About us
The 4-H Living Interactive Family Education (LIFE) program is a 4-H and family-strengthening program for children of offenders and their families.

Program components
The goal of the 4-H LIFE program is to provide a strong, healthy and nurturing family environment while helping the incarcerated parent become a positive role model. 

The target audience for the program is incarcerated parents and their children, grandchildren, and other family members.  The program consists of three components:

• Parenting skills class - Incarcerated parents who participate in the 4-H LIFE program attend regularly scheduled parenting skills classes to develop and improve the skills needed to interact in a positive, age-appropriate way with their children.
   

• Planning meeting - At the monthly planning meeting, the incarcerated parents work with MU Extension faculty and Department of Corrections staff to help design and plan the 4-H youth and family activities for the upcoming 4-H family/club meeting.  The original 4-H LIFE group at Potosi also uses this time to plan fundraisers for the 4-H Club youth members.
   

• 4-H LIFE family club meeting - The 4-H LIFE family club meeting takes place monthly during visitation at the correctional center.  Children, their incarcerated parents, and caregivers work together on traditional 4-H activities such as arts and crafts, demonstrations and other curricula-based activities focused on topics such as communication, decision making, and problem solving.  Working together as a family on 4-H activities gives children an opportunity to show their parents their ability and intellect. It also gives the parents an opportunity to show their children that they can provide capable and caring parental guidance.

Program locations
The MU Extension 4-H LIFE program currently operates in three correctional centers and is expanding to several other locations with support from volunteers, the Missouri Children's Trust Fund and the Missouri Department of Correction's Canteen Fund.

• Chillicothe Correctional Center, Chillicothe, Missouri
  Livingston County level 1-2 min.-max. security correctional center for women

The Chillicothe 4-H LIFE program began in August 2009 with funding from the National Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Communities Project.  The project is directed by a regional youth development specialist and implemented by a 4-H youth program associate who works with the correctional center staff to plan, implement and evaluate the program with eligible offenders who have a current relationship with younger, approved family members. The 4-H LIFE family/club meeting meeting occurs on the third Saturday of each month from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

For more information about the Chillicothe project, contact Mr. Richard Smith at smithrichar@missouri.edu. 

• Potosi Correctional Center (PCC), Mineral Point, Missouri
  Washington County level 5 maximum security correctional center for men

4-H LIFE was developed at the Potosi Correctional Center in 2000 as a pilot project funded by the National Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) New Communities Project.  The CYFAR grant funding for this program ended in 2005; however, the program continues through the ongoing efforts of local MU Extension faculty and corrections staff.  4-H LIFE continues to advocate and raise funds for children and youth who participate in the Potosi 4-H LIFE project.

At the Potosi project, 4-H LIFE is considered an official offender organization by the correctional center.  The 4-H LIFE family/club meeting takes place on the second Saturday of each month from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

For more information about the Potosi 4-H LIFE program, contact Ms. Lynna Lawson at lawsonl@missouri.edu

• Women's Eastern Reception, Diagnostic & Corrections Center (WERDCC) Vandalia, Missouri
  Audrain County level 1 (minimum) to level 5 (maximum) security facility for women and reception/diagnostic center

The Women's Eastern Correctional Center 4-H LIFE program began in January 2007 with funding from the National Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Communities Project. The project is directed by a 4-H youth development specialist and implemented by a 4-H youth program associate who work with the correctional center staff to plan, implement and evaluate parenting and planning meetings with eligible offenders who have a current relationship with younger, approved family members.

The 4-H LIFE family/club meeting occurs on the fourth Saturday of each month from 12:30-5:30p.m.

For more information about the Women's Eastern Correctional Center 4-H LIFE program, contact Ms. Cindy Fry at frycy@missouri.edu.

Last Revised 11-Oct-10