4-H Programs
DEVELOPING RESPONSIBLE YOUTH

One of the most pressing social issues we face in North Carolina is providing our youth with a solid foundation for life. The evidence that the foundation is fragile appears year after year in newspaper articles and scientific studies that call attention to the challenge and problems facing too many youth: persistently high rates of alcohol and other drug use, teenage pregnancy, violence, school failure, and many more. Simultaneously, new concerns are being voiced about whether we are building the kinds of skills and competencies needed to ensure a competent work force and an engaged citizenry. Some – perhaps most – young people will still manage to navigate through adolescence into adulthood relatively unscathed, despite their circumstance and some of the harmful choices they make. Too many will not, however. For them, experiences in early years will leave scars that will take years to heal, if they heal at all. And some will become trapped in negative cycles of violence, addiction, and hopelessness that will deprive them and their communities of potential and contribution.

But this is not the end of the story. The mosaic of young people’s lives has a hopeful theme. That hope becomes evident in the potential for life skills and developmental assets help to shape young people’s choices. Through its 4-H program, Extension is intentionally working to ensure that more young people gain life skills and assets to offer a positive and hopeful path to a brighter future for young people and society.

Through active 4-H participation, youth learn to manage relationships, make decisions, become resilient communicate effectively, and serve their communities. 4-H’s hands-on, learn-by-doing approach reaches hundreds of thousands of North Carolina’s youth each year in schools, in community clubs, camps, and other settings. 4-H Youth Development Programs:
• Uniquely extend research-based curricula to youth, families, and educators in response to their expressed needs,
• Support legislatively mandated university outreach to K-12 schools,
• Work in partnership with other youth serving agencies and sponsoring organizations, and
• Provide unique opportunities for young people to participate in inquiry-guided learning opportunities with university scholars, researchers, faculty and community leaders.

Who is involved?
In 2003, 4-H involved 187,065 youth and 25,234 adult and youth volunteers in local 4-H programs supported by the resources of the Cooperative Extension System at North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University. The North Carolina 4-H Youth Development Program operates in a spirit of excellence to “make the best better.” Youth from 5 to 19 years of age use 4-H to become responsible, productive and caring citizens with their friends and families and in their schools and communities. They are actively involved in a variety of programs.

Delivery Mode	Male	Female	Total	Units
Organized 4-H Clubs	11,718	16,167	27,885	1,307
Special Interest	35,748	42,533	78,281	3,266
4-H Overnight Camping	2,030	2,599	4,629	292
School Enrichment	42,780	45,177	87,957	2,861
Individual Projects/Study	2,119	2,865	4,984
School-Age Child Care	14,501	15,200	29,701	1,070
4-H Instructional TV/Video	501	611	1,112
TOTAL	109,397	125,152	234,549	8,796
TOTAL (Duplications Eliminated)	86,882	100,183	187,065	7,212

• Data based on 2003 participation numbers from the federal ES-237 report.


Focusing Our Challenge:
4-H designs and delivers programs that empower personal, local action in response to risk factors such as juvenile crime, teen suicide, school-drop-out, child abuse, alcohol and drugs, family dissolution, and sexual activity.

4-H supports every youth’s right to lead a healthy and productive life filled with protective factors such as:
• An ongoing relationship with a caring adults-parents, mentors, tutors, or coaches,
• Access to safe places and structured activities,
• A healthy start,
• A marketable skill through effective education, and
• An opportunity to give back through community service.

4-H Programming Is Relevant:
4-H’ers live on farms, in suburbs, and in towns and cities. Programs are designed to meet the needs of youth, families, schools, and communities.

4-H’ers and where they live:

Farms	13,726	8%
Areas of Under 10,000 and rural non-farm	105,340	56%
Towns and cities, with populations of 10,000 and up to 50,000	46,823	25%
Suburbs of cities over 50,000	8,605	5%
Central cities over 50,000	12,571	6%
Total	187,065	100%

4-H takes pride in its cultural diversity. Youth are encouraged to become citizen leaders in service of their entire community.

4-H’s Diversity:

White	119,461	63%
Black	54,999	30%
Hispanic	7,077	4%
Indian	4,530	2%
Asian/Other	998	1%
Total	187,065	100%

Who Are 4-H Volunteers?
Dedicated adult volunteers provide the helping relationships that enable youth to become responsible, productive citizens. These volunteers also provide the basis for both the fiscal efficiency and productivity of 4-H. Youth also are actively engaged in community service and service learning through 4-H volunteering. 4-H volunteers encourage a sense of cultural diversity as they enable youth to become their “best selves.” In 2003, there were a total of 25,234 adult and youth 4-H volunteers.

Diversity of 4-H Volunteers:

Race	Adult Volunteer Service	Youth Volunteer Service
White	14,775	3,965
Black	4,551	1,241
Hispanic	227	153
Indian	182	80
Asian/Other	48	12
Subtotals	19,783	5,451
Totals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,234

4-H Camping: A Legacy of Excellence:
North Carolina’s youth and families continue to “Discover the World Through 4-H Camps.” Camps and educational conference center operations continue to grow in celebration of being exemplary units in the certification system managed by the American Camping Association. Over 4,629 youth participated in 4-H camping experiences in 2003.

During 16 week-long unit weeks of junior camping and 12 weeks of specialty camps including: Marine Science and Sailing, Cloverbud Camping (ages 6-8), Fur, Fish & Game Camp, Horsemanship, Shooting Sport, Adventure Camp, and Challenge Camp. More than 3121 youth “discovered the world.”

Sustainability and business plans are in place to maintain 4-H camp and conference and to continue to develop programming that is relevant to the targeted audience. While maintaining the emphasis on youth development, plans are in place to increase marketing for conference and retreat programs. Plans are underway to market expansion while nurturing relationships with primary customers for the five centers.

An Initiative Welcome and Overview
Welcome to Developing Responsible Youth, one of the five statewide program initiatives of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Although the Initiative is managed through primary program resources made available through the North Carolina 4-H Youth Development Program and the Department of 4-H Youth Development in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University, it is designed to drive collaboration with and among all agencies, programs and organizations dedicated to the well being of young people in our state.

Our initiative is designed to actively engage youth, volunteers, stakeholders, and youth development professionals “to create helping relationships to enable youths to become responsible, productive citizens.” Through 4-H and other, allied youth development programs young people are empowered to invest and grow cognitive, social, physical and emotional skills to reach their full potential for becoming coping, competent and contributing participants in their friendship and peer groups, families, schools and communities.

The Initiative focuses on utilization of experiential, non-formal, community based youth development practices which recognize the worth and dignity of every individual, and believe that the development of life skills enables young people to become caring, coping and competent citizens who will build strong foundations for our future. In the spirit of this shared value, the initiative is committed to the well being of and seeks to maintain the confidence of youth, volunteers, stakeholders, the Extension System, and all youth development professionals.

The Initiative seeks to celebrate through action “The Power of Youth in a Changing World”, the National 4-H Strategic Plan and its vision: “A world in which youth and adults learn, grow, and work together as catalysts for positive change;” and its mission: “4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential working and learning in partnership with caring adults.” We also embrace that plan’s belief that if we really care about youth, if we really want them to succeed, we must reorganize around them by transforming the relationships we have with youth in designing, delivering, and governing 4-H and other youth development programs to celebrate several critical dimensions of program excellence: the power of youth; access, equity, and opportunity; an extraordinary place to learn; exceptional people, innovative practices; and effective organizational systems.

The Initiative strives to encourage both youth development program design and content validity by encouraging youth development professionals to become actively involved in three overlapping, continuing domains of professional best practice: 1) Scanning the environment for youth development needs, 2) designing and delivering quality programs and 3) reporting and celebrating program impact. Major contemporary youth development paradigms being utilized include: life skills, internal and external assets, and resilience theory. These research based models when used individually or concurrently, offer youth development program staff a full range of adaptation possibilities for assessing program impacts. Youth development professionals are encouraged to adapt educational programs to local situations in the context of the outcomes of the National 4-H Impact Assessment Project. That project created a list of program characteristics most likely to engender positive youth outcomes when incorporated into youth programming. Those critical program characteristics are:
• A positive relationship with a caring adult,
• A physically and emotionally safe environment,
• The opportunity to value and practice service for others,
• An opportunity for self-determination,
• An inclusive environment,
• An opportunity to see oneself as an active participant in the future,
• Engagement in learning, and
• Opportunity for mastery.

