efforts to solve black land loss may lead to solutions to a larger problem: engagement of non-industrial private forestland owners in sustainable land management. Strengthening black forest-based communities as places to invest and live can build on this rich Southern heritage.

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Comprehensive Land Use Planning In Exurban Communities: A Case Study From Ohio, Thomas W. Blaine, Myra Moss, Julia Cumming, Janet Wasko Myers Oct 2013

Comprehensive Land Use Planning In Exurban Communities: A Case Study From Ohio, Thomas W. Blaine, Myra Moss, Julia Cumming, Janet Wasko Myers

Journal of Extension

Comprehensive land use planning at the county level has been a focus of a good deal of public attention in the U.S. in the post-World War II era. Because Extension is typically very active at the county level and provides substantial expertise on land use at the university level, it has long played a significant role in the planning process. This article reports the findings of a survey among residents of an exurban community on land use designed to obtain public opinion prior to the update of a comprehensive plan, contributing a sense of public inclusion to the process.

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Unlocking Public Value: An Evaluation Of The Impact Of Missouri's Great Northwest Day At The Capitol Program, Wilson Magee, Beverly A. Maltsberger Aug 2013

Unlocking Public Value: An Evaluation Of The Impact Of Missouri's Great Northwest Day At The Capitol Program, Wilson Magee, Beverly A. Maltsberger

Journal of Extension

The study reported here is an evaluation of the public value of a regional public policy engagement program. Data were obtained through surveys and document analysis. The study observed peer-learning and networking opportunities as some of the most impactful elements of GNWD at the Capitol in creating public value. Building coalitions of interest among diverse sectors of the population strengthens the development of public value. For Extension, these findings suggest that programming that focuses on collaborative efforts holds promise for sustaining communities. Extension can be the glue that permeates professional/sectoral boundaries and bonds the different fields together.

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Researching And Communicating Environmental Issues Among Farmers And Ranchers: Implications For Extension Outreach, Roslynn G. Brain, Tracy A. Irani, Martha C. Monroe Jun 2013

Researching And Communicating Environmental Issues Among Farmers And Ranchers: Implications For Extension Outreach, Roslynn G. Brain, Tracy A. Irani, Martha C. Monroe

Journal of Extension

The research reported here explored environmental terminology and scale use with farmers/ranchers, and the article provides tips for Extension educators in communicating with these audiences. Following analysis and critique of various environmental scales by six cattle ranchers, a revised environmental scale was developed and tested as a predictor of conservation behavior. A mail survey was administered to 1,000 ranchers, and a 60.2% response-rate was received. Results offer recommendations in measuring environmental identity as well as insight to perceptions of terminology related to environmental issues by farmers/ranchers.

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First Impressions: An Effective Approach For Community Improvement, Kelly Nix, Daniel Eades, Robin Frost Jun 2013

First Impressions: An Effective Approach For Community Improvement, Kelly Nix, Daniel Eades, Robin Frost

Journal of Extension

A long-term impact study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Community First Impressions Program. Thirty-two (32) targeted communities located in West Virginia and Pennsylvania were surveyed; 18 (56%) responses were obtained. The majority of communities reported the program led to positive changes in community and economic development. Impacts were realized beyond program recommendations as communities self-evaluated, built new networks, and sought additional resources for community-driven development. Government leader turnover and lack of funding and citizen initiative were cited as challenges. The findings have implications for community capacity building, specifically leadership development, resource development, and engaged citizen's strategies.

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Extension-Led Economic Development Model—A Recipe For Success, Nancy Bowen-Ellzey, Greg Davis, Eric Romich, Mike Lloyd Apr 2013

Extension-Led Economic Development Model—A Recipe For Success, Nancy Bowen-Ellzey, Greg Davis, Eric Romich, Mike Lloyd

Journal of Extension

Staffing, funding, and sustaining collaborative economic development organizations that provide the full range of programming require resources and cooperation. Extension-led economic development organizations, because they are tied to university resources grounded in research and education and without local jurisdictional bias, can build public trust and cooperative partnerships that help to broaden funding support for economic development programming.

