Greene County
State ESP County Performance Award

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Staff Cooperation: Greene County Extension Center provides a variety of educational programs for a diverse clientele. Educational programs include alternative agriculture, environmental education, parenting, nutrition, financial management, 4-H after school and leadership opportunities. This comprehensive list of programs are provided through the teamwork effort of the entire staff. It takes everyone on the staff working together to deliver needs based programs to a rural county where needs far outweigh resources. An example is school age childcare which provides a safe learning environment year round for youth in grades K- 12. This service is affordable and open to all children in Greene County. Our agricultural agent provides resources and knowledge for hands on gardening projects. Senior citizens, childcare providers and at risk populations benefit from the variety and frequency of training sessions planned and facilitated by our FCE agent. Parents as Teacher educators provide families with educational materials and personal in home instruction on child development. As described each staff member has a full plate of responsibility but what makes it all work so effectively is the ability we have to recruit additional help and support from fellow departments. An example may be our agriculture agent getting pumpkins donated for a play group hosted by PAT, or PAT filling in for an absent School-Age Care Teacher, or School Age Care staff helping out with an Environmental Awareness Day or the FCE providing training to SAC staff to improve quality and maintain licensing standards. Collectively, as a staff we are active in the events of all programs, we are well informed of the benefits each has to offer. The result has been an continual growth and awareness of CE in Greene County. Of course everything is kept running smoothly with the support of our secretarial staff. Teamwork is not just a word in Greene County but a proactive process for accomplishing program goals.
II.Resource Utilization: State evidence how your staff uses the resources of the University for training and program support. Identify ways the staff uses community resources to the extent needed to do an outstanding job.
 Collaboration is a key word in Greene County. Being a small rural county working together and stretching limited resources is a fact. Collaboration is imperative in providing successful learning experiences for Greene citizens. Examples: Women's Health Fair, networking between Extension, Health Dept. and local businesses. Crop production workshops, collaboration between Agricultural agent, local agribusiness and Farm Service Agency, just to name a few. Through collaboration we are able to maximize our state and local resources for the benefit of our clientele. The entire staff has taken advantage of training opportunities at the local and state level to sharpen their skills. Agricultural Agent extensive training in alternative and value added crops, Parents as Teacher (PAT) Coordinator pursuing a Master degree in Adult Education, SACC Coordinator taking credential classes for child care, Administrative Assistant and PAT Educator enrolled in Spanish class and one member has received Ed.D in education.

Program Impact: Through cotton production workshops on tillage systems, variety selection and fertility farmers are averaging 200 pounds per acre more.150 pesticide applicators have received certification, learning drift management and protection.
100 parents of children 0-5 years old have received current age appropriate development information and knowledge; making them their child's first and best teacher.
56 child care providers received 112 contact training hour learning, eat right—get fit with color me healthy
In collaboration with Duplin, Lenior and Onslow counties 800 different providers received critical knowledge on asthma, playground safety, speech, food safety and how to start a 4-H club in your center.
74 senior citizens are actively participating in the Partners in Wellness program.
A successful summer day camp was conducted by 4-H for six weeks providing a safe learning environment for 120 youth 5-12. Camp was rated as a great value by parents and community leaders,
Greene County staff received over $200,00 in grant funds for Parents as Teachers, Juvenile restitution, Teen Court, and SOS.