Developing Responsible Youth: A Cycle of Professional Action
The thirteen objectives listed under the eight focus areas in the Developing Responsible Youth Initiative are accomplished by teams of youth development educators. They continuously work to accomplish three related, overlapping focus area/objective specific processes. Each team works to build youth development professional capacity, develop and refine best professional practices and expand the rigor of impact evaluation as they:
• Scan the environment for emerging focus area specific youth development needs.
• Design and deliver programs responsive to those existing and emerging needs.
• Design evaluation tools to facilitate program impacts for reporting into the Extension Reporting System.

Y1: Long-term support systems will develop competent youth by building internal and external assets through life skill development.

Program Description:
Americas youth have more options for educational experiences than ever before. Formal learning is only the beginning. Today, youth can gain information and knowledge through media, the World Wide Web, the workplace and community involvement. 4-H clubs offer non-formal, hands-on experiences as well as more traditional opportunities. A major goal of the 4-H Youth Development Program is to help young people develop life skills and assets that will allow them to become competent, caring and responsible citizens. In 2003, the 4-H Club Program, placed emphases on helping young people improve their decision-making skills, communication skills, managing relationship and serving their community.

In 2003, a total of 27,885 young people between the ages of 5 and 19 participated in 4-H club programs. The positive youth development of young people through 4-H club programs can be illustrated by the following program impacts: 22,026 youth have increased their decision making skills; 22,558 increased their communication and interpersonal skills 20,756 increased their knowledge of community service opportunities; 24,364 increased self-confidence; and 12,630 increased their competency in managing relationships.

Measures of Progress:
• Increased communication skills 19,372
• Number of youth competing in Public Speaking programs 1,914
• Increased leadership skills 13,349
• Increased awareness of community service 20,756
• Increased decision making skills 19,070

Agents also reported that over 13,000 families had been actively involved in 4-H club programs in 2003 and that 177 new 4-H clubs had been formed for youth ages 5 to 18.

Impacts:
• $200,723 saved by communities from 4-H community service projects
• $104,372 scholarships received by 4-H’ers
• $405,762 earned as a result of their project work
• $163,129 saved by 4-H’ers as a result of their project work

Volunteer Involvement:
More than 8,509 volunteers worked with young people in 4-H clubs during 2003. Their combined efforts total 88,092 hours for a value of $1,457,041. On average, volunteers committed 10.3 hours to their local 4-H club program.

Success Stories:
• It is often hard for parents who have children with disabilities to find programs that can fit the needs of their child. Often when the programs are available many parents are afraid to let their child try because s/he might fail or get frustrated, setting them back emotionally. This summer an autistic child joined 4-H and worked on a rabbit project. His parents had all the usual fears. But he not only raised his rabbit, he completed a curriculum book and learned more about rabbits than anyone ever imagined. This month this young man, after encouragement from the 4-H staff and his parents, submitted a project record book on his rabbit project. The work shows his progress from August to January in communication skill, and thought processes. His parents are thrilled with his progress and attribute his success to his involvement in 4-H.

• Public speaking is a critical life skill for youth. Henderson County 4-H continues to address this need by providing public speaking training for children. Supported with workshops, demonstrations and one-on-one mentoring, 24 county youth prepared and delivered presentations in county competition. Fifteen of the youth were first-time participants in the program; only 4 of the 24 youth have more than 2 years of involvement in 4-H public speaking. The growth of the participant's public speaking skills is evidenced by their success in competition. Twenty-one youth shared presentations at the district level, with 20 youth earning medals for their work. Participants and their parents have stated that they feel more confident while speaking in front of others.

• Helping young people develop into responsible, productive citizens is a challenge in today’s society. Instilling confidence and skills to be tomorrow’s leaders is an even greater challenge. Recently, a mother called the Moore County Extension office to praise the 4-H program on which her daughter was involved. She related that her daughter would never have attempted to lead a group or even speak out in a group of people, if 4-H had not given her the skills and confidence that she gained by showing her animals and participating in group activities. The 4-H program helped the young lady transform from a very shy teenager into a young person who steps up to the plate by making suggestions and expressing herself to people. Even though she has now aged out, she indicates that she will continue to help other youth learn through showmanship and project records. She wants to give back something to a program that was so helpful for her.

• 4-H Clubs are a great delivery strategy for teaching life-skills to youth in a long-term structured program. Quality clubs only happen when competent staff can help provide programming and training to help leaders deliver the best program possible for the youth they serve. The Forsyth County 4-H Staff, with funding from the Winston-Salem Foundation and Forsyth County Government, hired a 4-H Program Assistant to help local clubs improve programming and start new clubs. Her work can be seen in one of our older clubs, the Peace Team. The Peace Team consists primarily of inner-city kids, who are faced with many barriers, including low self-esteem, lack of social skills, peer pressure, and discipline problems. The Peace Team is now meeting every Monday with specific programs focusing on youth development and life skills. Approximately 30-40 youth attend the weekly meetings led by volunteers and supported by 4-H staff.

Impact Bullets:
• Increased communication skills 19,372
• Increased leadership skills 13,349
• Increased awareness of community service 20,756
• Increased decision making skills 19,070
• Saved their communities $200,723 through community service projects/volunteerism
• Earned $405,762 as a result of their 4-H project work
• 8,509 volunteers worked with young people in 4-H clubs during 2003 and their combined efforts total 88,092 hours for a value of $1,457,041

Person’s Preparing the Report: Mitzi Stumpf, Dale Panaro (Wake), April Dillon (Lincoln), Tovi Martin (Mecklenburg), Krista Hancock (Cumberland), Zoann Parker (Halifax), Cameron Lowe (Pasquotank), Danny Butler (Martin), Travis Burke (Pasquotank), Wallace Simmons (Haywood), Peggie Lewis (Rockingham), Natalie Rountree (Hertford), Cathy Brown (Moore), Jennifer Hansen (Pender), Rebecca Liverman Washington), Danelle Barco (Camden), Juanita Bailey (Perquimans), Spring Williams (Burke), Aggie Rogers (Robeson), Ellen Owens (Currituck), Nina Crawford (Wake)


Y-2: Limited resource youth residing in diverse/public housing will increase life skill development, which will ultimately result in making informed decisions about life choices to manage life situations and transitions.

Program Description:
Youth residing in public housing are no different in their basic developmental needs, but because of day to day situations, financial restrains, and stresses they face, they may need special program delivery techniques. Programs designed for public housing youth uses a variety of program strategies to help youth feel appreciated, valued, successful and competent. Creating programs that include teaching multiple lessons, setting achievable goals, promoting empowerment, offering tangible incentives, building on success, intense individual attention, and peers in leadership roles will enhance public housing youth life skill development.

Eight counties reported one thousand fifteen (1015) youth ages 5-19 participated in programs that helped them acquire skills in using the decision-making process, saying “no” to peer pressure, clearly defining aspirations, and increasing knowledge and skills in conflict resolution. Additionally, 1,203 youth, ages 8-13 participated in 36 hours of interactive entrepreneurial mini-society experiences through day camps, after school programs, community-based programs, and charter/home school programs. There were nine (9) 4-H clubs for the 5-8 year organized to help youth increase competency within their environment.

Measures of Progress:
• Number of 5-8 year old 4-H Clubs formed 9
• Acquired decision making skills 2780
• Increased skills in Saying no to peer pressure 1444
• Increased skills in defining aspirations 1479
• Increased skills in conflict resolution 1641
• Number participating in community service 1546
• Number of youth participating in 4-H programs 2218

Impacts:
• Dollars saved as a result of community service 62,149
• Youth demonstrating resistance to peer pressure 2085
• Youth demonstrating defined aspirations 1544
• Youth (5-8) increasing environmental competencies 358

Volunteer Involvement:
Seventy-four (74) volunteers provided partnerships, programs, and camps, and donated 1,895 hours of time valued at $31,343.30 for public housing youth. Additionally, one hundred-thirty-nine (139) volunteers contributed 40 hours each totaling 5,560 hours of time, valued at $91,962.40.

Success Stories:
• To increase life skill development, making informed decisions, managing life’s situations and transitions a partnership was formed between 4-H and the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem. Four sites have been designated as safe havens for youth in grades 7-12. At these sites, 40 young people participate in crime prevention and life skills training. Youth participated in the 4-H public speaking program, presentations, community service projects and urban gardening as a part of this program.

• The 2003 Big Sweep in Forsyth county shattered state participation records. This year’s program was the largest in North Carolina, setting a new record for participation with increased awareness and promotions. More than 2,300 volunteers cleared rivers, streams, creeks, and ponds. Volunteers pulled an estimated 36,000 pounds (18 tons) of trash and debris out of waterways.

