Extension in Missouri has been perceived by the general public, until relatively recently, as a rural program that primarily serves agricultural producers, members of extension homemakers clubs, and youth who participate in 4-H clubs. Clay County is an rural and urban county, however, and extension programs have changed to meet the needs of new audiences. Major program efforts will be directed to increasing public awareness of the educational resources available through UO/E to the more diverse population now living in Clay County.

Program 1: Deliver programs using technology

The University of Missouri and University of Missouri Extension have invested substantial resources in the last five years in new technology by which educational programs can be delivered, including laptop computers and projection equipment which can be used in small group settings; desktop computers which will be able shortly to deliver video and audio for desktop conferencing; high-speed network connections to all county extension offices and campus locations; and, Telecommunications Community Resource Centers which combine the latest telecommunications technology with a physical environment that enhances learning for today’s students. Many of these resources are now available to field faculty providing educational programs in Clay County. Development of working relationships with other educational institutions which may have underutilized technology, especially interactive television and computer labs would provide additional opportunities to provide educational content in areas such as business, nutrition, training for elected officials, and home ownership/maintenance programs, among others.

• Identify educational technology resources in area educational institutions
• Initiate cooperative programs with target institutions
• Annually, develop and present six educational programs to area residents using technology resources

• Contacts with educational institutions
• Cooperative programs initiated
• Number of educational programs developed and presented

Program 2: Develop new partnerships

University of Missouri Extension has resources which can be used to develop programs of benefit to major employers and organizations in Clay County. Joint marketing of programs through corporations, businesses and organizations would serve to reach a wider audience and increase the visibility of UO/E, as well as provide educational opportunities for employees.

• Each year, identify ten likely employers and organizations which could benefit from educational programs through UO/E
• Work with five employers and organizations to assess educational needs and develop appropriate programs
• Deliver five high-quality programs and appropriate services per year
• Recruit representatives of major corporations and organizations to serve on Clay County UO/E committees, advisory groups and the extension council

Program 3: Implement "Community Connections"

Easy access to information about local, regional, state, national and international resources and activities is critical for individual and organizations. Until recently, providing or accessing information was a difficult, time-consuming process; with the advent of high-speed computers and the Internet, data is instantly available on nearly every subject imaginable. Data alone, however, is not always useful. Systems must be established which turn data into information. Community Connections is a new statewide human resources database developed by the University of Missouri and UO/E which will help organizations provide information about themselves and their services. At the same time, individuals and organizations can access that information and use it for a variety of purposes.

• Make all human service, local government, educational and non-profit organizations in Clay County aware of the Community Connections database system
• Include information in all current regional databases in the Community Connections system
• Train all organizations wishing to in the use and maintenance of the Community Connections database
• Provide training and assistance in using Community Connections to organizations requesting help in using the resource for local asset mapping projects

Indicators

The recently-adopted (June, 1997) Clay County Comprehen-sive Plan identified coordinated services and transportation for senior citizens as being a critical need in the county. "Because the elderly population seems to be dispersed throughout the county, the county may benefit from a countywide plan that addresses its elderly residents’ needs. The plan could detail which facilities currently exist and where they are located. The plan could establish a blueprint for elderly services and create an informed citizens advocacy group to develop needed facilities." UO/E will work with current service providers and other interested individuals and groups to assess the needs of senior citizens and to develop programs to meet those needs.

Program 1: Assess countywide resources and needs

There are currently a number of programs that provide assistance for senior citizens in Clay County. An inventory of these services may have been done within the last five years; if no recent inventory is available, however, UO/E will collaborate with organizations and agencies serving seniors to assess needs and opportunities for maintaining or increasing programs which will benefit senior citizens in the county.

