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Using Satellite Broadcasts To Educate The Public About Watershed Issues On A Regional Basis, Robert L. Mahler, Jan Seago, Robert Simmons, Scott Fedale Jun 2008

Using Satellite Broadcasts To Educate The Public About Watershed Issues On A Regional Basis, Robert L. Mahler, Jan Seago, Robert Simmons, Scott Fedale

Journal of Extension

The Pacific Northwest Water Quality team developed a series of three regional (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington) watershed issues satellite downlinked conferences that were delivered in 2002, 2003, and 2004 using a regional steering committee. These conferences were downlinked to a minimum of 38 educational sites each year with an annual attendance ranging from 300 to 1,000 educators, agency and non-profit personnel, and members of local watershed groups. Evaluations indicated that regional programming on certain topics is an efficient and effective alternative to individual state programming when both financial and human resources are limited in individual states.

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Extension's Role In Facilitating Collaborative Initiatives: Direct Marketing Farm Products On The Internet, Jessica Bagdonis, Joan S. Thomson, Craig Altemose Apr 2008

Extension's Role In Facilitating Collaborative Initiatives: Direct Marketing Farm Products On The Internet, Jessica Bagdonis, Joan S. Thomson, Craig Altemose

Journal of Extension

Using the Internet to direct market farm products provides multiple opportunities for producers to expand their existing businesses. Most often, these initiatives are undertaken by individual businesses. However, recent efforts in Central Pennsylvania suggest ways in which Extension can facilitate collaborative initiatives to direct market farm products online. In addition to increasing the profitability of small producers, collaborative marketing efforts can also contribute to sustainable community outcomes. Inherent in our discussion is the assumption that the principals of facilitating collaborative initiatives to direct market farm products online can be used to facilitate collaborate initiatives in other programmatic areas.

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With One Stroke Of The Pen: How Can Extension Professionals Involve Developers And Policymakers In Creating Sustainable Communities?, Mark Hostetler, Pierce Jones, Michael Dukes, Hal Knowles Feb 2008

With One Stroke Of The Pen: How Can Extension Professionals Involve Developers And Policymakers In Creating Sustainable Communities?, Mark Hostetler, Pierce Jones, Michael Dukes, Hal Knowles

Journal of Extension

Residential developments have a huge impact on natural resources, and sustainable or "green" communities are beginning to be built throughout the United States. Ultimately, with one stroke of a pen, developers, planners, and policymakers determine how a community will look and feel for many years to come. To interface with this non-traditional audience, we have created a new program called the Program for Resource Efficient Communities (PREC ) at the University of Florida. Through our experiences, we discuss the importance of partnering with developers, planners, and policymakers, and techniques to create resource-efficient communities.

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Building Disaster-Resilient Families, Communities, And Businesses, Franklin E. Boteler Dec 2007

Building Disaster-Resilient Families, Communities, And Businesses, Franklin E. Boteler

Journal of Extension

The United States is experiencing an increase in the severity of critical incidents. Extension agents play a significant role in enabling families, communities, and businesses to sustain themselves through these catastrophic events. A substantial body of scientific knowledge is available to guide Extension efforts in enhancing local sustainability. The literature indicates that our nation must adopt a strategy of continuous, sustainable hazards mitigation.

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Connecting Communities: Third Generation Community Network Projects, William C. Shuffstall, Theodore R. Alter, Jeffrey C. Bridger, Sheila S. Sager Aug 2007

Connecting Communities: Third Generation Community Network Projects, William C. Shuffstall, Theodore R. Alter, Jeffrey C. Bridger, Sheila S. Sager

Journal of Extension

This article discuss the evolution of the community network movement and provides practical advice about how Extension educators can work with local leaders and community residents to initiate projects that increase diffusion and adoption of information technologies in their communities. Experience in Pennsylvania shows that the community development processes used to develop third generation community network projects increases the diffusion and adoption of information technologies and builds human and organizational capacity useful for addressing a wide variety of community issues. Readers are introduced to "Connecting Rural Communities," a guide to enhancing adoption of technology tools and infrastructure in rural communities.

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The Extension Hedgehog, Daniel M. Mcgrath, Flaxen Dl Conway, Sharon Johnson Apr 2007

The Extension Hedgehog, Daniel M. Mcgrath, Flaxen Dl Conway, Sharon Johnson

Journal of Extension

Extension is competing for money, attention, and a place in the future of higher education. It is critical that Extension identify its education niche, specialties, and the value that only Extension adds to learning. Extension must mature in its role by coordinating issues-based education from a total university base. Issues-based education is inherently collaborative and non-hierarchical. Extension should be at the forefront of the modern outreach and engagement movement. But what are we passionate about, what can we be the very best at in the world, and how do we effectively attach our work to its economic drivers?

