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Family Camp: Strengthening At-Risk Families Through Adventure-Based Initiatives, Alayne Torretta Apr 2004

Family Camp: Strengthening At-Risk Families Through Adventure-Based Initiatives, Alayne Torretta

Journal of Extension

Family Camp weekend creates an innovative, supportive, educational, and fun environment for at-risk families, using experiential learning activities to forge positive changes in communication within the family structure. The program allows cognitive restructuring and opportunities for rehearsal by combining supportive recreation activities with structured experiential education activities. Working with the family as a whole, positive changes are systemic, and there is a greater likelihood of sustainability. Though a once-a-year experience may not resolve ubiquitous family problems, it does shed light on strengths that exist within that family that can combat the problematic situation and help prevent negative outcomes.

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Rediscovering The Potential Of In-Depth Training For Extension Educators, Millie Ferrer, Anne M. Fugate, Daniel F. Perkins, Janice Easton Feb 2004

Rediscovering The Potential Of In-Depth Training For Extension Educators, Millie Ferrer, Anne M. Fugate, Daniel F. Perkins, Janice Easton

Journal of Extension

In exploring in-service training methods, Extension shouldn't forget the potential of in-depth, face-to-face in-service training for facilitating the integration and application of more complex knowledge and skills. The Florida Innovators Program (FIP) is a 2-year professional development program for Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H agents during which participants develop a program for at-risk audiences. After program workshops, agents implement their projects with the help of a seed grant and evaluate and report on the results. Evaluation indicates that FIP's approach is building the participants' capacity to implement community-based programs and highlights program characteristics that enhance the value of face-to-face …

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Strengthening Programs To Reach Diverse Audiences: A Curriculum To Planning And Implementing Extension Programs For Ethnically Diverse Audiences, Lisa Guion, Samantha Chattaraj, Stephanie Sullivan Lytle Feb 2004

Strengthening Programs To Reach Diverse Audiences: A Curriculum To Planning And Implementing Extension Programs For Ethnically Diverse Audiences, Lisa Guion, Samantha Chattaraj, Stephanie Sullivan Lytle

Journal of Extension

This article provides the description, theoretical framework, scope and organization, and usage of the newly developed Strengthening Programs to Reach Diverse Audiences curriculum. The curriculum was developed by a multi-state, multi-university, multidisciplinary team in order to increase the knowledge and skills of Extension professionals and paraprofessionals on how to design more effective programs to reach ethnically diverse audiences. Information on how to obtain the curriculum is also provided.

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Assessing Extension Internal Organizational Needs Through An Action Research And Learning Process, Michael Havercamp, Elizabeth Christiansen, Deborah Mitchell Oct 2003

Assessing Extension Internal Organizational Needs Through An Action Research And Learning Process, Michael Havercamp, Elizabeth Christiansen, Deborah Mitchell

Journal of Extension

A participatory action research and learning process was used to carry out an internal needs assessment for a statewide Extension organization in a western United States land-grant institution. Focus groups, a written questionnaire, and employee feedback sessions were utilized as a means of identifying strategic organizational issues, needs, and resources that the organization would prioritize based on a 5-year time frame. The research and learning process, discussion of the results, limitations of the study, and implications for similar use of this process are discussed in this article.

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Success Outcome Markers In Extension (Some): Evaluating The Effects Of Transformational Learning Programs, S Kay Rockwell, Ladeane Jha, Eileen Krumbach Oct 2003

Success Outcome Markers In Extension (Some): Evaluating The Effects Of Transformational Learning Programs, S Kay Rockwell, Ladeane Jha, Eileen Krumbach

Journal of Extension

Success outcome markers (SOMs), and the process of creating them, offer Extension a new approach to plan, monitor, and evaluate programs. Generating success outcome markers helps to carefully determine all partners (including beneficiaries) who may need to change to accomplish program goals and identifies steps to continuously track incremental successes. Hard-to-measure human behaviors become more concrete when success outcome markers are listed. To successfully use SOMs, one must (a) create a vivid and compelling vision, (b) list your WHOs, (c) write an outcome challenge for each WHO, and (d) determine SOMs. Then decide how to monitor and report on each …