• Determine the availability of a recent inventory of senior citizens services in Clay County
• Assist agencies and organizations serving senior citizens to update current inventory or to initiate inventory if none exists
• Assist agencies and organizations in determining areas in which services should be developed or modified
• Develop a comprehensive plan for services
• Develop six educational programs for seniors citizens and/or organizations serving senior citizens utilizing unique resources of UO/E

• Inventory of services for senior citizens initiated or updated
• Comprehensive plan for services developed
• Educational programs developed and presented to seniors and organizations serving seniors

Program 2: Initiate youth mentoring program

Youth need opportunities to engage in positive activities throughout the day. After school programs, mentoring activities, and increased utilization of Earnest Shepherd Memorial Youth Center will be a focus of UO/E educational efforts.

• Inventory existing after-school and youth mentoring programs to identify needs
• Collaborate with youth-serving organizations in order to expand the scope of 4-H/Youth development activities, including clubs and programs offered through Earnest Shepherd Memorial Youth Center
• Develop programs which utilize senior volunteers in a mentoring relationship with youth

Clay County’s population is changing. Programs to address issues of diversity will be initiated and Clay County residents will move from an attitude of concern and resistance to informed acceptance of diversity as a source of community strength and progress.

Program 1: Initiate diversity task force

A Northland Diversity Task Force will be established to create awareness of diversity as a source of community strength.

• Form an on-going task force with broad-based community participation to address diversity issues
• Hold quarterly educational programs and events that raise awareness and knowledge of changes occurring in the county
• Develop programs that encourage community acceptance of social, economic and cultural transitions
• Monitor and evaluate programs to insure that they are reaching desired audiences

• Task force established
• Number of programs and events sponsored
• Increase acceptance of social, economic and cultural transitions
• Programs reaching desired audiences

Program 2: Expand 4-H/Youth programs

Because of the changing social, economic and cultural landscape in Clay County, increased opportunities for minority youth to participate in 4-H/youth activities are necessary and appropriate. Establishing partnerships with existing minority organizations and groups is a vehicle through which this can be accomplished. Current 4-H curricula may need to be adapted and new curricula developed to include "survival skills" for urban youth; programs and activities targeted at that group can also be introduced.

Benchmarks

There are currently seven 4-H clubs with 136 members in Clay County. There are no minority members of clubs in the county.

Objectives

• Expand opportunities for minority youth to participate in 4-H activities by 20%
• Establish partnerships with minority organi-zations and groups
• Evaluate current curricula to determine appropriateness for minority and urban audiences
• Introduce four new programs for minority audiences

• Expanded opportunities for minority and urban youth participation
• Partnerships established with existing minority organizations and groups
• Curricula evaluated
• New programs introduced

Program 3: Develop minority business emphasis

Opportunities for minority entrepreneurship and business start-ups may exist because of the changing social, economic and cultural transitions that are occurring in the county. UO/E has resources that can be utilized to help people explore these issues.

• Assist ten minority entrepreneurs and business owners in exploring and analyzing business options per year
• Assist in developing five minority business plans per year
• Establish partnerships with minority organi-zations and chambers of commerce in order to evaluate needs for business education programs targeted at minority and low-income audiences on an on-going basis

Expanded after-school, parenting, mentoring and early childhood education programs will be developed in cooperation with other agencies and organizations to address critical issues related to children and youth.

Program 1: Expand early childhood care and education programs

Quality early childhood care and education is as essential to a child’s development as a K-12 education because the most critical phases of brain development occur very early in life. Ensuring that every child has access to quality early care and education is the single most important thing that a community can do to give children a good start in life. In Clay County, program efforts will focus on two major areas: professional and workforce development; and consumer and public engagement.

Develop a professional childcare workforce

• Help 20 early care and education administrators to increase their knowledge of effective administrative practices
• Provide specialized training programs to 25 early care and education teachers
• Assist 50 early care and education teachers to increase knowledge about early care and education practices

• Number of early care and education administrators and teachers who attended the programs
• Number of early care and education administrators who indicated increased knowledge of effective administrative practices taught in the programs
• Number of early care and education administrators who adopted one or more recommended administrative practices
• Number of early care and education teachers who indicated increased knowledge after participating in specialized trainings
• Number of early care and education teachers who reported adoption of one or more recommended practices taught in the specialized trainings
• Percent of program participants who indicate a need for additional training and education in specialized areas.

