A sample of 197 incarcerated youth (n=197) responded to a survey designed to assess perceptions of the facilities, staff, and programming. Job training, computer training, arts and crafts, and recreation were highly rated for inside-facility programming. A safe place to go was one of the most highly rated programming options for outside of the…

Strategies for building effective extension-community partnerships around food use the following principles: building on community assets, involving diverse stakeholder involvement, being guided by community interests, and integrating research with practice. Strategies encourage partners to develop common goals, clarify roles and responsibilities,…

The Consumer Judging contest conducted by the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service focuses on decision-making skills. Objectives are to help teenagers (1) make knowledgeable, rational decisions about purchases; (2) maximize resources; (3) obtain goods and services reflecting lifestyles, values, and goals; and (4) be responsible consumers. (JOW)

The Cooperative Extension Service has a long history of providing community-based lifelong education. Current trends affecting extension programming include new telecommunications technologies, necessity for accountability, and demographic shifts. (SK)

In nineteenth-century Britain, adult education for the working classes was provided by Sunday schools, working men's colleges, university extension, and mechanics' institutes. Similar efforts in colonial Australia laid the foundation for twentieth-century adult education initiatives. (SK)

Analysis of 162 articles from the "Journal of Agricultural Education" showed that 11 journals received at least 5 citations (51% of total citations). Agricultural educators tended to publish in only 6 of 18 topics. The number of times an article was cited increased from 4.2 in 1982 to 11 in 1990. (SK)

Essential aspects of a linkage model for rural development and extension are an umbrella organization representing subcommunities and having overall coordination responsibility and program development committees. Principles include the following: development is about self-help; degree of community participation determines effectiveness; and…

The most significant obstacles identified by 53 graduates of an off-campus agricultural degree program were limited course offerings, difficulty balancing responsibilities, access to library facilities, and costs. Because they took an average of five years to complete degrees, more distance education technologies were recommended to facilitate the…

To overcome agent resistance to issues-based programming, an extension service used a stakeholder task force to identify critical issues. A survey was constructed and conducted with a sample population to verify the importance of the issues for program development. (SK)

Boyd et al.'s survey of 309 4-H Club members indicates participation is positively related to leadership life skill development. Groff's evaluation of 4-H Teens Reaching Youth found this peer helper program developed leadership skills in teen volunteers who taught younger youth. (SK)

Responses from 246 of 374 Pennsylvania farmers surveyed showed that (1) preferred sources of environmental issues information were consultation, demonstration, tours, and print; (2) water pollution and manure mismanagement were perceived as the most serious issues; and (3) they were uncertain about Pennsylvania Department of Environmental…

A survey of 92 volunteer members of boards, committees, and commissions in Carson City, Nevada, received 79 responses. The most important training areas cited were as follows: identification of issues, understanding of community resources, group process, parliamentary procedure and liability, and listening skills. (SK)

In 11 North Carolina counties, extension agents interviewed 7 clients per county; 31 new agents were also interviewed. Results show that "doing" is clearly the most preferred learning mode of both groups. Combinations of learning modes were even greater learning enhancers than individual modes. Seeing, doing, and discussing were the most…

Surveyed county superintendents, Cooperative Extension county directors, and district superintendents to determine their views on agricultural literacy education. Respondents favored addressing the topic in the middle grades (4-9), through science and social studies. Critical topics identified included toxins in food and the environment, water…

A Namibian project to train agricultural extension staff considered three approaches to curriculum development: content, product, and process. Use of participatory approaches brought new dimensions to the final product, but they cannot become an alternative to working with trainees on their own agenda. (SK)