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Journal of Extension

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Mentoring: A Promising Approach For Involving At-Risk Youth In 4-H, Kathleen Riggs, Thomas Lee, James P. Marshall, Ellen Serfustini Jun 2006

Mentoring: A Promising Approach For Involving At-Risk Youth In 4-H, Kathleen Riggs, Thomas Lee, James P. Marshall, Ellen Serfustini

Journal of Extension

An effective way to reach at-risk youth is by establishing a positive adult/youth relationship through mentoring. Utah's Youth and Families with Promise (YFP) program combines mentoring with the benefits of structured 4-H. Participants were surveyed using a post-then-pre design. The differences in mean scores indicated statistically significant improvements in academic achievement, social competence, and family bonds. Youth reported increased levels of community attachment, and parents reported increased levels of parental efficacy. Extension professionals can use mentoring, in combination with 4-H, to reach and better serve at-risk audiences by introducing them to the benefits of 4-H as part of their mentoring …

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Learning From Latino Community Efforts, Peggy Gregory, Joe Camarillo, Dave Campbell, Steve Dasher Jun 2006

Learning From Latino Community Efforts, Peggy Gregory, Joe Camarillo, Dave Campbell, Steve Dasher

Journal of Extension

The study described here documents interviews with 101 Latino adults identified as either participants or non-participants in specific activities in five California communities. Both groups were asked to recommend strategies for organizations that seek to provide programs for youth and families. Results indicate that the approach to recruiting adults needs to be reframed in ways that de-emphasize the traditional concept of a volunteer leader. Findings also indicate that there can be no short cuts to investing time in building relationships that create trust and a level of comfort essential to many residents for their participation.

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Real World Evaluation, Drew Lenore Betz, Laura Griner Hill Apr 2006

Real World Evaluation, Drew Lenore Betz, Laura Griner Hill

Journal of Extension

We address the challenges of creating evaluation protocols that serve interests of both researchers and field faculty. WSU Extension used true and retrospective forms of pretest in evaluations of 100 adults attending the Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14 Years. We hypothesized that both forms of pretest would show positive change to posttest and that "Desirable" item types would show greater change. Both forms of the test indicated significant change in intervention-related behaviors, with greater change on retrospective tests and socially desirable items. We recommend using both a true pre-test and retrospective pre-test to satisfy researchers and practitioners.

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Building Partnerships For Youth: An Online Youth Development Resource Center, Karen Hoffman Tepper, James Roebuck Apr 2006

Building Partnerships For Youth: An Online Youth Development Resource Center, Karen Hoffman Tepper, James Roebuck

Journal of Extension

Youth development practitioners have a great need for quality professional development resources. The Building Partnerships for Youth project is a partnership of National 4-H Council and The University of Arizona designed to provide research-based, practical, applied resources. To achieve the project goal, a Web site containing a menu of effective youth development programs, fact sheets, training opportunities, and other useful information has been developed. This collection of materials was designed to be useful to Extension educators, as well as health and education professionals.

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Community Collaboration: Effective Partnerships With Steering Committees, Mary Banach, Sharyn Zunz, Nicole Lapointe Feb 2006

Community Collaboration: Effective Partnerships With Steering Committees, Mary Banach, Sharyn Zunz, Nicole Lapointe

Journal of Extension

This article reports the findings of a study examining the development, use, and effectiveness of community-based steering committees at three different rural sites. Each site developed projects administered by local Extension Educators aimed at benefiting at-risk youth and families. The effectiveness of the steering committees was evaluated by whether conditions were cultivated that would lead to program sustainability. Factors examined at each site included: availability and deployment of resources; steering committee composition; and leadership\ownership of the project. The article details the results of the study and suggests some implications for the development of community partnerships.

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Former 4-H Key Club Members' Perceptions Of The Impact Of "Giving" Life Skills Preparation On Their Civic Engagement, Penny Pennington, M Craig Edwards Feb 2006

Former 4-H Key Club Members' Perceptions Of The Impact Of "Giving" Life Skills Preparation On Their Civic Engagement, Penny Pennington, M Craig Edwards

Journal of Extension

Does 4-H make an impact on the civic engagement of adults? If so, do former 4-H members view the impact as being greater than that of other programming? This article describes perceptions of former 4-H Key Club members regarding the application of "giving" life skills preparation on their civic engagement. The impact of youth organizations on acquisition of "giving" life skills is also described. Participants "agreed" they were applying "giving" life skills acquired through 4-H, and that those experiences had a "major" impact on their civic engagement. It is recommended that "giving" life skills programming be continued.