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Externships In Sustainability Program As An Outreach Tool For Extension, Mark Apel, Ayman Mostafa, Bill Brandau, Gregg Garfin Apr 2013

Externships In Sustainability Program As An Outreach Tool For Extension, Mark Apel, Ayman Mostafa, Bill Brandau, Gregg Garfin

Journal of Extension

In 2011, Arizona Cooperative Extension implemented Externships in Sustainability, a program in which undergraduate students conduct community-based sustainability projects. In contrast to internships, in which students shadow a professional, externship students apply their skills to community outreach. Extension faculty proposed projects and recruited undergraduates from within their communities to execute the projects. Students were given responsibility for planning, implementation, and Extension. Agents, students, and communities have benefited from improved relationships between the university and communities, and through rainwater harvesting, community gardens, and other projects to increase resilience. Extension programs in other states could adopt this model to reap similar benefits.

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The Healthy Homes Partnership: A Cooperative Extension Model, Laura B. Booth, Gina G. Peek Feb 2013

The Healthy Homes Partnership: A Cooperative Extension Model, Laura B. Booth, Gina G. Peek

Journal of Extension

This article highlights the accomplishments of the Healthy Homes Partnership, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. Since the program began in 1999, funds totaling $2.7 million have been distributed to 34 states and Virgin Islands Extension programs through a competitive process. Extension professionals have used the funds as seed grants to conduct research, create programming materials, and foster relationships with stakeholders. The Partnership is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) supported U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) national outreach program.

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Building Regional Networking Capacity Through Leadership Development: The Case Of Leadership Northwest Missouri, Beverly Maltsberger, Wilson Majee Aug 2012

Building Regional Networking Capacity Through Leadership Development: The Case Of Leadership Northwest Missouri, Beverly Maltsberger, Wilson Majee

Journal of Extension

Through a case study analysis of a regional leadership development program, this article describes the impact on individual and group leadership skills and how the skills are employed to benefit individual communities and the region as a whole. Data were obtained through surveys. Through cooperation and collaboration between and among leadership program graduates, leadership alumni, and other regional leaders, graduates grew personally and professionally, and built new networks that help them advance their communities and the region. The most significant implication for Extension from this study is the need to expand partnerships in order to better utilize resources.

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Using Common Evaluation Instruments Across Multi-State Community Programs: A Pilot Study, Pamela B. Payne, Daniel A. Mcdonald Aug 2012

Using Common Evaluation Instruments Across Multi-State Community Programs: A Pilot Study, Pamela B. Payne, Daniel A. Mcdonald

Journal of Extension

In times of diminishing resources to support community programs, it is critical that Extension make every effort to show impact as collectively as possible for the variety of programs being delivered in individual counties and communities. The pilot study reported here (funded by CYFAR, NIFA, USDA award #2008-41520-04810), focused on outcomes in youth citizenship programs in four states. Key factors to consider in the selection of common instruments include length, scope, and validation of instruments. The importance of dosage, specifically intensity and duration, are highlighted in relation to program outcomes.

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Evaluation Of A Sustainable Green Living Expo Event: Attendees' Reports Of Satisfaction, Learning, And Behavior Change, David Diehl, Shelley E. Swenson, Jessica N. Wente Jun 2012

Evaluation Of A Sustainable Green Living Expo Event: Attendees' Reports Of Satisfaction, Learning, And Behavior Change, David Diehl, Shelley E. Swenson, Jessica N. Wente

Journal of Extension

This article presents the evaluation of the Sustainable Big Bend Green Living Expo and Education Fair, which targets participants with a variety of learning opportunities. Evaluation was carried out using onsite surveys along with follow-up surveys and phone interviews. Results indicate that a 1-day sustainability event is a meaningful way to reach individuals and that they have high levels of satisfaction, learning, and self-reported behavior change. The study concludes that Extension has a critical role to play in sustainable living issues and that systematic evaluation can be valuable for program improvement as well as documentation of outcomes.

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Swat (Student Weekend Arborist Team): A Model For Land Grant Institutions And Cooperative Extension Systems To Conduct Street Tree Inventories, Fd Cowett, Nl Bassuk Jun 2012

Swat (Student Weekend Arborist Team): A Model For Land Grant Institutions And Cooperative Extension Systems To Conduct Street Tree Inventories, Fd Cowett, Nl Bassuk

Journal of Extension

SWAT (Student Weekend Arborist Team) is a program affiliated with Cornell University and Extension founded to conduct street tree inventories in New York State communities with 10,000 residents or fewer, a group of communities underserved in community forestry planning. Between 2002 and 2010, SWAT conducted 40 inventories, and data from these inventories has been used to create community forestry management plans for inventoried communities. SWAT's inventory methodology and the program's success provide a model for other land-grant institutions and Extension systems to inventory publicly managed street trees and support community forestry planning in smaller communities throughout the United States.