• The “Down to Earth” program was used by teachers in this county to incorporate scientific knowledge into student academics. This program enabled 26 students and 10 volunteers to improve their gardening skills. After 43 hours of service, youth gave plants to senior citizens in a nursing home. Of the 26 students that participated, 3 were AIG (academically/intellectually gifted) and 10 were at risk students. A total of 210 students benefited from this program.

• Youth safety is a concern. In partnership with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Hunter and Boater Safety classes were offered to Bertie county youth. Seven youth successfully passed the NC Hunters Safety class. Ten youth residing in public housing successfully passed the NC Boaters Safety class.

Impact Bullets:
• Of Mini-Society program participant, 57 % decided to enroll in the county
4-H program, 25% joined a community 4-H club, 18% participated in a 4-H Special Interest program, and 14% attended one or more other county 4-H events or activities.
• Of the youth participating in the mini society program, 93% increased their knowledge in multiple subject areas including government & ethics, economics, entrepreneurship, and money management.
• While enrolled in the mini society program, 95% of participants effectively formed committees to accomplish the society operational and governmental management goals including naming and creating currency, a mini-society, designing a flag, interviewing, and hiring of civil leaders.

Persons Preparing The Report: Shirley B. McNeill (NCA&T), Christine Manning, Danny Butler ( Martin), Edith Wiley (Rockingham), Bettina Odom (Bertie), Aggie Rogers (Robeson), Connie Greene (Harnett), Dixie Jordan (Sampson), Donald Mebane (Forsyth), Theresa Clark (Durham), John Gibson (Nash), Deborah Buchanan-Hughes (Avery), Katherine Williams (Wake), Mary Bowles (Richmond), Crystal Smith (Franklin)

Y3: Youth involved in Special Interest Programs will show increased life skill knowledge and subject matter skill

Program Description:
Special Interest programming involves volunteers to deliver short term (at least six hours) subject matter and life skills education. This delivery mode is designed for children and youth who often times wish a short term exposure to a particular subject matter area. These experiences are out of school and volunteer led

Measures of Progress:
• 13,545 of those reporting indicated an increase in knowledge/skills as a result of programming.
• Although some 1,555 volunteers were trained in the experiential learning model, 3,497 volunteers reported using the methodology.
• 66% percent of all special interest programming is free to participants.
• 11,093 reported a positive increase in the life skill being evaluated.

Impacts:
• Although only 38% of total special interest was evaluated, 46% of those reporting indicated an increase in subject matter knowledge and 37% reported an increase in life skills measured
• 96% of those participating as special interest volunteers utilized the experiential learning process in their program delivery

Volunteers Involved:
• 3,643 volunteers were involved in special interest programming
• 25,734 volunteer hours were invested at a total value of $425,640

Success Stories:
• More than 45 special interest programs reaching 671 youth were provided for Alexander County youth. Results from pre-post tests following completion of workshops showed that 82% of youth exhibited a positive increase in life skills as a result of participation in the workshops. Four hundred thirty-two volunteers demonstrated the experiential learning process through their involvement in special interest programming. After participating in the workshop, 27% of youth joined a community 4-H club.

• The New Hanover County 4-H Summer World of Wonder and Junior Master Gardner class served 240 youth, involved 45 adult volunteers, and offered 19 different programs. Through the experiential learning model youth gained skills and knowledge in various subject matter areas, i.e. environmental & earth education, personal development & leadership, healthy life-styles, plants & animals, social studies, entomology and wood working. 100% of youth increased subject matter skill related to their program area. 95% of youth demonstrated positive life skill and attitude changes as reported by teachers and parents.

Impact Bullets:
• Through North Carolina Wildlife Service sessions, approximately 180 youth received hunter safety certification.
• Health and wellness was a major focus, over 70 hours of nutrition and wellness opportunities were taught to participants.
• As a result of participation in the 4-H Summer Fun program, positive increases in the following life skills were reported: planning and organizing, cooperation, teamwork, decision making, personal safety, social skills and increased self esteem.
• In evaluating a Food, Fun & Fitness Camp offered to youth in public housing, 100% of survey participants reported that they "learned something new and that it was fun," and 65 % reported that they had "used what they learned at home."
• Youth attended Biotechnology camp, where they applied problem solving and science skills to the real world of crime scene investigation to solve a mystery.
• Surveys from the youth that participated in special interest workshops showed that over 80 % learned new skills and 69 % would use the information they learned.
• Based on reports from leaders, participants showed an increased knowledge in life skills such as decision-making, problem solving, and communication in addition to subject matter areas.

Persons Preparing Report: Ed Maxa, Barb Dunn-Swanson (Randolph), Karee Teague (Watauga), Kathy Kuhlman (Macon), Nelson McCaskill (Iredell), Jeanette Schuszler (Caldwell), Laurie Lewis (Hyde), Louise Hinsley (Beaufort), Juanita Bailey (Perquimans), Deleon Wilks (Sampson), Kay Cole (Alamance), Melissa Staebner (Yadkin), Mary Bowles (Richmond), Tanya Heath (Wilson), Nina Crawford (Wake), Ann Godwin (Wake), Fonda Lyons (Wake)

Y5: Youth in high-risk environments will participate in community based programs resulting in opportunities for the youth to acquire internal and external assets.

Program Description:
The youth, families, and communities of North Carolina face challenges, which threaten their coping and healthy development. Reduced capacity in turn threatens the economic, social, and environmental well being of educational, corporate, and governmental systems on which the citizens of North Carolina depend.

The Resilient Youth, Families and Communities Long Range Focus Area takes action to strengthen the resiliency of youth, families, and communities. Resiliency is the ability to cultivate strengths to positively meet challenges. The program focuses on positive youth development, helping youth become fully prepared, not just problem-free. A wide variety of learning and leading experiences can help youth and empower families to avoid risks, build assets, and prepare for meaningful adult roles in family, work, and civic engagement. Working together, practitioners, researchers, and program participants can overcome challenges and set new standards for programming. Areas of high need are: improvement of youth health behaviors (drug/alcohol/tobacco abuse, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and youth violence), literacy and academic success, juvenile crime prevention and early intervention, migrant youth and families, relationship and life skills, support for positive parenting, and community economic development.

Measures of Progress:
• 4554 youth increased internal assets for positive youth development
• 3293 youth increased external assets for positive youth development
• 1823 youth increased knowledge of alternatives to negative risk behavior

Impacts:
• 4445 youth demonstrated increased life skills
• 3326 youth demonstrated increased academic performance
• 2208 youth were engaged in community service
• 2556 youth engaged in fewer risk-taking behaviors
• 1642 youth experienced decreased involvement with juvenile courts
• An estimated $2,537,524 was gained in reduced costs of responding to high-risk behaviors or educational value of the programs offered to youth

Volunteers Involved: 990

Success Stories:
• The 4H Genesis program, coordinated by Gates County Program Associate Edward Murphy, is an after school program funded through the Office of Juvenile Justice. The program caters to male youth in 3rd-12th grade. The program teaches behavior management, team building, respect, goal setting, sharing and decision making. The students have gained knowledge in these topics as well as cultural pride and every day life skills that enable them to be competent, caring, contributing members of society. To date, there are 66 participants enrolled and 72% (48) have had no involvement with the judicial system since enrollment in the program.

• Currituck County 4-H Support Our Students afterschool program, coordinated by Sherri Bedsole, helped 156 students increase knowledge of risk-behavior alternatives and increase life skills through 4-H projects in science, small engines, baby sitting, and cooking as well as recreational activities such as karate and chess. 4-H/SOS middle school students performed community service with Meals on Wheels, Hyde County hurricane disaster relief, and Currituck County Sheriff's fund-raiser.