Provide consumer and public education

• Provide information and resources on early care and education to 200 parents, employers and policy-makers
• Insure that UO/E is represented on coalitions, councils and organizations which are working to improve the quality, affordability and availability of early care and education programs and services in communities
• Provide UO/E resources, information and expertise to coalitions, councils and organi-zations which are focusing on early care and education issues

• Requests for InfoLine topics related to early care and education
• Number of guidesheets on early care and education topics disseminated
• Number of parents and family members reached through parenting fairs, Parents University, Parents as Teachers, Mentoring programs and FNEP program on topics related to early care and education
• Policy-makers educated and informed through Child Advocacy Day, UMEA Legislative Day and local contacts regarding early care and education issues
• Number of coalitions, councils and organizations who are provided UO/E resources, information and expertise from regional specialists focusing on early care and education issues

Program 2: Develop programs for parents

Balancing work and family, parenting effectively, anger management, and divorce are issues that effect families. A variety of resources and workshops are available to help meet the needs of diverse audiences, including the following: remarried families, employed parents, single parents, divorcing parents, children of divorce, grandparents raising grandchildren, parents with young children, fathers, parents of teens, and multicultural parents.

• Provide information through UO/E publications, workshops, parent resource libraries and support groups to 100 parents per year
• Help 50 parents increase parenting knowledge and/or skills each year as a result of University of Missouri Extension parent programming
• Help 50 parents adopt one or more new parenting practices each year as a result of UO/E parent programming

• Number of resources checked out and evaluated
• Number of requests for information from drop-ins, phone calls, website hits
• Number of parents from workshop rosters
• Number of parents who adopt one or more effective and positive parenting techniques
• Pre- /post-test assessments of parenting techniques
• Follow-up questionnaires concerning parenting techniques
• Number of people who indicate they had increased their knowledge as a result of using resources from the parenting library

Program 3: Expand School Enrichment programs

The School Enrichment Program (SEP) reaches several hundred children each year through curricula designed to supplement the learning experiences teachers normally provide. On-going evaluation is needed to insure that curricula are appropriate and meaningful.

• Utilizing a focus groups of teachers, parents, school administrators to evaluate the School Enrichment Program and recommend ways to expand and market the program
• Evaluated and revised SEP curricula as needed in response to recommendations
• Increase the number of teachers and schools who use the SEP curricula by 10%

• Focus group organized and utilized
• Curricula evaluated and revised as needed
• Number of teachers using SEP curricula
• Number of students in SEP

Program 4: Continue YESS!Mini Society

Students need to develop a variety of skills that they can use throughout their lives. While most students will graduate and become employees, many will seek to establish their own businesses and become employers. In collaboration with the Kauffman Foundation, the 4-H/Youth Development program will implement the YESS!MiniSociety in area schools. Students from area colleges and universities will be given an opportunity to assist in the program as a way of expanding their skills and knowledge.

• Assist 50 teachers in implementing a YESS!Mini Society program in their classrooms for at least 750 students in 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grades
• Provide an opportunity for 10 students from area colleges and universities to assist in the program

• Number of teachers implementing YESS!MiniSociety programs
• Number of students participating
• Number of students from area colleges and universities assisting in the program

Home ownership education programs are needed as new subdivisions continue to be developed in Clay County and as older neighborhoods begin to experience blight. A number of organizations are currently involved in housing programs in the county, including Northland Neighborhoods, Hillcrest Ministries and Habitat for Humanity. Education is needed in areas such as home repair, preventive maintenance, and post purchase financial management by first-time homebuyers as well as by homeowners on limited or fixed incomes. Collaboration with organizations providing housing assistance, neighborhood organizations, real estate agents and others can maximize University of Missouri Extension resources.

Implementation

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		Clay County University of Missouri Extension Center clayco@missouri.edu Site maintainer: Charles St. Clair stclairc@missouri.edu Updated 07/02/07