A report on HES Extension programs serving Missouri's families & communities

BARBARA K. FROKE Associate Dean for Extension College of Human Environmental Sciences Extension

Welcome to HES Impact, a spirited look at key programs involving state and regional specialists in Human Environmental Sciences Extension (HES). Faculty at the University of Missouri-Columbia's College of HES research issues affecting Missourians in the areas of textiles and apparel management, food science and nutrition, environmental design, consumer and family economics, human development and family studies, and social work. Through Extension, our specialists take that knowledge to Missourians in the form of programming that reaches all corners of the state.

I'm so proud of this dedicated work aimed to assist Missouri families and communities. The impact described in most of these articles is the result of strong cooperative efforts between state and regional Extension specialists, networking with other agencies, and, most importantly, the determination and talent of Missouri citizens.

This issue of Impact features the Resource Mothers Program which is helping teen parents in Central Missouri to have a healthy baby, prevent future pregnancy at this early age, and to learn life skills and parenting strategies. Children's health is also the focus of the Body Walk nutrition program targeted at school children.

Support of families and children facing tough challenges is reported in accounts of the Survival Skills Program in Kansas City and extension's collaboration with The Kitchen, a homeless program in Springfield.

Economics is the focus of a tri-state consortium supporting the textile industry, an extension newsletter for agencies and groups who support persons in poverty, an in-depth, low-cost course for home buyers, and a financial management program which helps high school students learn to make wise money decisions.

Two others stories emphasize using resources at the community level. Extension's parenting fairs acquaint parents with educational and service assistance available to them in accomplishing one of the most important tasks facing them--the raising of their children.

And, finally, the heart-warming story of a former extension specialist who remembers the Home Economics Extension Development Fund in her will; HEED provides seed grants to community-based educational projects throughout Missouri.

I hope you enjoy and learn from this look at HES Extension! Your opinions and comments are important to us; do wrote or call me at anytime.

Sincerely,
Barb Froke
Associate Dean for Extension
College of Human Environmental Sciences
110 Gwynn Hall, MU, Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: (573) 882-7828
FAX: (573) 884-5768
E-mail: frokeb@ext.missouri.edu