Extension-Military Partnership

1. Extension-Military Partnership Cathann A. Kress, Program Lead - Partnerships Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Charles Hibberd, Associate Dean and Director, Cooperative Extension Service, Purdue University

2. Changes in Military Family Landscape High operational tempo Deployment extensions Large Guard and Reserve population deploying Family isolation Single parent families Sustained impact on children Financial issues Increasing stress Our challenge: Reaching families to offer assistance and resources specifically designed to help minimize their stress.

3. Challenges: Changing Communities= Changing Services • Delivering correct, user-friendly information • Reaching Guard and Reserve families • Engaging community leaders • Reaching the single service members • Meeting emerging expectations of new generations • Building a worldwide, trusted communication system to connect with troops and families “The Right Information, at the Right Time, to the Right People” 3

4. Expanding Services Each of our goals is dependent upon leveraging partnerships for us to be successful.

5. Mission Focused Partnership

6. Mission The mission of this partnership is to advance the health, well-being, and quality of life for military Service members, families, and their communities through the coordination of research, education and extension programs.

7. Partners

8. How the Partnership Grew 1987 – Navy partnered with CES Families program 1995 - 4-H/Army Youth Development Project 2005 – 4-H/Air Force Youth Development Project 2007 – 4-H/Navy Youth Development Project 4-H built relationships with Army, Air Force, & Navy in support of the common mission for positive youth development experiences for children and youth wherever they live. 2009 – NIFA-MC&FP Partnership Partnership expanded beyond 4-H and individual Services.

9. By the Numbers 23,769 military youth enrolled in 4-H clubs 107,731 youth involved through Operation: Military Kids 101 4-H Military Club Grants awarded to states 1,298 military youth development professionals trained 95 Active Army Installations and Guard & Reserve using Operation READY 75 Extension staff working on Texas Army Bases (Fort Hood, Fort. Bliss, & Fort Sam Houston)

10. States Most Highly Impacted by Deployments WA NH MT ME ND VT MN OR ID SD WI MA NY WY MI RI CT IA PA NV NE NJ OH CA IL IN UT DE CO WV MD VA KS MO KY NC TN AZ OK NM AR SC HI AL GA MS LA TX AK FL Legend States with the highest rates of deployments among all components, including Reserve & Guard California, North Carolina, Texas, Indiana, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, Virginia, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, Michigan, Mississippi, Alabama

11. Current Partnership Project States WA NH MT ME ND VT MN OR ID SD WI MA NY WY MI RI CT IA PA NV NE NJ OH CA IL IN UT DE CO WV VA MD KS MO KY NC TN AZ OK NM AR SC HI AL GA MS LA TX AK FL Legend Participating states; includes representatives from 1862 & 1890 institutions Washington State University, University of Arizona, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska, Kansas State University, Purdue University, Ohio State University, Southern, Cornell, Penn State University, West Virginia State University, West Virginia University, Virginia Tech, University of Maryland, North Carolina State University, University of Georgia, Michigan State University

12. Lead Institution: Purdue University • State highly impacted by deployments with no installation; • Military Family Research Institute; Coordination of overall partnership with DoD, NIFA, partnering universities, and others.

13. Other Lead Institutions • The Ohio State University • Washington State University • eXtension (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) • North Carolina State University • University of Arizona • Kansas State University

14. Institutions with Project Awards • Purdue • Virginia Tech • University of Maryland • University of Georgia • Penn State University • West Virginia University • West Virginia State University • Cornell University • Southern University • Michigan State University

15. Objectives & Supporting Initiatives

16. Three Primary Partnership Areas • Community capacity building in support of military families • Workforce Development • Strengthening family, child care, & youth development programs

17. Key Objectives • Improve community capacity to support military families • Increase professional development and workforce development opportunities • Expand and strengthen programs in family readiness, child development, & youth development 17

18. Community Capacity Building TARGET: Local communities and leaders GOAL: Build greater awareness of challenges faced by military families and build local support PROGRAM EXAMPLES: • Military Community, Family & Youth Extension Programs • Communications & Outreach • County-Based Services Directory (NACo) • PROJECT Y.E.S.

19. Military Community, Family & Youth Extension Program • Family Readiness Clearing House • Youth Fitness Programs • Database for Child and Youth Report • Health Literacy Education • Basic Meal Preparation • Personal Work Life Skills • Community Gardening • Heart Link & Key Spouse Program Support • 4-H Out-of-School Programs • Training and Materials for Youth Camps

20. Workforce & Professional Development TARGET: Potential employees (including military spouses) GOAL: Recruit and retain talent to work in MC&FP related fields within the military PROGRAM EXAMPLES: • Internship Program • Professional Development & Technical Assistance for Children, Youth & Family Programs • Capital Region Child Development Lab School System • University Passport Program

21. Strengthening Family, Child & Youth Development Programs TARGET: Military Helping Professionals GOAL: Enhance and strengthen programs particularly through research-based efforts PROGRAM EXAMPLES: • Family Readiness Clearinghouse • eXtension.org Military Community of Practice • Engaging Faculty Expertise • Sabbaticals, colloquia, etc. • Focus on program evaluation, military family research, program and curricula development;

22. Extension Directors & Administrators Leadership Network Purpose: • Represent the interests of the partnership to internal and external stakeholders. • Assist with the identification of innovative opportunities. • Identify opportunities for continued expansion of the partnership. • Serve as a voice for the partnership, its impact and potential. Members: • Dr. Orlando McMeans, 1890s • Dr. Linda Kay Fox, West • Dr. Glenn Applebee, Northeast • Dr. Daryl Buchholz, North Central • TBA, Southern Region • Dr. Cathann Kress, MC&FP, DoD • Dr. Lisa Lauxman, NIFA • Dr. Chuck Hibberd, MCFYE

23. Lessons Learned • Military Command Structure • Try not to surprise your partners • Recognize that three partners (NIFA, DoD, Universities) bring different things to the table • Do your homework • Research on unique needs of military families • Doing the same programs with same people won’t work

24. Future Partnership Projects • Concept papers for the Extension Military Collaboration have been received for the1st Solicitation period (Feb 19th to Mar 9th) • Concept papers from the 1st solicitation are currently being reviewed • 2nd Solicitation Period: June 15th to July 15th

25. Benefits DoD & Components USDA, LGU’s, CES • High quality workforce to meet demand • High quality curriculum and materials • Faculty expertise for research, strategic planning, and evaluation • Enhanced quality and capacity to serve military families • Engaged faculty • Curriculum development; • Increased participation in 4-H and family educational programs; • New resources • Enhanced collaborations • Multi-state projects 25

26. Related Links • www.extension.org • www.networkofcare.org • www.militaryonesource.com • www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil • www.defense.gov Questions? • Cathann Kress cathann.kress@osd.mil • Charles Hibberd hibberd@purdue.edu • Lisa Lauxman llauxman@nifa.usda.gov