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Parenting From Prison: What Can Extension Educators Do?, Jackie L. Reilly Oct 2003

Parenting From Prison: What Can Extension Educators Do?, Jackie L. Reilly

Journal of Extension

The number of children affected by parental incarceration has increased drastically in the last decade. Many incarcerated parents want to be good parents, and, while in prison, they can improve on their parenting skills and maintain or strengthen their relationships with their children. Extension parent educators can teach parenting skills and present ideas for staying connected while in prison. Since 1997, 139 mothers and 68 fathers have taken the Parenting From Prison class. Activities used in the class are described as well as considerations for modifying existing parenting curricula to fit the needs of incarcerated parents.

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Celebrating Diversity 365 Days A Year: An Educational Calendar For Planning Programs, Lisa Guion, Samantha Chattaraj, Stephanie Sullivan Lytle Aug 2003

Celebrating Diversity 365 Days A Year: An Educational Calendar For Planning Programs, Lisa Guion, Samantha Chattaraj, Stephanie Sullivan Lytle

Journal of Extension

This article describes the Celebrating Diversity calendar and its uses in planning community-based Extension programs. The Celebrating Diversity calendar covers an 18-month period from July 2003 through December 2004. It serves as a source of information on ethnic celebrations, holidays, and other significant events. Knowledge of those ethnic observances aid Extension professionals in planning their educational programs in several key ways. This article provides a description of the utility of the calendar as an Extension program-planning tool. Information on how to obtain the calendar is provided as well.

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Intergenerational Programming In Extension: Needs Assessment As Planning Tool, Matthew Kaplan, Shih-Tsen Liu, Rama Radhakrishna Aug 2003

Intergenerational Programming In Extension: Needs Assessment As Planning Tool, Matthew Kaplan, Shih-Tsen Liu, Rama Radhakrishna

Journal of Extension

This article presents the findings of a needs assessment study conducted to plan and develop a statewide intergenerational program. Twenty-eight Extension personnel, primarily Extension educators in the Family and Consumer Science and 4-H/Youth Development program areas, noted their preferences regarding program content and delivery format. Results were subsequently used in making several key decisions about curricular directions and program delivery strategies. To further explore ways in which intergenerational programming strategies can be developed to enhance Extension programming, it is proposed that additional research be conducted with a broader base of Extension personnel.

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Impact Of The Penn State Food Safety Web Site As A Food Safety Information Resource For Extension Professionals, Luke Laborde Apr 2003

Impact Of The Penn State Food Safety Web Site As A Food Safety Information Resource For Extension Professionals, Luke Laborde

Journal of Extension

The Penn State Food Safety Web Site was created in response to an expressed need by county Extension agents for a well organized, user-friendly Web site for finding food safety and preservation information. Agents reported that the site is used between one time per week and one time per month and that the food preservation database is the most frequently visited section. Food safety information was reported to be easier and faster to find compared to traditional resources. Agent acceptance of the Web site offers an opportunity for expanded use of the Internet for increasing communication and training activities.

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Children's Literacy: Children's Books For Healthy Families/Libros De Niños Para Familias Saludables, Jo Anne Kock Apr 2003

Children's Literacy: Children's Books For Healthy Families/Libros De Niños Para Familias Saludables, Jo Anne Kock

Journal of Extension

"Children's Books of Healthy Families/Libros de Niños Para Familias Saludables," which reached more than 2,500 parents and more 4,700 children, promotes positive parent/child and caregiver/child interaction, assists in parent/child bonding, and promotes school readiness. Evaluations revealed that the 2-year project increased positive parent/child interaction, that parents had a substantial increase in the number of books in the home, and that parents and caregivers increased the time spent reading to children and established regular reading times. By extending educational programming to at-risk and Hispanic audiences, Extension educators can make a difference in the well-being of the family and the community.