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Incorporating Service Learning And Extension In Inner City Middle Schools: A Model For Future Programming, Nicole Webster Feb 2006

Incorporating Service Learning And Extension In Inner City Middle Schools: A Model For Future Programming, Nicole Webster

Journal of Extension

The article describes a program model used to promote science-based learning through a service learning model in an inner city school. Through working collaboratively with Extension staff, a program was created to meet the growing academic and social needs of youth in the inner city school system. If greater emphasis is placed on programming efforts among Extension, the community, and public schools, successful programs can be created to enhance the learning of the inner city youth population.

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A Teachable Moment: The Las Vegas Centennial, Jo Anne Kock, Vicki Agao Feb 2006

A Teachable Moment: The Las Vegas Centennial, Jo Anne Kock, Vicki Agao

Journal of Extension

What an exciting time to learn Las Vegas history! In celebration of the 2005 Las Vegas Centennial, a children's book, Growing Up in Las Vegas, and an accompanying activity book for use in childcare provider training was developed. Amply illustrated, this fictional story based on historical facts and photos from 1905, stars five-year-old Ellie and her brother Billy. The curriculum contains 14 different activities that follow the illustrations in the book. Reaching over 1,500 adults and 2,000 children, adult participant evaluations showed a significant knowledge gain. The curriculum can be easily replicated and adapted to fit other geographic areas.

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Individuation Revisited: Implications For Parent Education, Jodi Dworkin, Chih-Yuan S. Lee Dec 2005

Individuation Revisited: Implications For Parent Education, Jodi Dworkin, Chih-Yuan S. Lee

Journal of Extension

Researchers have suggested that adolescents' increase in autonomy is accompanied by maintaining close relations with parents. In this article, we explore this process of individuation from the perspective of mothers. Nearly 900 (n=878) white mothers of children aged 2 to 14 were interviewed via the telephone about their child's independence and their perception of parent-child connectedness. Analyses revealed that from the perspective of mothers, while independence increased across childhood, parent-child connectedness decreased. These data suggest the need to support parents in remaining connected to their children as they enter adolescence. Implications of these findings for parent education are considered.

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Validating Institutional Commitment To Outreach At Land-Grant Universities: Listening To The Voices Of Community Partners, David J. Weerts Oct 2005

Validating Institutional Commitment To Outreach At Land-Grant Universities: Listening To The Voices Of Community Partners, David J. Weerts

Journal of Extension

The need for public understanding and awareness of the value of university Extension and outreach is at an all-time high due to flattening Extension budgets and recent criticisms about higher education's commitment to public service. Drawing on interviews from community partners in three states, this article examines how community partners formulate their perceptions about an institution's commitment to its outreach mission. Community partners form their opinions about institutional commitment to engagement through a combination of three factors: language and symbolic actions of campus leadership, personal experiences with faculty and staff, and success in navigating the complex structures of the university.

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Idaho 4-H Impact Study, Jeff Goodwin, Cyndi Barnett, Michele Pike, Joey Peutz Aug 2005

Idaho 4-H Impact Study, Jeff Goodwin, Cyndi Barnett, Michele Pike, Joey Peutz

Journal of Extension

A study measured the impact that the 4-H experience has on the quality of life of young people. Data were collected from 5th, 7th, and 9th grade students in Idaho. Students were selected from four randomly selected schools in each of the 16 randomly selected counties across the state. There were 3,601 surveys returned from 53 schools. Youngsters who have participated in 4-H for 2 years or more are less likely to engage in "at-risk" behaviors such as drinking alcohol, shoplifting, drug use, damaging property, or smoking cigarettes than their non- 4‑H classmates.

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Extension's Response To An Un-Natural Disaster: Enlisting Your Support For Military Youth And Families, Theresa M. Ferrari Aug 2005

Extension's Response To An Un-Natural Disaster: Enlisting Your Support For Military Youth And Families, Theresa M. Ferrari

Journal of Extension

The situation created in families and communities by deployment of active duty, National Guard, and Reserve military service members demands immediate attention. The author shares her experiences as a 4-H Military Liaison and encourages readers to become involved with Operation: Military Kids efforts in their states.