Impact Bullets:
• 4-H sponsored or assisted Support Our Students afterschool programs reached over 1,000 middle school youth, building self-esteem, academic improvement, recreation and athletics, and skills in 4-H projects ranging from landscaping to rocketry.
• Juvenile court diversion and restitution programs in several counties resulted in thousands of dollars of criminal damage being restored to victims and hundreds of lives of juvenile offenders being restored through service, life skills activities, and reconciliation with their victims.
• Teen courts are sponsored by 4-H in Greene, Sampson, Bladen, Duplin, and Franklin counties. In Greene County, teen court participants increased knowledge of the legal system and decision making through training and experience on the court. Juvenile offenders were directed to a variety of community service and restitution projects, reducing court and incarceration costs to the county. Similar programs show significant reductions in repeat offending.
• Migrant education programs are meeting the needs of North Carolina's growing Hispanic youth through afterschool activities such as 4-H/AIM clubs reaching hundreds of youth, workshops on gang prevention, and assistance with planning for post-secondary education.
• Mentoring is an important support for healthy growth and development. Over 100 mentors in several county 4-H programs funded by the Governor's One-on-One program helped hundreds of youth to succeed in school, develop project skills, and perform community service. In Anson County, activities included a Christmas Craft workshop, movie night, and holiday field trip.
• Several counties, including Bertie, Onslow, and Forsyth, sponsor 4-H clubs in public housing projects. Elementary and middle school youth in these programs are improving communication and problem solving skills, academic performance, and contributing to intergenerational community service, building pride in their neighborhood. Onslow county estimated that the cost-savings of prevention programming (vs. incarceration) work with 20 youth may be as mush as $800,000.
• A collaborative program between Ashe County 4-H and Appalachian State University facilitated mentoring matches between 44 college and middle school students, with learning opportunities with homework, life skills, and preparation for college. Mentor volunteers gained valuable experience and provided the county over $1,600 in volunteer time.
• Middle school youth working with mentors in an afterschool baby-sitters training group coordinated by Kathy Thorpe in Transylvania County gained valuable skills to earn extra income as well as valuable insight on the importance of readiness for the challenges of parenting. The $100 program cost could benefit society as much as $100,000 given the costs of teen pregnancy and parenting.
• Peer helper programs in Pasquotank County provided an estimated $6,000 in benefits to forty 4th-5th grade youth, on an investment of $3,500.

Persons Preparing Report: Benjamin Silliman, Juanita Bailey (Perquimans), Sherri Bedsole (Currituck), Roshounda Blount (Anson), Jennifer Brewer (Person), Cathy Brown (Hoke), Travis Burke (Pasquotank), Lisa Childers (Harnett), Greg Clemmons (Onslow), Stan Dixon (Greene), Myra Duncan (Gates), Suzanne Edwards (Gates), Sharon English (Scotland), Robbie Furr (Mecklenburg), Tammy Hartsoe (Ashe), Jackie Helton (Forsyth), Michael Kelleher (Ashe), Peggy Kernodle (Durham), Bridget Kirk (Duplin), Peggy Lewis (Rockingham), Don Mebane (Forsyth), Edward Murphy (Gates), Bettina Odom (Bertie), Lois Owen (Cleveland), Billy Privette (Brunswick), Lynn Qualls (Randolph), Suzanne Rhinehart (Alexander), Natalie Rountree (Hertford), Janette Schuszler (Caldwell), Fran Senters (Lincoln), Nakoma Simmons (Columbus), Crystal Smith (Franklin), Deborah Smith (Ashe), Kathy Thorpe (Transylvania), Joyce Watts (Yancey), Denise Webb (Gates), DeLeon Wilks (Sampson), Katherine Williams (Wake)

Y6: Engaging families vulnerable to stress and crisis to help youth acquire resiliency skills to cope with hardships.

Program Description:
The youth, families, and communities of North Carolina face challenges which threaten their coping and healthy development. Reduced capacity in turn threatens the economic, social, and environmental well being of educational, corporate, and governmental systems on which the citizens of North Carolina depend.

The Resilient Youth, Families and Communities Long Range Focus Area takes action to strengthen the resiliency of youth, families, and communities. Resiliency is the ability to cultivate strengths to positively meet challenges. The program focuses on positive youth development, helping youth become fully prepared, not just problem-free. A wide variety of learning and leading experiences can help youth and empowering families to avoid risks, build assets, and prepare for meaningful adult roles in family, work, and civic engagement. Working together, practitioners, researchers, and program participants can overcome challenges and set new standards for programming. Areas of high need are: improvement of youth health behaviors (drug/alcohol/tobacco abuse, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and youth violence), literacy and academic success, juvenile crime prevention and early intervention, migrant youth and families, relationship and life skills, support for positive parenting, and community economic development.

Measures of Progress:
• 52 families increased knowledge of self-help programs
• 70 families increased knowledge of communication skills
• 64 families increased knowledge of coping and nurturing practices

Impacts:
• 36 families demonstrated improved communication skills
• 22 families adopted coping and nurturing practices in their everyday lives
• Overall programming provided families with $869 in educational services

Volunteers Involved: 19

Success Stories:
• Support For Teen Parents (STP), a Gates County program coordinated by program assistant Denise Webb, helps pregnant and parenting teens to develop life skills that will enable them to make a difference in their lives and the lives of their children. In the past year, participants in STP improved self-esteem, commitment to positive values, goal setting (and achieving) skills, as well as interpersonal communication and conflict resolution skills. For program participants, infant mortality and unintended pregnancies were zero.

• Two 4-H clubs in Caldwell County collected materials for children to keep diaries for their dads who are now serving with the National Guard in Iraq. Program Assistant Debbie Cox provided additional material on youth development and family coping to the Guard Family Liaison Coordinator to share on a "support the families of troops" day held on March 30, 2003.

• Ashe Youth Connection (AYC) coordinated by program assistant Deborah Smith, provided a rich variety of homework help, life skills, cultural enrichment (including a Revolutionary War re-enactment), and community service activities that resulted in improved family support and involvement as well as youth academic grades and social skills.

Impact Bullets:
• Caldwell County Extension 4-H provided materials for children of military families to record memories and cope more effectively while their parents were serving with the NC National Guard in the Middle East.
• Programs with teen parents in Gates, Harnett, and Forsyth Counties improved self-esteem, practical skills such as financial management and nutrition, and helped youth stay in school to earn a high school diploma.
• Family outreach has long been a hallmark of traditional 4-H clubs but can be challenging for parents struggling with limited resources or other personal challenges. Programs such as Ashe Youth Connections, coordinated by Deborah Smith, involve parents in out-of-school activities, increasing communication and out-of-school supervision by parents.
• Columbus County 4-H juvenile prevention and diversion programs include parent involvement in youth clubs as well as counseling and support for families as part of the juvenile's intervention plan. Columbus County's program, coordinated by Nakoma Simmons, served 75 youth in 2003. Juvenile Justice analysts estimate that such programs can save up to $50,000 for every youth not referred to a juvenile detention facility.
• Parents of seven Person County court-involved youth became more positively engaged in the lives of their pre-teens, but they also benefited as 4-H agent Jennifer Brewer raised $1,820 from local donors to offer Summer camp scholarships to youth who worked to change behavior and give back to their communities.

Persons Reporting Report: Benjamin Silliman, Juanita Bailey (Perquimans), Sherri Bedsole (Currituck), Roshounda Blount (Anson), Jennifer Brewer (Person), Cathy Brown (Hoke), Travis Burke (Pasquotank), Lisa Childers (Harnett), Greg Clemmons (Onslow), Stan Dixon (Greene), Myra Duncan (Gates), Suzanne Edwards (Gates), Sharon English (Scotland), Robbie Furr (Mecklenburg), Tammy Hartsoe (Ashe), Jackie Helton (Forsyth), Michael Kelleher (Ashe), Peggy Kernodle (Durham), Bridget Kirk (Duplin), Peggy Lewis (Rockingham), Don Mebane (Forsyth), Edward Murphy (Gates), Bettina Odom (Bertie), Lois Owen (Cleveland), Billy Privette (Brunswick), Lynn Qualls (Randolph), Suzanne Rhinehart (Alexander), Natalie Rountree (Hertford), Janette Schuszler (Caldwell), Fran Senters (Lincoln), Nakoma Simmons (Columbus), Crystal Smith (Franklin), Deborah Smith (Ashe), Kathy Thorpe (Transylvania), Joyce Watts (Yancey), Denise Webb (Gates), DeLeon Wilks (Sampson), Katherine Williams (Wake)

Y7: Youth and adults in communities will be strengthen capacities in understanding community needs, policy development, resource development, and collaboration through technical assistance.

Program Description:
The youth, families, and communities of North Carolina face challenges which threaten their coping and healthy development. Reduced capacity in turn threatens the economic, social, and environmental well being of educational, corporate, and governmental systems on which the citizens of North Carolina depend.
The Resilient Youth, Families and Communities Long Range Focus Area takes action to strengthen the resiliency of youth, families, and communities. Resiliency is the ability to cultivate strengths to positively meet challenges. The program focuses on positive youth development, helping youth become fully prepared, not just problem-free. A wide variety of learning and leading experiences can help youth and empowering families to avoid risks, build assets, and prepare for meaningful adult roles in family, work, and civic engagement. Working together, practitioners, researchers, and program participants can overcome challenges and set new standards for programming. Areas of high need are: improvement of youth health behaviors (drug/alcohol/tobacco abuse, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and youth violence), literacy and academic success, juvenile crime prevention and early intervention, migrant youth and families, relationship and life skills, support for positive parenting, and community economic development.