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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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Why People Are Moving To Suburbia (And Beyond): Examining The Pull Factor In The Fox Valley, Michael Koles, David Muench Dec 2002

Why People Are Moving To Suburbia (And Beyond): Examining The Pull Factor In The Fox Valley, Michael Koles, David Muench

Journal of Extension

Communities across the United States are growing and changing at an unprecedented pace. The Fox Valley of Wisconsin is no exception to the rapid population growth and development that often occurs in an unplanned manner and evokes terms like "sprawl" and "leapfrog construction." The rapid suburban, exurban, and rural evolution is fueled not only by broad economic factors but also localized characteristics that push residents from the city and pull residents to suburbia. This article describes research that investigated the pull factors in six suburban Fox Valley, Wisconsin communities and discusses resulting implications for Extension programming.

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Short-Term Interventions For Long-Term Needs: The Challenge Of Bridging Youth And Community Development, Garry Stephenson, Shawn Morford, Holly Berry Oct 2002

Short-Term Interventions For Long-Term Needs: The Challenge Of Bridging Youth And Community Development, Garry Stephenson, Shawn Morford, Holly Berry

Journal of Extension

The Mill City/Gates Youth Development Project operated as a youth-at-risk program in a timber-dependent community during the timber crisis of the early 1990's. Evaluations indicate the youth activities were effective. Community support structures created by the project continue to operate 5 years after the end of funding, indicating a successful institutionalization of this component of the project. Although projects like this can have tremendous impacts with short-term youth programs, they are not sustainable when the community lacks the resources for their continuation. This project demonstrates investments in community capacity building have long-term impacts and are crucial for communities to support …

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Creating The Base For Extension Priority Issues, Diana Martenson Oct 2002

Creating The Base For Extension Priority Issues, Diana Martenson

Journal of Extension

Field and campus faculty partnered in a trend analysis process that established a baseline of trends and resulting issues important to Minnesotans over the next 3 years. Approximately 70% of the trends and issues identified resulted from both the field and the discipline process. This congruence launched a program-development process mobilizing the organization around 14 critical issues. Work teams are currently identifying Extension's niche with these issues, and staff development, resources, and expertise are being leveraged for appropriate local response.

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4-H Animal Care As Therapy For At-Risk Youth, Randy R. Weigel, Brenda Caiola, Lise Pittman-Foy Oct 2002

4-H Animal Care As Therapy For At-Risk Youth, Randy R. Weigel, Brenda Caiola, Lise Pittman-Foy

Journal of Extension

Encouraging nurturing traits through the interaction of animals and at-risk youth can help reduce antisocial behavior. A 4-H animal-care program was initiated at The Wyoming Girls School as part of the rehabilitation process for the School's residents. Self-assessments by the young women indicated that the animals served a therapeutic role. Supervised interaction between at-risk youth and animals can provide an avenue to enhance self-esteem and build positive coping behaviors.

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The Challenges Associated With Change In 4-H/Youth Development, Renee K. Mckee, B Allen Talbert, Susan J. Barkman Apr 2002

The Challenges Associated With Change In 4-H/Youth Development, Renee K. Mckee, B Allen Talbert, Susan J. Barkman

Journal of Extension

This article discusses a study documenting the beliefs about proactive change among volunteers and Extension staff who develop policy for local Indiana 4-H Programs. Data analysis indicated that volunteers believe in the core values of the 4-H Program; recommend that the 4-H Program should reach more and different youth; and believe that the program's rural image inhibits progress in these areas. Staff interactions with volunteers, lack of parental involvement, policy-making group organization and structure, and youth representation were cited as barriers to a more open, inclusive organization. The article makes recommendations based on the study's findings and suggests topics for …

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The Nutrition Information And Resource Center At Penn State University, Katherine L. Carson, Julie A. Haines Apr 2002

The Nutrition Information And Resource Center At Penn State University, Katherine L. Carson, Julie A. Haines

Journal of Extension

Consumers are barraged with nutrition and health information. This presents a challenge for educators to keep abreast of the latest information. In order to help address this need, a Nutrition Information and Resource Center (NIRC) was developed. NIRC has an informational Web site (http://nirc.cas.psu.edu/) with online fact sheets, links to credible Web sites, an email question and answer system ([email protected]), and a lending library. The NIRC provides resources for educators that they can use to help children, youth, and families to acquire knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to improve their health.