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Broadening Extension's Capacity—Comparing Extension Agents' And Environmental Educators' Perceptions Of Needs And Barriers, Dave Smaldone, Deborah A. Boone, Steve Selin, Amanda See Jun 2011

Broadening Extension's Capacity—Comparing Extension Agents' And Environmental Educators' Perceptions Of Needs And Barriers, Dave Smaldone, Deborah A. Boone, Steve Selin, Amanda See

Journal of Extension

Conservation and environmental education share similar goals with Extension and thus holds partnership potential for Extension. The study reported here compared the needs and barriers faced by environmental educators and Extension agents in West Virginia using a mail survey. Results indicated there were both similarities and differences in the needs and barriers of the two groups. It was also noted that EE groups and Extension agents were unaware of each other's programs and did not view each other as important sources of information. This represents an opportunity for the groups to network and connect in new ways.

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Developing A Farmers' Market Volunteer Team In Lieu Of A Paid Manager, Phil Meeks, Ken Culp Iii Jun 2011

Developing A Farmers' Market Volunteer Team In Lieu Of A Paid Manager, Phil Meeks, Ken Culp Iii

Journal of Extension

Rural farmers' markets unable to justify a paid manager may benefit from the development of a farmers' market volunteer team. This articles looks at sources of farmers' market volunteers, specific duties of such a team, and education and orientation requirements to ensure the success of these volunteers.

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Profiling Community Gardeners, Thomas W. Blaine, Parwinder S. Grewal, Ashley Dawes, Darrin Snider Dec 2010

Profiling Community Gardeners, Thomas W. Blaine, Parwinder S. Grewal, Ashley Dawes, Darrin Snider

Journal of Extension

A profile of participants in an Extension urban community gardening program reveals that the program is successful in bringing together a large number of people from diverse income and age groups. Community gardening contributes to a change in diet among 3/f4 of both new and continuing gardeners. Time spent in the garden per week is a function of number of years in the program, income, diet, whether the gardener donates produce to charity, and time taken to respond to the survey. Inclusion of the latter variable provided for control of potential non-response bias.

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Tips To Create Biodiverse, Urban Communities, Mark E. Hostetler, Martin B. Main Oct 2010

Tips To Create Biodiverse, Urban Communities, Mark E. Hostetler, Martin B. Main

Journal of Extension

Urban landscapes dominated by non-native turfgrass and ornamental plants are contributing to the decline of biodiversity in both urban areas and surrounding natural areas. Given that a majority of people now live in and experience nature in urban areas, landscaping recommendations by Extension professionals should focus on practices that conserve native biodiversity. We present alternative landscaping approaches to help conserve urban biodiversity.

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Engaging The Engagers: Implications For The Improvement Of Extension Work Design, William S. Weyhrauch, Satoris S. Culbertson, Maura J. Mills, Clive J. Fullager Jun 2010

Engaging The Engagers: Implications For The Improvement Of Extension Work Design, William S. Weyhrauch, Satoris S. Culbertson, Maura J. Mills, Clive J. Fullager

Journal of Extension

County Extension agents from the Midwest were surveyed on a variety of psychological variables. Differences among agents in the fields of Family and Consumer Science (FCS), Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR), and 4H Youth Development (4HYD) were examined as well as differences among highly and lesser engaged agents. Results showed that FCS agents had higher levels of dedication, absorption, and work-family facilitation. ANR agents reported greater work-role salience than other areas and lower family-role salience. Highly engaged agents reported experiencing greater work-family facilitation, positive affectivity, and psychological capital. Implications for design and management of Extension work are discussed.