Measures of Progress:
• 1,043 youth and adults increased knowledge of the public policy development process and 862 demonstrated use of that knowledge in improving policies in their communities
• 112 decision makers increased knowledge of issues related to economically challenged youth
• 20 decision makers increased knowledge of issues related to migrant or non-English-speaking populations

Impacts:
• $15,000 were contributed to help limited resource partners in community youth partnerships

Volunteers Involved: 48

Success Stories:
• Community Development Begins with Youth Development in Charlotte. Mecklenburg 4-H/Americorps Out-of-School programs provide 182 youth safe places to grow and learn in several high-risk neighborhoods. These neighborhood programs have dramatically increased the number of community volunteers, the value of whose time is estimated at nearly $14,000. In-kind and cash donations have not been tracked but have increased dramatically. These communities are truly re-building from the inside out.

• Lincoln County 4-H program assistant Fran Senters collaborated with eight churches in eastern Lincoln County to create the "4-H Cool Clubs" for children from ages five to eight who are at developmental risk. Each church sends six or more volunteers to the meetings and offers transportation as well as snacks. These meetings include topics from six 4-H project areas, as well as organizational and social skills that build self-esteem and teamwork.

Impact Bullets:
• In communities where risks for school failure, crime, violence, drug abuse, and teen pregnancy are high, programs for youth help spark new hope in community re-vitalization. 4-H clubs in public housing projects, neighborhood youth centers, and afterschool programs take a variety of shapes around the state. Nevertheless, each plays a significant role in building the optimism and practical capacity of neighborhood residents to improve the quality of their lives and opportunities for youth.
• As 4-H continues to provide quality, cost-effective programming, more counties are being funded to supervise and implement programs for higher-risk youth. In Durham County, 4-H is working more closely with the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council to provide training, curriculum, and program supervision to court-adjudicated youth.
• Collaboration with agencies, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and businesses is helping restructure workforce preparation in Forsyth County.

Persons Preparing Report: Benjamin Silliman, Juanita Bailey (Perquimans), Sherri Bedsole (Currituck), Roshounda Blount (Anson), Jennifer Brewer (Person), Cathy Brown (Hoke), Travis Burke (Pasquotank), Lisa Childers (Harnett), Greg Clemmons (Onslow), Stan Dixon (Greene), Myra Duncan (Gates), Suzanne Edwards (Gates), Sharon English (Scotland), Robbie Furr (Mecklenburg), Tammy Hartsoe (Ashe), Jackie Helton (Forsyth), Michael Kelleher (Ashe), Peggy Kernodle (Durham), Bridget Kirk (Duplin), Peggy Lewis (Rockingham), Don Mebane (Forsyth), Edward Murphy (Gates), Bettina Odom (Bertie), Lois Owen (Cleveland), Billy Privette (Brunswick), Lynn Qualls (Randolph), Suzanne Rhinehart (Alexander), Natalie Rountree (Hertford), Janette Schuszler (Caldwell), Fran Senters (Lincoln), Nakoma Simmons (Columbus), Crystal Smith (Franklin), Deborah Smith (Ashe), Kathy Thorpe (Transylvania), Joyce Watts (Yancey), Denise Webb (Gates), DeLeon Wilks (Sampson), Katherine Williams (Wake)

Y8: To increase the quality of after school programs by helping to provide safe, nurturing and appropriate environments for children, through Cooperative Extension work.

Program Description:
Changes in the structure and employment of North Carolina families are having profound impacts on the care and supervision of youth, ages five and older. Increasing numbers of two-parent working families, single parent families, and increasing numbers of working mothers have created a need for high quality, year round care for school-age youth. School-age care (SAC), or after school care, involving structured, adult supervised programs offered to 5-18 year-old youth during after school hours, including teacher workdays, holidays, intercession, and summer months provide safe settings where youth can avoid risks and improve academic and life skills, enabling working parents to be more productive during the 3:00-6:00 PM time frame.

However problems with availability, affordability, and accessibility to high quality school-age care programs prevent many families from taking advantage of school-age care opportunities (Vandenbergh, Davis, Kirk, 2001). Even in communities where after school programs may be available, low staff wages and benefits, staff turnover, lack of staff training, high staff to child ratios, lack of transportation, lack of age appropriate curricula, and other obstacles create problems of offering quality programs and maintaining them (Vandenbergh, Davis, Kirk, 2001). Without appropriate training and support, after school staff may be unable to provide safe, enriching, fun, and supportive programs for youth. Therefore, there is a need for Cooperative Extension to focus significant resources to help improve the quality and availability of school-age care programs for NC families.

Measures of Progress:
• 1,943 afterschool providers were trained
• 46 new 4-H Clubs were started and 75 sustained in afterschool settings
• Extension staff facilitated licensing of 53 afterschool sites and 463 sites increased license rating
• New resources obtained to increase quality of school-age care totalled $61,645 and resources for sustained sites were $18,923
• Youth in afterschool programs contributed 7,497 hours of community service
• Total involvement in after school programs supported by Extension included 13,868 youth and 1,016 adults

Impacts:
• Afterschool sites increased involvement with the addition of 746 parents, 48 business leaders, and 513 volunteers across the state
• Providers trained by Extension increased knowledge and skills of the six elements of quality in the following areas: Administration (786), Human Relations (999), Indoor Environment (1,110), Outdoor Environment (901), Appropriate Activities (1,627), Health, Safety, and Nutrition (1,393)
• Parents, providers, and school personnel reported the following youth gains due to
4-H school-age care programming
• 4,516 increased knowledge and skills in emotional, cognitive, or physical development
• 5,719 youth demonstrated greater self confidence
• 3,982 youth demonstrated increased interpersonal skills
• 5,446 participated in Community Service
• 3,223 increased Homework Completion
• 3,603 increased Academic Performance
• Program costs statewide (materials, staff and presenters, support for youth attending) are estimated to be $877,063, with a dollar value to society, measured in growth achieved and risks avoided, estimated at $10,008,796

Volunteers Involved:
• 2103 volunteers were involved in school-age care programs for 20,343 hours. At a dollar value of $ 16.54/hour, volunteers gave an estimated $334,819.

Success Stories:
• Catawba County 4-H After-School program provides educational enrichment programs and staff training to 1,250 elementary age youth enrolled in school-age care at 22 schools and 1 private day care. 4-H provided 244 hours of on-site educational programs and established 11 4-H clubs at afterschool sites. In the past year, financial support from Community Schools was increased to support 4-H afterschool programming despite the organization's overall budget reductions. Extension efforts to build collaborations to support school-age care continue to insure high-quality programming for youth.

• Staff trained 520 providers to increase the quality of after-school programs, thus providing safe, nurturing and appropriate environments for children. A grant of $30,000 helped five unlicensed programs achieve licensure and one program increase from a one-star to a four-star rating, benefiting a total of 213 youth. Training in the 4-H Adventures in Learning, Theme Boxes, and Grant Writing, together with workshops on the six elements of quality programming increased knowledge and skills of over 500 providers. Collaboration with Nash-Rocky Mount School resulted in a 2-week Summer program for 52 migrant children, ages 5 - 12.

• Mitchell County 4-H Afterschool Discovery Program, funded by NC Support Our Students, helped 104 students, ages 8-13, with a healthy snack, an hour of homework assistance, and a life-skill building program each day. Programs involve topics such as healthy eating, food safety, environmental education, science, exercise, arts and crafts, and community service projects. About 85% of these previously low-achieving students were able to meet or exceed standards on reading and math end-of-grade tests. Teacher reports indicate that a majority of these youth improved classroom grades and behavior.