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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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Accomplishing Cross Cultural Competence In Youth Development Programs, Bonita Williams Dec 2001

Accomplishing Cross Cultural Competence In Youth Development Programs, Bonita Williams

Journal of Extension

Cultural competence is fast becoming a competence needed by educators to function effectively in an educational setting. Changing demographics calls for this competency. By the year 2050, racial/ethnic groups will make up 48% of the total U.S. population. Self-awareness is one of the three vital ingredients in developing cultural competence. This knowledge assists individuals separate ways of thinking, believing, and behaving. The author developed the Youth Development Cultural Competence Continuum Quiz to assist educators/youth development practitioners in assessing their individual cultural competence.

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"Booster Shots" For Post-In-Service Learning, Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Daniel F. Perkins Dec 2001

"Booster Shots" For Post-In-Service Learning, Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Daniel F. Perkins

Journal of Extension

A technique to reinforce learning and encourage program application after an in-service training was developed in Pennsylvania. Monthly "booster shots" are sent electronically to participants to highlight a resource or reinforce a concept from the in-service. This stimulates application of information in local educational programming. Response to the boosters has remained positive for over a year after the in-service.

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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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Computer-Mediated Needs Assessment To Identify 4-H Youth Curriculum Needs, Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Marilyn Corbin Oct 2001

Computer-Mediated Needs Assessment To Identify 4-H Youth Curriculum Needs, Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Marilyn Corbin

Journal of Extension

Pennsylvania's 4-H Youth program faculty and staff participated in a needs assessment to determine priority needs for curriculum revision and development. The needs assessment process began with a computer-mediated discussion among a panel of youth development professionals. Statewide input from county Extension educators was obtained using interactive software on the World Wide Web. County educators reacted to the priorities identified during the computer-mediated discussion. A curriculum priority list emerged that is being used for resource allocation and curriculum planning.

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Building Your Youth Development Toolkit: A Community Youth Devrlopment Orientation For Pennsylvania 4-H/Youth Programs, Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Daniel F. Perkins Aug 2001

Building Your Youth Development Toolkit: A Community Youth Devrlopment Orientation For Pennsylvania 4-H/Youth Programs, Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Daniel F. Perkins

Journal of Extension

Pennsylvania Extension youth and family educators participated in an experiential inservice program that provided research findings, resources, activities, and teaching strategies to enhance positive community youth development programming in their counties. Participant evaluations showed significant gain in knowledge and understanding of community youth development concepts and the desire to apply these concepts in youth programs. Data from the evaluation provide strong evidence of the importance of developing a common framework and language for youth and family educators related to youth development. An inservice model that includes "booster" information to reinforce concepts after the inservice has application to other program areas.

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The Family Storyteller: A Collaborative Family Literacy Program, Dan Weigel, Patricia Behal, Sally Martin Aug 2001

The Family Storyteller: A Collaborative Family Literacy Program, Dan Weigel, Patricia Behal, Sally Martin

Journal of Extension

Children who begin school with limited literacy skills are struggling uphill from the first day they set foot in school. The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension initiated a collaborative family literacy effort to improve the literacy skills of both parents and their children. A series of six weekly workshops have been provided across Nevada to over 500 families. Pre-post interviews with families have revealed significant increases in the amount of time parents read with their children, their enjoyment of reading time, and their use of specific parent reading techniques. Children have made significant gains in their enjoyment of reading with …

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Extending Our Reach: Strategic Opportunities For Cooperative Extension To Promote Infant Health Through Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Preventative Education, Linda A. Jouridine, Stephen D. Green Jun 2001

Extending Our Reach: Strategic Opportunities For Cooperative Extension To Promote Infant Health Through Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Preventative Education, Linda A. Jouridine, Stephen D. Green

Journal of Extension

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) remains one of the deadliest health risks for infants up to age 1 year, claiming nearly 5,000 lives annually. The number of SIDS cases has decreased in the last decade due to nationwide efforts to educate the public about guidelines for reducing the risk of SIDS; however, evidence indicates that certain segments of the population are failing to implement these guidelines, which include placing infants to sleep on their backs. This article offers specific suggestions on how Extension is ideally suited to influence education, intervention, and public policy efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of …

