Our Goals and Objectives
Each day, North Carolina Cooperative Extension helps to strengthen our North Carolina families and communities. Our mission and our work are dedicated to improving the quality of people's lives. We rely on research-based information to develop educational programs based on the issues and the needs of our communities and citizens. North Carolina Cooperative Extension is focusing its efforts on nine major goals implemented by the county field faculty and supported by university-based specialists.
Overview (pdf)
North Carolinians will be civically engaged within their communities.
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- Agricultural producers, workers, food handlers and consumers will adopt safer food and agricultural production, handling, and distribution practices that reduce workplace and home injuries/illnesses, enhance food security, and increase the quality and safety of food that North Carolinians prepare and consume.
- Individuals and groups will acquire leadership and decision making capacities needed to guide and actively participate in local and state organizations.
- Youth and adults will address community issues and/or challenges through volunteerism.
- Community members, organizations and local government will engage in collaborative dialog and decision-making to build economically, socially and environmentally resilient communities. This will be done through inclusive engagement, partnership building, community planning, and/or influencing public policy. This will include building disaster resilient communities through community members increasing knowledge and skills to prepare, mitigate, respond and recover from disasters.
- Adults and youth will apply financial management practices to increase their economic security, which include to: meet basic necessities, increase savings, reduce debt, and build long-term assets.
- Futures that Work: School to Career Pathways
- Consumers and communities will enhance the value of plants, animals, and landscapes while conserving valuable natural resources and protecting the environment.
North Carolinians will be prepared for and better able to recover from disasters and other emergencies.
show objectives
- Agricultural producers, workers, food handlers and consumers will adopt safer food and agricultural production, handling, and distribution practices that reduce workplace and home injuries/illnesses, enhance food security, and increase the quality and safety of food that North Carolinians prepare and consume.
- Individuals and groups will acquire leadership and decision making capacities needed to guide and actively participate in local and state organizations.
- Community members, organizations and local government will engage in collaborative dialog and decision-making to build economically, socially and environmentally resilient communities. This will be done through inclusive engagement, partnership building, community planning, and/or influencing public policy. This will include building disaster resilient communities through community members increasing knowledge and skills to prepare, mitigate, respond and recover from disasters.
- Consumers, communities, and organizations will become more efficient in their use of energy and increase their proportional use of renewable energy sources (wind/microhydro/solar/landfill gas/geothermal).
The economic, social and environmental welfare of North Carolinians will be improved through the generation, conservation and use of clean, sustainable, efficient and reliable energy.
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- Community members, organizations and local government will engage in collaborative dialog and decision-making to build economically, socially and environmentally resilient communities. This will be done through inclusive engagement, partnership building, community planning, and/or influencing public policy. This will include building disaster resilient communities through community members increasing knowledge and skills to prepare, mitigate, respond and recover from disasters.
- Consumers, communities, and organizations will become more efficient in their use of energy and increase their proportional use of renewable energy sources (wind/microhydro/solar/landfill gas/geothermal).
- Consumers and communities will enhance the value of plants, animals, and landscapes while conserving valuable natural resources and protecting the environment.
North Carolina's natural resources and environmental quality will be protected, conserved and enhanced, and ecosystem benefits will be optimized.
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- North Carolina's plant, animal and food systems will become more profitable and sustainable.
- Individuals and groups will acquire leadership and decision making capacities needed to guide and actively participate in local and state organizations.
- Community members, organizations and local government will engage in collaborative dialog and decision-making to build economically, socially and environmentally resilient communities. This will be done through inclusive engagement, partnership building, community planning, and/or influencing public policy. This will include building disaster resilient communities through community members increasing knowledge and skills to prepare, mitigate, respond and recover from disasters.
- Consumers, communities, and organizations will become more efficient in their use of energy and increase their proportional use of renewable energy sources (wind/microhydro/solar/landfill gas/geothermal).
- North Carolinians will make decisions and adopt practices that implement effective resource protection and conservation.
- Consumers and communities will enhance the value of plants, animals, and landscapes while conserving valuable natural resources and protecting the environment.
Adults and children of all ages and abilities will make healthy food choices and be physically active to achieve or maintain a healthy weight and prevent chronic disease.
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- Producers will increase sales of food locally to more agriculturally aware consumers through market development, producer and consumer education, and new farmer and infrastructure support.
- Agricultural producers, workers, food handlers and consumers will adopt safer food and agricultural production, handling, and distribution practices that reduce workplace and home injuries/illnesses, enhance food security, and increase the quality and safety of food that North Carolinians prepare and consume.
- Parents and caregivers will effectively use recommended parenting, self care practices and community resources.
- Consumers and communities will enhance the value of plants, animals, and landscapes while conserving valuable natural resources and protecting the environment.
- Youth and adult program participants will make healthy food choices, achieve the recommended amount of physical activity and reduce risk factors for chronic diseases.
North Carolina residents at all stages of life use effective parenting and life skills to create stable, safe and secure environments.
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- Parents and caregivers will effectively use recommended parenting, self care practices and community resources.
- Adults and youth will apply financial management practices to increase their economic security, which include to: meet basic necessities, increase savings, reduce debt, and build long-term assets.
- Futures that Work: School to Career Pathways
- Consumers and communities will enhance the value of plants, animals, and landscapes while conserving valuable natural resources and protecting the environment.
- Youth and adult program participants will make healthy food choices, achieve the recommended amount of physical activity and reduce risk factors for chronic diseases.
North Carolina will have profitable, environmentally sustainable plant, animal and food systems that support thriving communities and provide all North Carolinians access to safe, nutritious food.
show objectives
- North Carolina's plant, animal and food systems will become more profitable and sustainable.
- Producers will increase sales of food locally to more agriculturally aware consumers through market development, producer and consumer education, and new farmer and infrastructure support.
- Agricultural producers, workers, food handlers and consumers will adopt safer food and agricultural production, handling, and distribution practices that reduce workplace and home injuries/illnesses, enhance food security, and increase the quality and safety of food that North Carolinians prepare and consume.
- Consumers and communities will enhance the value of plants, animals, and landscapes while conserving valuable natural resources and protecting the environment.
North Carolina will excel in the global marketplace as a result of growing a competitive workforce and a diversified economy.
show objectives
- Producers will increase sales of food locally to more agriculturally aware consumers through market development, producer and consumer education, and new farmer and infrastructure support.
- Agricultural producers, workers, food handlers and consumers will adopt safer food and agricultural production, handling, and distribution practices that reduce workplace and home injuries/illnesses, enhance food security, and increase the quality and safety of food that North Carolinians prepare and consume.
- Parents and caregivers will effectively use recommended parenting, self care practices and community resources.
- Adults and youth will apply financial management practices to increase their economic security, which include to: meet basic necessities, increase savings, reduce debt, and build long-term assets.
- Futures that Work: School to Career Pathways
- Consumers and communities will enhance the value of plants, animals, and landscapes while conserving valuable natural resources and protecting the environment.
- Youth and adult program participants will make healthy food choices, achieve the recommended amount of physical activity and reduce risk factors for chronic diseases.
Youth and adults will achieve educational success through intentional non-formal and formal educational opportunities that expand and enhance skills and knowledge.
show objectives
- Parents and caregivers will effectively use recommended parenting, self care practices and community resources.
- Adults and youth will apply financial management practices to increase their economic security, which include to: meet basic necessities, increase savings, reduce debt, and build long-term assets.
- Futures that Work: School to Career Pathways
- Consumers and communities will enhance the value of plants, animals, and landscapes while conserving valuable natural resources and protecting the environment.
