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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.
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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.
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 to 5:30 p.m.
For more information about the
Chillicothe project, contact Richard Smith at
smithrichar@missouri.edu.
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Jefferson City Correctional Center,
Jefferson City, Missouri
The Jefferson City 4-H LIFE program
began in November 2010. The project is directed by a regional
youth development specialist 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 occurs
on the third Saturday of every other month from 2:00 to 4:00
p.m.
For more information about the
Jefferson City project, contact Jenny Flatt at
flattj@missouri.edu.
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Medical Center for Federal Prisoners
(MCFP)
The U.S. Medical Center for Federal
Prisoners (MCFP) in Springfield, Missouri, is an administrative
facility that provides medical, mental health, and dental
services to male offenders. MCFP Springfield is located at the
corner of Sunshine Street and Kansas Expressway in Springfield
4-H LIFE was started at MCFP in 2011
with assistance from the staff at correctional institution. In
2012, MCFP was selected at a 4-H LIFE replication site as part
of the 4-H National Mentoring Project. This project
administrated by National 4-H Council provides funds from Office
of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to replicate one
of three national programs. Currently, the MCFP is the only 4-H
LIFE program in the Bureau of Prisons system. The family club
meetings take place in the visiting room at MCFP on a quarterly
basis.
For more information about the MCFP
4-H LIFE program, contact Robert Wilkerson at
wilkersonrc@missouri.edu.
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Missouri Eastern Correctional Center
(MECC), Pacific, Missouri
Level 3 medium security correctional
center for men
4-H LIFE was started at MECC in 2011
as a project funded by the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund and
with volunteers from the Shalom City of Peace Prison Ministry
and 4-H LIFE program staff. The 4-H LIFE family/club meeting
takes place on the fourth Saturday of each month from 1 to 3
p.m. in the visiting room at MECC. The leadership and parenting
meeting takes place on the second Thursday of the month from 6
to 8 p.m.
For more information about the MECC
4-H LIFE program, contact Robert Wilkerson at wilkersonrc@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 fourth Saturday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
For more information about the
Potosi 4-H LIFE program, contact 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 to 5:30 p.m.
For more information about the
Women's Eastern Correctional Center 4-H LIFE
program, contact Cindy Fry at
frycy@missouri.edu.
4-H LIFE program results
The 4-H LIFE evaluation has revealed significant outcomes
for the children and youth participating in the 4-H LIFE program. Outcomes include
improved self-esteem and social skills, a reduced sense of isolation, and
strengthened relationships with their parent.The 4-H LIFE
program pilot site evaluation reports are
available at Evaluation. Dr. Elizabeth G. Dunn, evaluator for the
original 4-H LIFE program at Potosi Correctional Center, developed a
Web-based evaluation of the 4-H LIFE
program.
The 4-H LIFE program has been featured in
local and national media found in Recognition.
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