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Some Joe Style Points: Capitalization & Et Al., Laura Hoelscher Aug 2005

Some Joe Style Points: Capitalization & Et Al., Laura Hoelscher

Journal of Extension

"Some JOE Style Points" talks about how to use "et al." and capitalization in JOE articles. "August JOE" highlights the two Commentaries in the August issue, a Tools of the Trade article, and the range of other topics covered.

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Wonderwise 4-H: Following In The Footsteps Of Women Scientists, Amy N. Spiegel, S Kay Rockwell, Deanna Acklie, Saundra Wever Frerichs Aug 2005

Wonderwise 4-H: Following In The Footsteps Of Women Scientists, Amy N. Spiegel, S Kay Rockwell, Deanna Acklie, Saundra Wever Frerichs

Journal of Extension

Wonderwise 4-H: Women in Science Learning Kits, recently included in the National 4-H Curriculum Collection and widely tested by 4-H leaders, have positively affected youths' perspectives on science, scientists, and scientific work. Adult leaders who used the multi-media, inquiry-based Wonderwise 4-H kits completed a Web survey describing the impact of the kits on youth. It indicated that the kits increased youth's interest and understanding of science, broadened their view of scientists, and opened their eyes to the possibility of science in their own futures. More information about Wonderwise 4-H and downloadable activities are available at .

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Life Skills Development In Youth: Impact Research In Action, Christy Fitzpatrick, Karen Hatch Gagne, Ron Jones, Jennifer Lobley Jun 2005

Life Skills Development In Youth: Impact Research In Action, Christy Fitzpatrick, Karen Hatch Gagne, Ron Jones, Jennifer Lobley

Journal of Extension

Developing life skills is a key element of 4-H programming, but research on the impact of 4-H on life skill development is minimal. 4-H alumni and volunteers were surveyed to explore the question "Does involvement in 4-H Youth Development programs help youth learn and use specific life skills?" 4-H alumni identified life skills learned through 4-H participation from a list of choices and in an open-ended format. Volunteers agreed that life skills were learned, although their assessment of specific skills differed from that of alumni. Findings indicate that long-term impacts of 4-H membership exist and can be measured.

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Lighten Up Iowa: An Interdisciplinary, Collaborative Health Promotion Campaign, Ruth E. Litchfield, Joann Muldoon, Greg Welk, Jim Hallihan Apr 2005

Lighten Up Iowa: An Interdisciplinary, Collaborative Health Promotion Campaign, Ruth E. Litchfield, Joann Muldoon, Greg Welk, Jim Hallihan

Journal of Extension

In Iowa, obesity nearly doubled between 1990 (12.8%) and 2002 (22.9%). Rural areas, like Iowa, tend to have a higher prevalence of obesity and are difficult to reach with health promotion efforts. The Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Games, and Iowa State University Extension deliver Lighten Up Iowa, a friendly team competition promoting physical activity and fruit/vegetable consumption. In 2003, Lighten Up Iowa reached 1,400 teams (12,000 Iowans in 99 counties) that logged 2.6 million miles of physical activity and lost 23.5 tons of weight. Pre- and post-surveys indicate significant (p<0.05) increases in physical activity and fruit/vegetable consumption.

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Extension As A Delivery System For Prevention Programming: Capacity, Barriers, And Opportunities, Laura Griner Hill, Louise A. Parker Feb 2005

Extension As A Delivery System For Prevention Programming: Capacity, Barriers, And Opportunities, Laura Griner Hill, Louise A. Parker

Journal of Extension

Implementation of programs that have demonstrated effects on risk and protective factors offers the best chance for documenting long-term program impacts and, in turn, for obtaining sustained funding. Our study explored the capacity of Extension to serve as a delivery system for best practice programs. In a statewide survey of Family Living and 4-H personnel, we assessed perceptions about such programs and Extension's role in delivering them. Results indicate that Extension has significant strengths as a delivery system for best practice programs. Capacity will be enhanced by reducing the perceived dichotomy between "prevention" programming and "traditional" Extension programming.

