As an advocate for children and families for 10 years in Iowa and 4 years here in North Carolina, Barbara has made significant impact on the many lives she has touched. Her early programming efforts included child abuse prevention education. She is a certified “Kid-Ability!” instructor and has taught this sexual abuse prevention program in third grade classrooms throughout Shelby and Harrison County for over 8 years. Barbara helped organize the Harrison County Multidisciplinary Prevention Team, a group of agencies and individuals responsible for child abuse prevention programming. She wrote and managed a Family Preservation Grant totaling $96,000, which supported the development of a violence prevention advocate and safe home project. These early efforts were recognized by the state of Iowa and Barbara was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Iowa Commission for Children, Youth & Families. She served in this role for 7 years and three of those years she served as the vice-chair. Barbara was also asked to serve on the Maternal and Child Health Council as well as the Child Development Coordinating Council.

As someone who looks for ways to connect youth and parent programming, Barbara teamed with a Family and Consumer Science Agent to author a Parenting Curriculum entitled: Celebrate Families. This curriculum is still being utilized today! She and her co-worker presented this curriculum at the CYFAR (Children Youth And Families at Risk) conference in Arizona in 1996.

She has organized many 4-H community clubs and continues to believe that youth served by a community club build lasting skills and abilities. She is able to reach over 3500 youth in Randolph County yearly. Barb was one of the co-creators of the DOCTORS, a group of 4-H agents serving Davidson, Randolph, Davie and Rowan Counties in North Carolina.

The Doctors have offered their counties cluster programming for youth and volunteers. As a member of the Doctors, Barbara is working with her fellow agents to present a program at the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents meeting in October. This will be the second national presentation the DOCTORS have made.

Barb is a certified Basic School Age Care Trainer and has provided training for school age care providers in Randolph, Forsyth and Davidson County. In the last three years over 200 providers have received this training.

In cooperation with the Randolph County 4-H Advisory Board, Barb has increased available funding for 4-H programs. As a new hire, Barb wrote for funding from United Way, which has continued through the present. To date, over $15,000 has been secured through United Way. In addition, Barb coordinated Friends of 4-H Fund Raising Campaign. This campaign has raised over $8000 in funds for 4-H members.

Barbara has also served the 4-H Agents association in North Carolina and in Iowa. Barbara served as Iowa 4-H Agents president elect in 1997 and served as President in 1998. She has served as NW district chair elect in 2000 and NW district vice chair in 2001. She also served the district as secretary in 2002. Barbara is currently chairing the Rapport committee. Barbara has been a member of Epsilon Sigma Phi since 1993 and is currently the membership chair in the Northwest District.