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Edible Connections: A Model To Facilitate Citizen Dialogue And Build Community Collaboration, Joan S. Thomson, Jennifer L. Abel, Audrey N. Maretzki Apr 2001

Edible Connections: A Model To Facilitate Citizen Dialogue And Build Community Collaboration, Joan S. Thomson, Jennifer L. Abel, Audrey N. Maretzki

Journal of Extension

Edible Connections Changing the way we talk about food, farm, and community is a model that was created to facilitate dialogue on the local food system by involving those whose lives and livelihood are influenced by food. The authors outline the model and offer examples of how it has been used. They also detail how it can benefit Extension educators by enhancing work and community collaboration across Extension's program areas. The authors offer resources to help communities around the country apply the model to their specific situations.

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Edufaim: A Successful Program Helping Empower Rural Families Toward Self-Reliance, Stephen F. Duncan, Tim Dunnagan, Suzanne Christopher, Lynn Paul Feb 2001

Edufaim: A Successful Program Helping Empower Rural Families Toward Self-Reliance, Stephen F. Duncan, Tim Dunnagan, Suzanne Christopher, Lynn Paul

Journal of Extension

In this article we briefly describe the development, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of EDUFAIM: Educating Families to Achieve Independence in Montana as a model for statewide integration of efforts to help families dependent on public assistance move toward a more self-supporting lifestyle. The project is deemed by collaborators an integral part of their efforts to help families achieve self-sufficiency, and it has been dubbed a "model of collaboration." It is hoped that this model will be helpful to other states engaged in self-reliance education.

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The Multi-Cultural Center Of Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Providing Opportunities For All People To Learn, Celebrate, And Share Through Cultural Experiences, Dedra R. Tennis, John Burton, Barbara Forinash Apr 2000

The Multi-Cultural Center Of Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Providing Opportunities For All People To Learn, Celebrate, And Share Through Cultural Experiences, Dedra R. Tennis, John Burton, Barbara Forinash

Journal of Extension

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has experienced a major population growth of immigrant and refugee families. New arrivals must meet the everyday challenges of daily survival in a culture for which they are not prepared. A task force was established in 1995, and out of this grew the concept of a Multi-Cultural Center. As part of the National Children, Youth and Families At Risk (CYFAR) Initiative, which was funded by USDA CSREES, the South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service (SDSU CES) partnered with the Multi-Cultural Center to address various cultural hurdles. This partnership has led to the successful implementation of …

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Taking The Time To Ask: An Assessment Of Home Economics Agents' Resource And Training Needs, Anne Murphy, Gayle Coleman, Pat Hammerschmidt, Kathy Majewski Dec 1999

Taking The Time To Ask: An Assessment Of Home Economics Agents' Resource And Training Needs, Anne Murphy, Gayle Coleman, Pat Hammerschmidt, Kathy Majewski

Journal of Extension

Michigan State University Extension food, nutrition and health campus-based staff members conducted a needs assessment of county home economics agents to obtain information to drive decision making for programs, resources and training and to build rapport with county agents. The methods used to collect this crucial information were personal telephone interviews with 62 county agents and a follow-up printed questionnaire. Findings supplied a wealth of information for campus staff members to use to establish priorities about program planning and support, select or develop materials or other resources, and plan and implement training appropriate and helpful to county staff.

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Union Park Action For Safe Families, Millie Ferrer, Janet Chambers Aug 1999

Union Park Action For Safe Families, Millie Ferrer, Janet Chambers

Journal of Extension

Union Park Action for Safe Families is a community growth initiative composed of neighborhood school and community leaders, parents, and various agencies. Its mission is to support the stability of families and safety to unsupervised children. Collaborative efforts among various agencies are providing educational programs and services that are family focused and neighborhood based. After two years, there was a 64% increase in youth participating in supervised collaborative programs. Also, the 230 4th and 5th graders receiving self-care education in three elementary schools had a 25% increase in knowledge of personal safety as measured by a pre- and post-test. Seventy-one …

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