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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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Extension Staff Response To Increased Programming For At-Risk Audiences, Diane Klemme, Cheryl O. Hausafus, Karen Shirer Feb 2005

Extension Staff Response To Increased Programming For At-Risk Audiences, Diane Klemme, Cheryl O. Hausafus, Karen Shirer

Journal of Extension

The study described here examined individual and organizational assumptions that contribute to or inhibit Extension staff's work with at-risk audiences. Three focus group interview sessions were conducted with Extension staff. Analysis of emerging themes identified a number of individual and organizational assumptions that inhibit the organization's ability to change. For example, the study showed that staff lacked clarity about the meaning of the term "at-risk" and staff questioned if the organization valued at-risk programs efforts. The study demonstrated that to create meaningful and sustained change in an organization, individual and organizational assumptions need to be exposed and alternative scenarios developed.

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The 4-H Summer Cultural Arts Day Camp: Bringing The World To "My World", Jeanne Brandt, Mary E. Arnold Feb 2005

The 4-H Summer Cultural Arts Day Camp: Bringing The World To "My World", Jeanne Brandt, Mary E. Arnold

Journal of Extension

This article describes a community-based 4-H Cultural Arts Day Camp designed to address the out of school time needs of youth in a rural, isolated area. The camp was conducted in collaboration with several local agencies and the Oregon State University Extension Service, and is intended to provide intercultural awareness through the artistic exploration of various world cultures. An evaluation of the camp in 2003 concluded that participating youth were actively learning about other cultures. The camp clearly meets an important need, both in terms of raising intercultural awareness and providing much needed summer opportunities for rural youth.

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Extension Professionals' Ever-Changing Roles When Working With At-Risk Clientele, Alayne Torretta Feb 2005

Extension Professionals' Ever-Changing Roles When Working With At-Risk Clientele, Alayne Torretta

Journal of Extension

Extension's role is to educate participants of its programs and measure impact upon clientele. While Extension professionals are educators, the at-risk clientele have many issues that supersede education. Therefore, a framework from which the Extension professional can operate in order to clarify roles and visualize outcomes for clientele is necessary. Extension professionals can use the Cooperative Extension At-Risk Service Model as this framework. This will assist them in moving clients to adopt improved practices while maintaining boundaries in the professional relationship.

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Non-Traditional Extension Education Using Video Conference, Dan Nudell, Beth Roth, David Saxowsky Feb 2005

Non-Traditional Extension Education Using Video Conference, Dan Nudell, Beth Roth, David Saxowsky

Journal of Extension

This article describes Extension efforts to connect clients in remote rural areas to a wide variety of educational opportunities. This includes improving access to the land-grant system for people who live a great distance from campus as well as establishing new relationships with educational providers that are not a part of our traditional offerings. We describe some success stories in delivering non-traditional programming to new clients and discuss some of the issues arising from this new venture.

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Maintaining Healthy Boundaries When Working With At-Risk Audiences, Alayne Torretta Dec 2004

Maintaining Healthy Boundaries When Working With At-Risk Audiences, Alayne Torretta

Journal of Extension

At-risk clients' needs may burn out the most diligent of people. To be most effective in making positive, healthy changes with at-risk audiences, Extension professionals must remember to maintain and reinforce healthy boundaries. This article reviews three types of boundaries, physical, mental, and emotional; describes healthy and unhealthy boundaries; and explains what to do if Extension professionals recognize unhealthy client boundaries.

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Smith Lever 3(D) Extension Evaluation And Outcome Reporting--A Scorecard To Assist Federal Program Leaders, Bill Hoffman, Barbara Grabowski Dec 2004

Smith Lever 3(D) Extension Evaluation And Outcome Reporting--A Scorecard To Assist Federal Program Leaders, Bill Hoffman, Barbara Grabowski

Journal of Extension

The Government Performance Results Act requires that federal agencies and programs set goals and measure outcomes (USGAO, 1996); however, program managers find it difficult to make the transition from measuring program outputs to developing outcome-related measures (USGAO, 1997). The Hoffman EEOR Scorecard was developed to help federal Smith Lever 3(d) program leaders with this problem by blending the LOGIC Evaluation Model with the utilization of Extension evaluation and outcome reporting (EEOR) ideal practices. The utility of this question-based scorecard for all Smith Lever 3(d) programs is exemplified through its use with the CSREES Extension Integrated Pest Management Implementation Program.