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Academic Health Centers And Cooperative Extension Service: A Model For A Working Partnership, F Douglas Scutchfield, Torrie T. Harris, Bonnie Tanner, Deborah Murray Feb 2007

Academic Health Centers And Cooperative Extension Service: A Model For A Working Partnership, F Douglas Scutchfield, Torrie T. Harris, Bonnie Tanner, Deborah Murray

Journal of Extension

The University of Kentucky realized its state health needs and combined resources. The Colleges of Agriculture (COA) and Public Health along with the university Academic Health Center (AHC) partnered to develop the Health Education through Extension Leadership Project (HEEL). As a model for future program development for other states, the process of collaboration is described in detail to inform and promote the creation of new effective health programs. Successful examples of the created partnership are described as well as the process to program planning, program development, and implementation.

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Evaluation Tool For Community Development Coalitions, Holly Berry, Sally R. Bowman, Rebecca Hernandez, Clara Pratt Dec 2006

Evaluation Tool For Community Development Coalitions, Holly Berry, Sally R. Bowman, Rebecca Hernandez, Clara Pratt

Journal of Extension

Assessing the impact of community development coalitions over time is relevant to Extension professionals who may wish to measure success and lessons learned. We describe an evaluation tool in which coalition members and key informants assess community goals before the existence of the community coalitions and after the coalitions have been operating, utilizing a retrospective pretest. The responses of coalition members are posted, and a facilitated discussion allows members to change their ratings. Key informants are then interviewed using the same questions. The responses of informants and coalition members are compared, resulting in a comprehensive yet quick evaluation.

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Using A Multi-Phase Community Assessment To "Chart The Course" Of Communities In Southern Ohio, Jeffrey C. Fisher, Deanna L. Tribe, David K. Apsley Dec 2006

Using A Multi-Phase Community Assessment To "Chart The Course" Of Communities In Southern Ohio, Jeffrey C. Fisher, Deanna L. Tribe, David K. Apsley

Journal of Extension

Extension must be responsive to the communities it serves in order to remain relevant. A multi-phased community assessment process was designed to acquire a holistic understanding of communities and perceptions of residents regarding broad issues within 16 counties in southern Ohio. This process has helped us better understand these communities and has served as a conduit to increase community awareness of Extension, build stronger and more efficient Extension teams, foster new and enhance existing partnerships, and stimulate positive change.

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Strengthening Community Engagement Toward Sustainable Local Food Systems, Joan S. Thomson, Rama B. Radhakrishna, Audrey N. Maretzki, Liberty O. Inciong Aug 2006

Strengthening Community Engagement Toward Sustainable Local Food Systems, Joan S. Thomson, Rama B. Radhakrishna, Audrey N. Maretzki, Liberty O. Inciong

Journal of Extension

Perspectives of Extension educators relative to local food system (LFS) issues are examined. These educators perceived consumer food safety, viable ag-related businesses, land use planning, farm land preservation, loss of family-owned farms, and access to quality foods as important issues. Extension educators viewed county Extension directors, regional directors, and program advisory boards as the strongest supporters for the local LFS. Lack of program resources to support and carry out LFS programming was identified as a barrier. Significant differences were also found between Extension educators' demographic and program characteristics and important LFS issues.

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Web-Based Communities As A Tool For Extension And Outreach, Sana M. Kallioranta, Richard P. Vlosky, Scott Leavengood Apr 2006

Web-Based Communities As A Tool For Extension And Outreach, Sana M. Kallioranta, Richard P. Vlosky, Scott Leavengood

Journal of Extension

The Internet has become a common tool for facilitating business transactions, fostering communication, and aiding for-profit and non-profit companies and organizations to better compete. An additional benefit of the Internet is the ability to create sector-specific Web-based communities that can facilitate outreach and Extension efforts. Communities in general can be any group with a common interest or goal and can include a number of actions such as information sharing, real-time dialog, and transaction facilitation. In this article, we discuss a background of Web-based communities and forest-sector Web-based communities developed by Cooperative Extension faculty members at two U.S. universities.

