02/23/2005

After-School Programs Get Boost from 4-H

Writer:

Martha Filipic
filipic.3@osu.edu
(614) 292-9833

Source:

Theresa Ferrari, 4-H Youth Development
ferrari.8@osu.edu
(614) 292-4444

Karen Jackson, 4-H Youth Development
kjackson@ag.osu.edu
(614) 292-4444

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After-school programs in 16 Ohio counties are getting a boost, thanks to Ohio State University Extension's 4-H Youth Development Program and special funding made available by Gov. Bob Taft.

Last summer, the governor, with the help of key legislators, made $800,000 available to the "Youth -- Our Future: The OSU Extension 4-H Program" initiative. The bulk of that funding is being used to hire 4-H Youth Development educators in 15 counties that had lost those positions through attrition. But some of the money was set aside to help local 4-H staff increase the quality of after-school programs in their areas.

"These demonstration sites will work with existing after-school programs to engage youth in learning experiences that promote healthy lifestyles and enhance science literacy," said Theresa Ferrari, 4-H Youth Development specialist with Ohio State University Extension. "Program partners include schools, community organizations, and faith-based organizations."

Keith Smith, director of OSU Extension and associate vice president of Agricultural Administration at Ohio State, said he hopes the governor and legislature see that the funds made available are being put to good use. "We are grateful to be able to expand the opportunity for our 4-H personnel to work with after-school programs," Smith said. "It is partnerships like these that often bear fruit beyond the initial effort."

A training session for 4-H and after-school program staff in the 16 counties is set for March 2-3 at Adventure Central in Dayton, a program run cooperatively by 4-H and the Five Rivers MetroParks.

Most of the programs will be using the "Jump Into Foods and Fitness" curriculum, which integrates nutrition, physical fitness and food safety learning activities and uses the Kid's Activity Pyramid and the Food Guide Pyramid as learning tools. Many are also drawing on the 4-H "Go Plants!" curriculum, which helps participants examine five parts of the plant: seeds, roots, stems, leaves and flowers.

The 16 counties each were given $5,000 grants. The counties are:

• Ashtabula. Tom Cole, program assistant in 4-H, and Jeanette Muir, program assistant in family and consumer sciences, will build on a long-term relationship with Conversation Station, a local youth/community center, by implementing 4-H's "Go Plants!" and "Jump Into Foods and Fitness" curricula. The after-school program has an existing 4-H club and this partnership will provide additional opportunities to link with Ashtabula County Master Gardeners.
• Cuyahoga. Greg Siek, 4-H youth development educator; Tim Malinich, horticulture educator; and Marisa Warrix, family and consumer sciences educator, will combine their strengths with those of the Esperanza, Inc., an organization that promotes educational opportunities for Hispanic Americans. The Extension educators will work with the organization's after-school program to introduce "Go Plants!" "Jump Into Foods and Fitness" and a number of other Extension-developed curricula to children in Cleveland’s West Side Hispanic neighborhoods.
• Fairfield. Ohio 4-H Educator Luke Woods will be teaming up with the Fairfield County Families and Children First Council and Lancaster City Schools to help an after-school program improve student academic success, and enhance youth and family community programming.
• Franklin. Marilyn Rabe and Joe Campbell, 4-H educators, and 4-H program assistant Morgan Schechter will work with the Columbus Park and Recreation Department and the Prevention Council of Central Ohio to implement "Go Plants!" and "Jump Into Foods and Fitness." Staff from the community programs will be trained and will present the curricula at seven sites, including the University District, with support from Franklin County Extension educators.
• Greene. Beth Bridgeman and Dail Gracy, 4-H educators, in partnership with family and consumer sciences educator Jean Clements and program assistant Joni Stauffer, will work with five program sites, two traditional fee-based after-school programs and three 21st Century Community Learning Center programs to deliver the "Jump Into Foods and Fitness" curriculum.
• Hancock. Susan Russell, 4-H educator, is working with Homework Central, a program of the Findlay Central Church of Christ, to implement "Go Plants!" and "Jump Into Foods and Fitness." Homework Central uses a strong base of adult and youth volunteers.
• Highland. Nikki Eyre, 4-H educator, will be working with the STARS Academy Program (Student Training for Academic Success), a 21st Century Community Learning Center. This program strengthens links between the Extension educator, the learning center coordinator, and the Highland County YMCA.
• Holmes. Sharon Strouse, community development educator, will be working with Holmes County and West Holmes Schools to implement the "Go Plants!" and the "Jump Into Foods and Fitness" curricula. They plan to develop two volunteer teams to support continuation of this project.
• Knox. Larry Hall, 4-H educator, and LuAnn Duncan, family and consumer sciences educator, will collaborate with the Knox County Health Department and the 4-H Health Ambassadors to incorporate the "Jump Into Foods and Fitness" curriculum in the Pleasant Street Elementary School Out-of-School Time program.
• Morrow. Becky Barker, 4-H educator will continue work with the Northmor Local Schools 21st Century Community Learning Center program at Iberia and Johnsville elementary schools. The 4-H curricula offered will be available for continued incorporation into the program for the remainder of the school year.
• Ottawa. Kathy Booher, 4-H educator, will be working with the site directors at three Benton-Carroll-Salem Local School District's after-school programs. Both the "Go Plants!" and "Jump Into Foods and Fitness" curricula will be taught and volunteers will be recruited to carry out an ongoing 4-H Club at each site.
• Portage. Heather Neikirk and Ed Werner, both 4-H educators, will be working with the Ravenna Athletic Center to present "Jump Into Foods and Fitness" weekly in two-hour sessions. Students will also help prepare healthy snacks to complement each session.
• Sandusky. Gwen Soule, 4-H educator, is partnering with the New Directions 21st Century Community Learning Center to implement "Go Plants!" and "Jump Into Foods and Fitness" in four elementary schools. This project includes the support of Sandusky County Junior Leadership and the Sandusky/Ottawa Master Gardeners.
• Seneca. Ann Golden, 4-H educator, will partner with the YMCA to use "Go Plants!" curriculum to improve academic and youth development outcomes. Paraprofessionals at each program will receive support to implement this program.
• Trumbull. Michelle Adkins, 4-H educator, and Marie Economos, family and consumer sciences educator, will partner with two local community centers to reach at-risk youth and include them in 4-H after-school programs.
• Vinton. Bill Beckley, 4-H educator, will continue his work with Project Boost, Vinton County’s 21st Century Community Learning Center. Each of Project Boost’s six site directors will be trained in "Go Plants!" and "Jump Into Foods and Fitness," and will choose which curricula to utilize in their programs. New and existing volunteers will be used to support program staff at each location.

For more information, contact the appropriate county office of OSU Extension or Theresa Ferrari, (614) 292-4444 or ferrari.8@osu.edu, or 4-H After-School Program Coordinator Karen Jackson at (614) 292-4444 or kjackson@ag.osu.edu.

Statewide, about 300,000 youths and 37,000 volunteers in Ohio are involved in Ohio 4-H clubs and programs.

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