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Communicating Impacts, Karen L. Zotz Oct 2004

Communicating Impacts, Karen L. Zotz

Journal of Extension

This article addresses the need to share Extension program impacts with our constituencies and groups that fund our programs. The article reviews the literature surrounding the need for communicating impacts with decision makers. It also identifies two reporting mechanisms used in one state, County Narrative Reports and the Extension Accountability Reporting System (EARS), that are successfully working to share program impacts with county commissioners, legislators, and the general public. The success of these two reporting systems is based on level or increased funding we have received at the county and state level since the implementation of these two systems.

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Perceptions Of The Cooperative Extension Service: A Community Resource For Youth And Family Programs, Claudia Mincemoyer, Daniel Perkins, Catherine Lillehoj Oct 2004

Perceptions Of The Cooperative Extension Service: A Community Resource For Youth And Family Programs, Claudia Mincemoyer, Daniel Perkins, Catherine Lillehoj

Journal of Extension

PROSPER (PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience) is a prevention partnership involving the Cooperative Extension Service (CES), local schools, and community agencies. PROSPER collaborative teams were formed in 14 communities in Iowa and 14 in Pennsylvania to address risk reduction, competence-building, and positive youth development. The study discussed here examined perceptions of CES personnel compared to other PROPSER team members regarding the CES: as a source of youth and family programming; its commitment to fostering school and community-based prevention programs; and as a leading force in improving the lives of youth and families.

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Latino Outreach Programs: Why They Need To Be Different, Beverly B. Hobbs Aug 2004

Latino Outreach Programs: Why They Need To Be Different, Beverly B. Hobbs

Journal of Extension

As Extension reaches out to first- and second-generation Latinos, changes must be made in the design and delivery of programs. These changes often cause concern among existing audiences and some staff who wonder about the need for them and their impact on programs and Extension's future. Part of the challenge of Extension outreach includes bringing concerned participants and staff along to understand the cultural characteristics of diverse community members and how these affect programming. New approaches do not mean the mission of Extension has changed; they mean that Extension is becoming more capable of serving all audiences.

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Looking Beyond The Empirical Data: A Discussion About Out-Of-School Youth-Centered Tobacco Prevention Programs, Cynthia Gibbons, Cynthia Mark Aug 2004

Looking Beyond The Empirical Data: A Discussion About Out-Of-School Youth-Centered Tobacco Prevention Programs, Cynthia Gibbons, Cynthia Mark

Journal of Extension

4-H Extension launched an out-of-school smoking cessation initiative aimed at high-risk youth in Michigan. Adults and youth were given educational tools and resources to help prevent smoking in their communities, and youth were offered "hands on" programs to make better decisions about their use of tobacco products. While there were no significant differences in youth knowledge from start to end of select pilot programs, programs reached a large number of people at a relatively low cost and were well received within communities. Of particular importance were the "lessons learned" and subsequent discussions about best practices for future programming.

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Illinois Extension's Readiness To Address Children, Youth, And Families At Risk, Angela Wiley, Andre Mbassa, Al Zwilling Aug 2004

Illinois Extension's Readiness To Address Children, Youth, And Families At Risk, Angela Wiley, Andre Mbassa, Al Zwilling

Journal of Extension

The study described here evaluates existing preparedness of Extension unit leaders in one state to meet the needs of children, youth, and families at risk. Survey findings of a representative sample include how leaders perceive at-risk audiences and how they assess their own experience, knowledge, and interest in serving them. We report the specific audiences needing programming in local communities and the programming that currently exists for them. Findings also include the programming leaders would like to offer given unlimited resources. We discuss existing strengths and propose ways to further support these professionals in areas relevant to at-risk audiences.

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Celebrating 4-H, Youth, And Technology: The Nebraska 4-H Cyber Fair, Patricia Fairchild, Diane Vigna, Jamie Fassett Jun 2004

Celebrating 4-H, Youth, And Technology: The Nebraska 4-H Cyber Fair, Patricia Fairchild, Diane Vigna, Jamie Fassett

Journal of Extension

The 4-H Cyber Fair was an attempt by Nebraska 4-H to create a new image at the Nebraska State Fair and to inform members, volunteer leaders, Extension personnel, and the general public about 4-H technology-based programs. The event featured more than 12 Web-based and 12 CD-ROM-based programs developed by and for 4-H. Participants included youth and adults. Some had never touched a computer before, and many didn't have access to the Internet. 4-H Cyber Fair was extended to five counties reaching under-served audiences. Outcomes included observations to assist future youth-adult technology programming.

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