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The Meskwaka Tree Project: Ten Years Of Community Forestry Volunteer Development, Robert M. Ricard Dec 2005

The Meskwaka Tree Project: Ten Years Of Community Forestry Volunteer Development, Robert M. Ricard

Journal of Extension

Connecticut is highly urbanized, with dense tree cover, and this produces tree-versus-people conflicts that include public safety issues. Yet communities lack sufficient resources to develop community forestry programs. This article reports on the development, implementation, and outcomes of the Meskwaka Tree Project, an outreach education program for community forestry volunteers developed based on Roger's Diffusion of Innovations communications model. In 1992, the Meskwaka Tree Project began to equip community volunteers with the knowledge, skills, and contacts needed to create or improve community forestry programs and address public tree issues. Data shows that Meskwaka-trained volunteers helped conserve public trees and improved …

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Building A Collaboration For Youth Development: The "Club-Within-A-Club", Theresa M. Ferrari, Laurie Beth Hartzell Sweeney Feb 2005

Building A Collaboration For Youth Development: The "Club-Within-A-Club", Theresa M. Ferrari, Laurie Beth Hartzell Sweeney

Journal of Extension

This article describes the experiences of Ohio 4-H Youth Development and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus, Inc. to incorporate 4-H clubs within the Boys & Girls Clubs setting. The purpose of the study was to inform the continued collaboration of the two organizations. Staff and youth interviews, participant observation, and review of program records were conducted to gain insight into program implementation. Benefits, challenges, and keys to success were derived. The authors conclude that perception of benefits, compatibility of missions, and the new audience for 4-H outweigh the challenges. Communication through regular meetings is deemed essential.

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The Pendleton Community Garden Project--More Than Just Planting Seeds, Alice Voltund, Patricia Dawson, Mary Corp Dec 2004

The Pendleton Community Garden Project--More Than Just Planting Seeds, Alice Voltund, Patricia Dawson, Mary Corp

Journal of Extension

The Pendleton Community Garden Project is more than just planting seeds. It is about planting ideas, growing skills, and nurturing leadership and self-esteem in participants. Extension Family and Community Development, 4-H, and Agriculture faculty provided leadership in bringing together 22 local agencies to work with at-risk youth and senior volunteers. Thirty-five at-risk youth and over 100 seniors and community volunteers turned a vacant lot into a community garden that supplied fresh produce to local food bank recipients and homebound seniors. Both seniors and youth benefited from this intergenerational partnership, thus strengthening Extension's leadership role in forging partnerships for sustainable communities.

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An Industry-University Response To Global Competition, Joel A. Diemer, Richard Phillips, Mark Hillon Jun 2004

An Industry-University Response To Global Competition, Joel A. Diemer, Richard Phillips, Mark Hillon

Journal of Extension

In 1998, representatives of New Mexico's chile pepper industry approached New Mexico State University's College of Agriculture and Home Economics for help in gaining the edge on new global competition. The result was the New Mexico Chile Task Force, which brought together industry, university, and government partners to apply the most up-to-date knowledge and technology to industry problems. Key to the task force's success is the search conference format used in the initial strategic planning phase. This method, pioneered by Emery and Trist in the 1960s, brought together parties with divergent opinions and empowered them to develop strategies to manage …

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Comprehensive Model For Sustaining Community Projects, Jan Carroll, Mary Gross, Robin Leist Dec 2003

Comprehensive Model For Sustaining Community Projects, Jan Carroll, Mary Gross, Robin Leist

Journal of Extension

Local sustainability is a goal from any community-based project's first day. A family literacy project team conceptualized a comprehensive model for sustainability that includes six strategies. The two community sites are documented as successful beyond the term of federal funding. They are housed, staffed, and funded for program delivery to clients. The site directors share their knowledge, experience, insights, results, and recommendations. The best results have come from community investment and grant writing. The biggest challenge has been local fundraising. Marketing, fee-for-service, and 501(c)(3) status have contributed positively.

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Building Community: A Tool Kit For Youth And Adults In Charting Assets And Creating Change, Lucinda J. Garthwaite, Beth K. Tucker Aug 2003

Building Community: A Tool Kit For Youth And Adults In Charting Assets And Creating Change, Lucinda J. Garthwaite, Beth K. Tucker

Journal of Extension

Extension workers around the country are discovering a new way to help communities become more of what they want to be, and link them to extension resources, through the use of Building Community: A Tool Kit for Youth and Adults In Charting Assets and Creating Change. Developed by the Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development with Extension partners, the tool kit focuses on the gifts that a community brings to their desire for change--gifts of the past, place, people, and relationships--and has proven itself to be a powerful tool for sustainable community development.