Impact Bullets:
Several counties sponsor Basic School-age Care workshops to provide beginning providers with basic skills to plan and deliver quality programming to youth. Given the high turnover among afterschool staff, this training supports a consistent quality of staff and program performance. In Alexander County, 4-H BSAC training saved the school district $2,500 in training costs in addition to technical assistance in licensing sites. Randolph County 4-H saved providers nearly $2,000 in training costs through sponsorship of BSAC workshops. In the last three years, over 200 BSAC providers have been trained through the efforts of Graham County 4-H. Training of 76 providers by Craven County Extension benefited 886 youth in afterschool programs.
• A key component of quality school-age care involves licensing and increasing star licensing of school-age care sites. Ashe County assisted two sites to gain a state 4-star rating, three sites achieve a top 5-star rating, and one site to gain re-accreditation through the National School-age Care Alliance. Five programs were newly licensed through grant-funded assistance from Nash County 4-H.
• Academic improvement is a key component of quality school-age care. One hundred students in Wilkes County SOS programs increased academic performance, as the percentage of participating youth at or above grade-level reading increased from 58 % to 83% and at or above grade level math increased from 53% to 94%. Over 200 youth in Greene County's only K-8 afterschool program, 4-H Discovery, increased homework completion and academic performance. Dare County afterschool programs helped 70 youth with increased homework completion and 47 youth with school performance.
• The Department of 4-H Youth Development at NCSU, through a Engaging Youth, Serving Communities grant from National 4-H Council, provided training and resources to over 40 counties to implement the 4-H Afterschool Model. County staff will train over 500 afterschool providers to use 4-H curriculum and training resources and form 50 new 4-H clubs. Providers in Iredell County serving a total of 872 children are already using experiential learning methods and 4-H curricula such as Talking with TJ and Adventures in Learning.
• Flexibility in meeting youth needs is the key to success in 4-H school-age programs. Linking snack time and cooking activities helped Duplin County staff teach hands-on skills as well as meet nutritional needs of youth in a 21st Century Community Learning Center. Other activities include coping with peer pressure, leadership and personal development, career education, and community service. Buncombe County 4-H offered programs ranging from bully prevention to cultural diversity to science.
• Afterschool programs provide opportunities for higher-risk youth to experience high achievement through hands-on activities, a variety of physically and mentally-challenging events, and support from caring adults. In Harnett County, 87 at-risk youth ages 8-12 participated in a Summer entrepreneurship workshop, "Mini-Society," increasing knowledge and skills for business and inventiveness.
• 4-H plays a key role in many communities' growing awareness of school-age care and positive youth development. Mitchell County is working intensively with teachers and parents to promote understanding of the value of afterschool activities. A School-age Conference sponsored by Wayne County 4-H helped 84 parents and providers increase knowledge and skills in behavior management, nutrition, science, and social skills activities, Summer programming, and youth development concepts.
• Collaboration and coalition-building are keys to supporting quality afterschool care, particularly in rural communities. A long-term collaboration partnership helped Catawba County 4-H maintain quality afterschool programs after budget cuts reduced program support.

Persons Preparing Report: Benjamin Silliman, Tammy Boyd (Warren), Kay Bridges (Iredell), Millie Bruton (Montgomery), April Dillon (Lincoln), Stan Dixon (Greene), Sharon English (Scotland), Robbie Furr (Mecklenburg), Theresa Garland (Graham), Connie Greene (Harnett), Sandy Hall (Nash), Jennifer Hanson (Pender), Jackie Helton (Forsyth), Lori Ivy (Stanley), Bridget Kirk (Duplin), Kyleen Michael (Gates), Jennifer Miller (Ashe), Nicole Mitchell (New Hanover), Brenda Morris (Guilford), Donna Mull (Catawba), Lois Owen (Cleveland), Connie Pegg (Buncombe), Ivey Reid (Craven), Suzanne Rhinehart (Alexander), Howard Scott (Wayne), Erin Sill (Jones), Misti Silver (Mitchell), Trudy Smith (Duplin), Barbara Swanson (Randolph), Ann Ward (Dare), Judy West (Wilkes), Katherine Williams (Wake)

Y9: To increase availability of quality school age care as a result of collaboration and/or increased resource development, through Cooperative Extension work.

Program Description:
Changes in the structure and employment of North Carolina families are having profound impacts on the care and supervision of youth, ages five and older. Increasing numbers of two-parent working families, single parent families, and increasing numbers of working mothers have created a need for high quality, year round care for school-age youth. School-age care (SAC), or after school care, involving structured, adult supervised programs offered to 5-18 year-old youth during after school hours, including teacher workdays, holidays, intercession, and summer months provide safe settings where youth can avoid risks and improve academic and life skills, enabling working parents to be more productive during the 3:00-6:00 p.m. time frame.

However problems with availability, affordability, and accessibility to high quality school-age care programs prevent many families from taking advantage of school-age care opportunities (Vandenbergh, Davis, Kirk, 2001). Even in communities where after school programs may be available, low staff wages and benefits, staff turnover, lack of staff training, high staff to child ratios, lack of transportation, lack of age appropriate curricula, and other obstacles create problems of offering quality programs and maintaining them (Vandenbergh, Davis, Kirk, 2001). Without appropriate training and support, after school staff may be unable to provide safe, enriching, fun, and supportive programs for youth. Therefore, there is a need for Cooperative Extension to focus significant resources to help improve the quality and availability of school-age care programs for NC families.

Measures of Progress:
• 4-H afterschool programs secured $401,688 in new funds and sustained $329,936 in funding to make available afterschool care for school-age youth
• Over 300 new collaborative partnerships were established to increase availability
• 75 new centers were engaged by 4-H to serve the afterschool needs of school-age youth

Impacts:
• 4-H implemented 26 new programs statewide and generated 942 additional spaces for youth to enjoy quality afterschool programming
• 575 collaborations serving children and families were sustained and 96 new collaborations were formed to support quality school-age care
• School-age programs engaged 1,850 volunteers for 9,970 hours, with a dollar value (at $16.54 per hour) of $164,920
• For programs that estimated cost/benefit, value of program services to the target audience was over two million dollars, with an estimated program cost slightly over one million dollars. When deferred costs of risk behavior during afterschool hours are used as the index, cost-savings constitute several million dollars.

Volunteers Involved: 1,850

Success Stories:
• 4-H formed many new partnerships in 2003 to enrich the lives of youth in afterschool programs collaborations. Youth benefited from working with Ashe County Civic Center to develop the 4-H Performing Troupe Camp, the Ashe County Arts Council in developing Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM), and Appalachian State University provided interns and volunteers for the programs. Ashe County 4-H continues to partner with Ashe County Board of Education to provide afterschool programming in the schools to allow for a seamless day for the participates. During summer months, 4-H programs use indoor and outdoor spaces provided by Ashe County Parks and Recreation.
Shepherd's Way was granted a $15,000 summer expansion grant and as a result 25 more youth had a summer camp experience in a licensed, safe environment. In addition, because Shepherd's Way became familiar with the funding cycle, they submitted another grant for expansion of their year-long school age program and was granted an additional $35,000. In total, Shepherd's Way has received $50,000 to provide support for school age care youth. The 4-H Agent in the county provided technical assistance and support in the process.

• Wayne County 4-H’s 8 afterschool programs serving 231 K-5 youth do more than keep youth safe and supervised. A nutritious snack, recreation, study time, and a 4-H activity combine for a recipe pleasing to over 95 percent of the parents surveyed. Parents comment that "The staff is great, the staff are very caring individuals"…"The program is very organized"…" My child really likes going to 4-H and I feel they learn a lot"…"I like that the children do community service projects."

Impact Bullets:
• Collaboration between community partners results in better use of physical, financial, and human resources to help youth grow through afterschool programs. For example, Ashe County’s afterschool program partners include Parks and Recreation, Civic Center, Arts Council, Board of Education, Department of Juvenile Justice, and Appalachian State University.
• Collaboration with schools and community organizations enables Orange County 4-H to offer a variety of special projects such as embryology, conflict resolution, and science/technology to middle school-based afterschool programs. Summer day camps in collaboration with schools provide hands-on activities in two locations.
• Flexibility is a strength of all 4-H afterschool programs, whether it involves expanding hours to accommodate students’ early release from school, adapt to needs of non-English speakers, or alter program themes and resources. Dare County Summer programs faced a major challenge when a Summer day camp was closed and a new site had to be found and resources allocated for limited resource youth to attend a licensed program. Grant funding provided financial support for 50 youth to attend and donations of carpet, furniture, clothing, and snacks from local businesses helped as well. Local grocery store operators donated snacks for special events.
• Summer care for children of working parents is a continuing challenge, especially in smaller communities. In Randolph County, the 4-H agent aided the Shepherd’s Way organization to gain $15,000 in funding, gain a school-age care license, and provide quality 4-H activities to 25 youth in a summer program. Subsequently, an expansion grant provided $35,000 to serve additional youth.
• Availability of school-age care continues to be a challenge and Gates County Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with the Gates County Center maintains three Afterschool Care sites for grades K-5. All sites maintain rated licenses with one site receiving four stars. Literacy programs feature silent reading, read-aloud, and library field trips. One site offers a computer program to help with end of grade test skills. Fall 2003 brought a 7% increase of enrollment due to expanded referral from across the county.
• Demand for school-age care is high across the country, but only high-quality care provides permanent options and helps parents increase productivity rather than anxiety in the afterschool hours. Wayne County 4-H’s 8 afterschool programs, serving 231 K-5 youth, did more than keep youth safe and supervised. A nutritious snack, recreation, study time, and a 4-H activity combine for a recipe pleasing to over 95 % of the parents surveyed. Parents comment that "The staff is great, the staff are very caring individuals"…"The program is very organized"…" My child really likes going to 4-H and I feel they learn a lot"…"I like that the children do community service projects."
• Availability of programs that make a difference academically and behaviorally is critical to parents of middle school youth. Wayne County 4-H/SOS afterschool helps 133 limited resource middle school students gain life skills and academic success. An outside evaluator reported that 87% of these higher-risk students performed at grade level or above in reading on the end of grade test, an increase of 18% from the previous year. In math, 95 % of the participants were at grade level or above on the end of grade test, an increase of 24% from the previous year. State averages for SOS students were 80% for reading and 85% for math.