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Educators Or Facilitators? Clarifying Extension's Role In The Emerging Local Food Systems Movement, Brian Raison Jun 2010

Educators Or Facilitators? Clarifying Extension's Role In The Emerging Local Food Systems Movement, Brian Raison

Journal of Extension

With the recent growth of the local food systems movement, OSU Extension formed a new statewide team. In the process, Extension program delivery systems were explored contrasting traditional program delivery (historically rooted in a teacher-clientele, information transfer, demonstration methodology) vs. a community capacity-building facilitation process. This seemingly marginal distinction raised questions with deeper implications for Extension's outreach and engagement process. In brief, how can Extension fill the gap between community-expressed needs and the traditional framework of delivery? Should Extension help communities fulfill their goals and objectives by acting as facilitators, co-conveners, and true partners, rather than simply as educators?

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Community Strategic Visioning As A Method To Define And Address Poverty: An Analysis From Select Rural Montana Communities, Paul Lachapelle, Eric Austin, Daniel Clark Feb 2010

Community Strategic Visioning As A Method To Define And Address Poverty: An Analysis From Select Rural Montana Communities, Paul Lachapelle, Eric Austin, Daniel Clark

Journal of Extension

Community strategic visioning is a citizen-based planning process in which diverse sectors of a community collectively determine a future state and coordinate a plan of action. Twenty-one communities in rural Montana participated in a multi-phase poverty reduction program that culminated in a community strategic vision process. Research on this process was guided by alternative definitions of poverty and place attachment literature. Results from the qualitative survey data show many descriptions of poverty outside of traditional economic definitions and illustrations on the significance of place. Implications and recommendations on the use of visioning in other contexts in Extension are discussed.

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Extension, The Land-Grant Mission, And Civic Agriculture: Cultivating Change, Kathryn Colasanti, Wynne Wright, Brenda Reau Aug 2009

Extension, The Land-Grant Mission, And Civic Agriculture: Cultivating Change, Kathryn Colasanti, Wynne Wright, Brenda Reau

Journal of Extension

Criticisms claiming the land-grant system has failed its mission and recent restructuring in the food system have together challenged the role played by Extension. This article explores whether a framework of southeast Michigan's Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP) fosters civic participation in the agrifood re-localization movement. Employing a case study approach, we discuss this framework and provide an overview of Extension educator involvement. Our case study indicates that the FSEP structure enables Extension professionals to expand their repertoire of community interaction models and engage citizens as agrifood citizens and leaders in order to move towards sustainable development.

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Impact Evaluation Of Integrated Extension Programs: Lessons Learned From The Community Gardening Program, Jay S. Jayaratne, Lucy K. Bradley, Elizabeth Driscoll Jun 2009

Impact Evaluation Of Integrated Extension Programs: Lessons Learned From The Community Gardening Program, Jay S. Jayaratne, Lucy K. Bradley, Elizabeth Driscoll

Journal of Extension

Integrated programming is a coordinated Extension approach to address multi-faceted community issues. An integrated Extension approach is needed to address complex community issues in a meaningful way. Planning, implementation, and evaluation of an integrated program should be considered as a joint effort by the partnering Extension agents. This article describes how to document the impacts of integrated Extension program to reflect the coordinated effort of the Extension team. Documentation as well as sharing impacts with the partners is necessary to strengthen the collaboration and sustain the integrated Extension programming effort.

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Building A Multi-Generational Volunteer Base: Understanding How Human Development Impacts Volunteer Service, Ken Culp Iii Feb 2009

Building A Multi-Generational Volunteer Base: Understanding How Human Development Impacts Volunteer Service, Ken Culp Iii

Journal of Extension

Extension professionals seeking to recruit multi-generational volunteers face several challenges, including understanding human development across the life span, recruiting different age groups for volunteer roles, and developing volunteer roles for people with different developmental needs. Engaging an age-diverse volunteer pool will benefit the organization, its clientele and volunteers. Extension professionals should consider creating specific roles for multi-generational volunteers. This should yield a broader cadre of recruits who are likely to be retained as they move through different developmental stages across the life span.

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Local Foods: Estimating Capacity, David Timmons, Qingbin Wang, Dan Lass Oct 2008

Local Foods: Estimating Capacity, David Timmons, Qingbin Wang, Dan Lass

Journal of Extension

While local food is enjoying new interest in much of the country, data revealing the extent of local food production and consumption are typically lacking. This lack of data has made it difficult to set local food goals and assess progress toward such goals. This article describes two methods for quantifying local food consumption and presents estimation results using national and state data. The local food indicators presented in this article can be easily estimated with publicly available data and represent low cost indicators of local food use that Extension professionals can use to assist clientele.

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