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Decision-Making Styles: An Exploration Of Preferences Of On- And Off-Campus Faculty, Kristine Saunders, Tom Gallagher Jun 2003

Decision-Making Styles: An Exploration Of Preferences Of On- And Off-Campus Faculty, Kristine Saunders, Tom Gallagher

Journal of Extension

Collaboration between off-campus agents and on-campus specialists is often strained. We hypothesized that the strain relates to the groups having different styles of decision making. We administered a variation of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to on-campus specialists and off-campus agents in Utah. Although the groups share many MBTI preferences, there was a highly significant different on preference in the "judging" function, with 72% of the specialists indicating a Thinking preference and 60% of agents indicating a Feeling preference. This suggests major communication challenges when working together. We offer that the solution is in understanding the differences and using them as …

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Graduation: From National Initiative To Base Program Feb 2003

Graduation: From National Initiative To Base Program

Journal of Extension

The Cooperative Extension System supports base programs and national initiatives that provide direction for educational programming across the country. This article presents results of a study of the graduation of the CYFAR National Initiative into base programs. The Organizational Change Survey, designed to document the current state of and changes in a state's ability to develop and sustain effective programs for children, youth, and families, was first conducted in late 1997 to mid-1998 and was repeated in late 2000 to mid-2001. Results are presented from 22 states that participated both times. Implications for the implementation and graduation of other national …

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Progress Report--Globalizing U.S. Extension Systems, Barbara G. Ludwig Apr 2002

Progress Report--Globalizing U.S. Extension Systems, Barbara G. Ludwig

Journal of Extension

This article highlights the results of a 2000 study of U.S. Extension directors who described their Extension systems related to efforts to globalize over a 20-year period. Directors recognize that globalization of Extension is underway and will become more integrated into future Extension programming. Positive changes were seen between 1990 and 2000, with 35 systems moving towards globalizing. For purposes of the study, globalization was defined as the incorporation of global content into Extension efforts so that clientele develop an understanding of global interdependencies as they relate to the issue areas within the Extension mission.

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Coalition Sustainability: Long-Term Successes & Lessons Learned, Kathleen Lodl, Georgia Stevens Feb 2002

Coalition Sustainability: Long-Term Successes & Lessons Learned, Kathleen Lodl, Georgia Stevens

Journal of Extension

While most Cooperative Extension projects begin with worthy goals, to truly measure a project's long-term success, it is necessary to assess the project's impact over time. The purpose of this article is to analyze the sustainability and continued impact of a USDA funded youth-at-risk project coalition building project 10 years after the onset of the initial project and 5 years after cessation of funding. The lessons learned through the work of the coalitions involved in this project can provide insight into the planning and implementation of other projects and strategies that can be used to ensure long-term project sustainability.

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The Department Of Housing And Urban Development And Cooperative Extension: A Case For Urban Collaboration, Timothy O. Borich Dec 2001

The Department Of Housing And Urban Development And Cooperative Extension: A Case For Urban Collaboration, Timothy O. Borich

Journal of Extension

USDA-sponsored Cooperative Extension systems and university programs offered through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) may find themselves in collaboration or conflict as both expand urban outreach activities. This article draws attention to some of the potential issues of concern, examines a case where collaboration has occurred, and details points of future collaboration. Based upon a pilot in Des Moines, Iowa, recommendations are given to foster further cooperation and forgo redundancy between the two systems.

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Essential Tasks, Skills, And Decisions For Developing Sustainable Community-Based Programs For Children, Youth, And Families At Risk, Mary Banach, Paula J. Gregory Oct 2001

Essential Tasks, Skills, And Decisions For Developing Sustainable Community-Based Programs For Children, Youth, And Families At Risk, Mary Banach, Paula J. Gregory

Journal of Extension

Experienced grant writers suggest the only thing worse than writing a grant proposal is getting funded! For those with little or no experience in program development, the many decisions of running a grant-funded project are both overwhelming and costly. The effectiveness of those decisions ultimately affects a project's sustainability. This article draws on experiences from Cooperative Extensions Children, Youth and Families At Risk (CYFAR) projects in proposing a model for sustainable community-based programs. The model delineates five typical stages of program development, and the critical tasks, skills, core questions, and feedback loops essential at each stage of effective practice.

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Collaboratively Evaluating Cooperative Extension Educational Interventions, Debb Webb, Dennis J. Murphy, Nancy Ellen Kiernan Apr 2001

Collaboratively Evaluating Cooperative Extension Educational Interventions, Debb Webb, Dennis J. Murphy, Nancy Ellen Kiernan

Journal of Extension

Can university researchers and county agents successfully work together to complete experimental program evaluation? The rigors of experimental evaluation and time and workload pressures on county agents are possible impediments that may undermine enthusiasm and good intentions at the start of any project. This article examines the experiences of researchers and agents in a major safety education intervention project in Pennsylvania. Specific lessons were learned for future evaluation research projects. Overall, results suggest that Cooperative Extension can successfully meet the challenge of formal program evaluation when university researchers and county agents work together.