Persons Preparing Report: Benjamin Silliman, Iris Fuller (Orange), Connie Greene (Harnett), Reba Green-Holley (Gates), Jennifer Miller (Ashe), Howard Scott (Wayne), Barbara Swanson (Randolph), Ann Ward (Dare)


Y10 School Based youth educators and administrators will be actively engaged in design, delivery and revisions of programs which enrich school-based curriculum design and delivery; resulting in improved academic performance.

Program Description:
School-based programming involves teachers as 4-H volunteers in subject matter delivery of curriculum designed to meet the Department of Public Instruction’s Core Competencies. All programs are at least six hours in length. In 2003, 33 counties (82% of them being classified as rural) reported against this objective. Counties reporting indicated that 13,248 (31.4%)students increased their grades when engaged in 4-H school enrichment.

Measures of Progress:
• 1,685 teachers were trained in subject matter
• 491 teachers were trained in the experiential learning process
• 25,002 students demonstrated a positive increase in their knowledge of subject matter.

Impacts:
• 13,248 students demonstrated an increase in academic performance (grades)
• 9,314 students demonstrated increased homework completion
• 16,669 students demonstrated and increased quantity of quality classroom work
• 14,637 students demonstrated and increased amount of quality interaction in class
• 355 (72%) of the teachers trained in experiential learning used the model to deliver content material

Volunteers Involved:
• There were 1,205 volunteers involved in school-based programming
• These volunteers contributed 9731 hours (8.07 hours per volunteer)
• The value of these hours is calculated at $160,950

Success Stories:
• Over 169 classrooms were involved in a 4-H school enrichment program in 2003 in Alexander County. Of the 3,330 youth involved, 2,254 students demonstrated an increase in academic performance and 1,256 youth demonstrated an increase in homework completion. Over 212 teachers were trained in the experiential learning model. Eighty-nine teachers responded that they used the model in their delivery of the 4-H curriculum.

• Four hundred and seven students participated in 4-H Embryology in Iredell County. Teachers working with the youth indicated that 100% (407) of the students showed an increased knowledge of the growth and development of animals and an increased interest in and perception of science and an improved perception of science. In addition, two-thirds of the students showed an increased interest in all of their classroom activities. Embryology materials are integrated into other subjects besides science. Worksheets and activities for math and language arts are also used in the classroom. One teacher stated "information was learned and retained due to the wonderful hands on experience. The parents were also thrilled and excited for the students." Another teacher indicated "the children were fascinated!"

Impact Bullets:
• In Stokes County, 953 students increased their academic performance as a result of school-based programming.
• Richmond County 4-H collaborated with Richmond County schools to provide the 4-H Science Adventures program for 674 fifth graders at Millstone 4-H Camp on Oct. 21-24. Resource facilitators were recruited to teach a rotation of 6 educational classes. Five (of 25) teachers completed evaluations, which reported that 87 students increased interest in class work, 84 students increased completion of homework, 87 increased interaction in class and 88 students increased interest and knowledge of science. In addition, classroom teachers observed the following life skill changes: wise use of resources-67 students, problem solving--79, learning to learn-56, personal safety-68, self-responsibility-25, responsible citizenship-35 and learned new knowledge-77.
• 98% of the Northampton County students participating in school-based programming demonstrated an increase in their academic performance (grades).
• 860 Martin County students demonstrated an increase in both the quality of class work completed and the quality of classroom interaction as a result of school-based programming

Persons preparing the report: Ed Maxa, Robbie Furr, Danelle Barco, Suzanne Rhinehart, Iris Fuller, April Bowman, Jackie Helton, Danny Butler, Tracy Carter, Tammy Elliott, Lesa Walton, Rebecca Liverman


Y11: Provide youth experiential educational opportunities in cooperative, nurturing, residential camping environments that stimulate the development of life skills, while focusing on the mental, physical and social growth of the individual.

Description:
County youth development professionals in North Carolina are encouraged to actively engage young people in a week or more at one of five residential 4-H camps operated by the Department of 4-H Youth Development. Incorporating the camp experience as a “best practice” and including volunteer, 4-H parents, and 4-H clubs as a marketing assets, this objective focuses on the long-term value of the camping experience as a delivery mode.

Measures of Progress:
• 4-H camper numbers increased by 229 (including 81 from limited resource families).
• Non-4-H camper numbers increased by 585 (including 198 from limited resource families).
• 1,094 youth increased their knowledge of the value of camping (including 263 from limited resource families).
• 665 parents increased their knowledge of the value of camping (including 137 from limited resource families).
• 91 volunteers increased their knowledge of the value of camping (including 28 from limited resource families).
• 84 youth sustained their experience by attending a 4-H specialty camp (of which 40 were from limited resource families).
• 62 youth attended a 4-H specialty camp for the first time (including 35 from limited resource families).

Impacts:
• 1,058 camping participants demonstrated improved self-confidence (including 268 from limited resource families).
• 815 camping participants demonstrated improved overall behavior (including 212 from limited resource families).
• 836 camping participants demonstrated improved social skills (including 242 from limited resource families).
• 506 camping participants demonstrated improved lifetime sports skills (including 174 from limited resource families).
• 938 camping participants demonstrated improved knowledge of a healthy, safe and sustainable natural environment (including 202 from limited resource families).

Volunteers Involved:
To date, 115 youth and adult volunteers have contributed 3,642 volunteer hours worth an estimated $60,238 towards enriching the lives of youth through 4-H camping experiences.

To date, the value of these camping experiences has an estimated value of $230,176 to the target audience and $339,996 to society. Estimated program costs were $270,885.

Success Stories:
• Twenty-six Alamance County youth experienced camp at Camp Millstone and BJ Penn during the 2003 camping season. These campers increased their confidence, leadership abilities, and problem solving skills, while meeting new friends and sharing adventures. The camping experience helped campers gain a sense of community, connect with nature, and have fun. A bond with other youth and caring adults was established at camp. Three of these campers were limited resource youth. One of these youth presented a program detailing what he learned at the shooting sports camp for the local wildlife club that sponsored his camp experience.

• It is developmentally appropriate for youth ages 8-12 to attend residential camp. Thus, Beaufort County marketed three camping programs in 2003. First we offered 4-H Camp Wannagoma! as a day camp for younger youth. This provides a low cost, high impact camping experience and prepares youth for the residential experience. Secondly, we implemented a week at the adjacent Eastern 4-H Center and a Chartered bus trip for an adventurous week at BJ Penn 4-H Center in Reidsville. Over 102 youth participated in these programs and gained new skills, confidence and stretched their independent living skills as they sharpened their knowledge of our wonderful environment.

• One hundred thirty-four non-4-Hers from Buncombe County were introduced to 4-H through various camping experiences at the Swannanoa 4-H Education Center during the 2003 summer camping season. Four current 4-Hers also attended camping sessions during the summer, and one teen volunteered as an instructor assistant at Project Camp. Records from the camp's non-member database were used to follow-up with the parents to promote participation in the county 4-H program. Interested parents have been referred to existing clubs or have been counseled about organizing their own clubs.

• Twenty-nine Yadkin County 4-Hers experienced the excitement and adventure of attending a weeklong summer residential camp. Of the 29 youth who attended camp, 23 were "repeat customers" which reflects the impact and quality of the North Carolina 4-H Camp program. Attending the new Eastern 4-H Environmental Education Center was a new experience for all of the youth. Taking advantage of a different setting and opportunities for new program area really paid off as the 2004 recruiting goal has already been met! Camping with youth from the surrounding counties has really established continued friendships long after the camping season. Campers and volunteers have all stated "this was the greatest camp experience I have had"! Youth grow, mature and develop in the nurturing camping program enabling them to become a more positive role model for other youth.

Youth with limited resources often do not have the opportunity to attend a residential summer camping program. Two youth from Yadkin County attended the Camp Challenge Program at the Sertoma 4-H Center. The program, sponsored by the North Carolina Bankers Association, provides middle school youth with aptitude the means to attend camp. The youth participate in a variety of programs including mini-society, etiquette programs, public speaking and other programs aimed at developing life skills and improving self-esteem. Yadkin County's youth who attended have continued on a positive track. One youth was runner up in the state 4-H presentations and the other has been awarded a complete scholarship to a military training school.