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Gap Analysis: A Tool For Community Economic Development, Suzette D. Barta, Mike D. Woods Apr 2001

Gap Analysis: A Tool For Community Economic Development, Suzette D. Barta, Mike D. Woods

Journal of Extension

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service has responded to a need for reliable retail sales data and analysis through the use of a retail trends report or "gap analysis." This article describes the analysis and the impact of the gap analysis report on the communities that have used it in the last year. Emphasis is placed on describing the methodology. In an attempt to evaluate the usefulness of the information, a survey was conducted among users of the report. The results of the survey indicate that gap analysis has been quite useful to communities actively engaged in economic development.

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Extension's Role With Farmers' Markets: Working With Farmers, Consumers, And Communities, Jennifer Abel, Joan Thomson, Audrey Maretzki Oct 1999

Extension's Role With Farmers' Markets: Working With Farmers, Consumers, And Communities, Jennifer Abel, Joan Thomson, Audrey Maretzki

Journal of Extension

Farmers' markets are popular outlets for fresh food in many communities. Consumers choose to shop at these markets for a number of reasons, including freshness, appearance, and taste of produce, as well as enjoying the atmosphere of such a market. In addition to these benefits to consumers, farmers' markets serve the vendors who sell at them and the communities in which they are located in economic, educational, and social ways. This article examines the multiple benefits of farmers' markets and suggests ways that Extension can continue to take an active role in furthering their growth and development.

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Community Surveys: Measuring Citizens' Attitudes Toward Sustainability, Stanley M. Guy, David L. Rogers Jun 1999

Community Surveys: Measuring Citizens' Attitudes Toward Sustainability, Stanley M. Guy, David L. Rogers

Journal of Extension

Land Grant universities, through Extension, can help local governments gather information on public opinions, attitudes, and behavior about environmental, economic, and social sustainability in their communities. This paper provides suggestions and examples about questions that can be asked of citizens to measure support for sustainability. It examines issues and local government involvement in environmental, economic, and social sustainability.

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The Children, Youth, And Families At Risk (Cyfar) Evaluation Collaboration, Lydia I. Marek, Richard Aw Byrne, Mary S. Marczak, Sherry C. Betts Jun 1999

The Children, Youth, And Families At Risk (Cyfar) Evaluation Collaboration, Lydia I. Marek, Richard Aw Byrne, Mary S. Marczak, Sherry C. Betts

Journal of Extension

The Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Evaluation Collaboration is comprised of a team of Extension professionals and evaluation researchers from universities involved in CYFAR programs to work with CSREES staff to assist in sustaining the work of the CYFAR initiative, to assess program impact and organizational change, to build the evaluation capacity of Extension, and to provide information on how community-based projects can become institutionalized within CES or sustained within their communities. This article summarizes their current and future work towards these goals.

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Community Coalitions: Identifying Changes In Coalition Members As A Result Of Training, Georgia L. Stevens, Kathleen Ann Lodl Apr 1999

Community Coalitions: Identifying Changes In Coalition Members As A Result Of Training, Georgia L. Stevens, Kathleen Ann Lodl

Journal of Extension

Educating citizens to be better able to serve on community coalition members is an important role of Cooperative Extension. The purpose of this project was to identify changes community coalition members perceived as a result of training and being a coalition member. Areas measured were changes in: (a) skills in coalition building, (b) actions on public policy, and (c) knowledge of community needs related to youth issues. Results of paired t-tests showed that participants had significantly greater coalition building skills and increased actions on public policy. Implications of these findings and ways to effectively implement coalition member education are discussed.

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4-H Classroom Science Programs Enriching The Learning Environment, Robert L. Horton, Joseph Konen Dec 1997

4-H Classroom Science Programs Enriching The Learning Environment, Robert L. Horton, Joseph Konen

Journal of Extension

This study addresses the role of 4-H Classroom Science Programs as a catalyst for enriching the learning environment of students. Convinced that 4-H could have an impact on the quality of science education in the classroom, researchers from The National Center for Science Teaching and Learning and the National 4-H Network for Action in Science and Technology set out to establish a model approach for the delivery of 4-H classroom science programs. The model put forth in this program shows great promise in guiding the science enrichment efforts of 4-H professionals across the country. Clearly, 4-H can play a role …

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