Impact Bullets:
• Camper numbers increased by 814 (279 limited resource)
• Knowledge of the value of camping increased in 1,850 youth, parents and volunteers (428 limited resource)
• 146 campers returned or attended a 4-H Specialty Camp for the first time (75 limited resource)
• 4,153 camping participants (1,098 limited resource) demonstrated improvements in vital life-skills areas such as self confidence, overall behavior, social skills, life-time sports skills, and knowledge of a healthy, safe and sustainable natural environment.
• 3,642 volunteer hours contributed to 4-H camping with an estimated value of $60,238.
• 4-H Camping Programs have had an estimated value of $230,176 to the target audience and $339,996 to society at large.

Person Preparing Report: Larry B. Hancock

Y12: Youth and adult volunteerism will strengthen a community’s capacity for positive youth development.

Description:
Objective Y-12 encourages NC youth and adults to pursue volunteerism as both a means to an end, and as an end in itself by focusing upon the gifts and assets that each individual volunteer has to contribute towards the CES and 4-H visions. County 4-H programs emphasize various “streams” of volunteerism for both youth and adults, including 4-H club leaders, special interest volunteers, school enrichment volunteers, day and resident camp volunteers, after school volunteers, master volunteers, and advisory leaders. The objective builds upon volunteerism research and best practices that contribute to meaningful and safe educational experiences for youth, volunteers, and paid staff.

Measures of Progress:
• 2,524 current 4-H youth volunteers (including 672 from limited resource backgrounds) and 4,228 current 4-H adult volunteers (including 632 from limited resource backgrounds) gained new knowledge regarding volunteerism in their communities.
• 1,896 current youth 4-H volunteers (including 456 from limited resource backgrounds) and 2,655 current 4-H adult volunteers (including 285 from limited resource backgrounds) improved their attitudes regarding volunteerism in their communities.
• 1,554 new 4-H youth volunteers (including 456 from limited resource backgrounds) and 1,880 new 4-H adult volunteers (including 191 from limited resource backgrounds) gained new knowledge regarding volunteerism in their communities.
• 1,168 new 4-H youth volunteers (including 283 from limited resource backgrounds) and 1,740 new 4-H adult volunteers (including 135 from limited resource backgrounds) improved their attitudes regarding volunteerism in their communities.

Impacts:
• 862 youth 4-H volunteers (including 290 from limited resource backgrounds) and 866 4-H adult volunteers (including 69 from limited resource backgrounds) served in expanded and/or new 4-H volunteer roles.
• 789 youth 4-H volunteers (including 2423 from limited resource backgrounds) and 772 4-H adult volunteers (including 208 from limited resource backgrounds) served in expanded and/or new community volunteer roles (not related to their 4-H work.)

Volunteers Involved:
To date, 6,344 youth and adult volunteers have contributed 55,206 volunteer hours worth an estimated $913,107 towards 4-H and community volunteer efforts.

Success Stories:
• Henderson County 4-H partners with the National Park Service to offer a program for children to volunteer at the goat barn at the Carl Sandburg Home. Participants work three hours per week. In 2003, 30 children contributed about 750 hours of volunteer work to the Carl Sandburg Home. These volunteer hours saved the National Park Service about $3750.00. The children developed valuable life skills in responsibility, community service, and public speaking.

• To develop teen leadership within Onslow 4-H, a program called "Building Teen Assets" was successful in training 23 teen volunteers who will work with youth ages K-5th grade in the local 4-H After School Adventures sites. The subject matter taught included communications and listening skills, developmental stages of youth, and techniques to work with youth in an after school environment. The potential audience for these volunteers to work with is approximately 150 4-H members.

• Local 4-H clubs youth and adult volunteers participated in the 2003 Big Sweep in Forsyth County that shattered state participation records. This year's program was by far the largest in NC and set a new record for participation. More than 2,300 volunteers turned out to help clear rivers, streams, creeks, and ponds in Forsyth County. Inner city 4-H clubs and volunteers are attributing to the high participation and increased awareness.

Impact Bullets:
• More than 6,752 current 4-H youth and adult volunteers were engaged through 4-H sponsored volunteerism efforts.
• Of these volunteers, more than 3,052 were from limited educational and/or financial situations.
• 2,722 new youth were engaged in 4-H volunteer efforts, including 691 from limited resource situations.
• 3,620 new adults were engaged in 4-H volunteer efforts, including 326 from limited resource situations.
• County educational initiatives in this program objective have generated an estimated $1.5 million in combined benefits to the targeted audiences and overall NC society, while costing only an estimated $1.1 million, a net gain to society of an estimated $400,000.

Persons Preparing Report: R. Dale Safrit, Harriett C. Edwards.

Y13: Youth and adults will be engaged in positive community leadership roles

Description:
Objective Y-13 emphasizes working with youth as equal partners and developing strong youth/adult partnerships through personnel and programmatic teamwork that interconnects people, programs, and events. Relevant subject matter is addressed through quality 4-H curricula and programs that empower, prepare, and engage teens for their current and future roles and responsibilities while focusing upon “value-added,” lifelong learning and development for teens.

Measures of Progress:
• 1,178 youth (including 197 from limited resource situations) and 1,115 adults (including 92 from limited resource situations) increased their knowledge of basic leadership concepts.
• 1,022 youth (including 112 from limited resource situations) and 589 adults (including 40 from limited resource situations) improved their attitudes regarding basic leadership concepts.
• 922 youth (including 160 from limited resource situations) and 754 adults (including 85 from limited resource situations) increased their knowledge regarding effective teen/adult partnerships.
• 674 youth (including 46 from limited resource situations) and 341 adults (including 45 from limited resource situations) improved their attitudes regarding effective teen/adult partnerships.

Impacts:
• 333 youth (including 53 from limited resource situations) and 349 adults (including 43 from limited resource situations) served in new or expanded leadership positions within 4-H.
• 181 youth (including 23 from limited resource situations) and 236 adults (including 29 from limited resource situations) served in new or expanded leadership positions within their communities.
• 208 teens (including 75 from limited resource situations) and 190 adults (including 15 from limited resource situations) engaged in new or expanded teen/adult partnerships.

Volunteers Involved:
To date, 1,152 youth and adult volunteers have contributed 24,205 volunteer hours worth an estimated $400,350 towards 4-H and community volunteer efforts.

Success Stories:
• There are 6000 migrant workers in Ashe County. Of those workers, 99% are of Hispanic origin. The Migrant Education program working with a volunteer committee has determined that a countywide forum is needed in order to address issues that have been identified by both migrant employee and local employers. As a result, plans are progressing to hold this Hispanic Forum September 6-7, a plan of action has been established, $3000 has been secured to date and the committee has expanded to include multiple organizations, agencies and services.

• The 4-H Program did not have an active 4-H Youth Advisory Committee to assist the 4-H Agent in identifying youth needs within the county. A reorganization of the committee to include representation from all areas of the county resulted in 10 adults and 1 youth who make up the committee that meets quarterly. Committee members have been instrumental in writing letters of support for the after school program, assisted in locating resources for the summer fun lunch program, camp scholarships, and marketing the program.

• Ten teens volunteered in excess of 200 hours teaching 100 elementary/middle school students Public Adventures, a citizenship series. The teens worked with 8 youth groups to identify community issues and plan/conduct a service project to address identified needs. Projects resulted in school and community beautification, helped needy families purchase food, and raised funds to donate to local agencies. In addition to the community projects, all youth participants have learned and grown has a result of program participation. One-hundred percent of the teens have demonstrated improved self-confidence, responsibility, leadership, and communication skills. The teens gained a greater awareness of the variety of issues effecting families and the county.

Impact Bullets:
• More than 2,293 youth and adult 4-H participants have been engaged in county 4-H leadership educational initiatives.
• Of these participants, more than 534 were from limited educational and/or financial situations.
• More than 682 youth and adult 4-H participants served in expanded 4-H and community leadership educational positions.
• Of these participants, more than 96 were from limited educational and/or financial situations.
• County educational initiatives in this program objective have generated an estimated $732,457 in combined benefits to the targeted audiences and overall NC society, while costing only an estimated $128,927, a net gain to society of an estimated $603,530.

Persons Preparing Report: R. Dale Safrit, Harriett C. Edwards

4-H Summary
The North Carolina 4-H Program created helping relationships to enable youth to become responsible, productive citizens during 2003. The youth, families, and communities of North Carolina were well served by the mission accomplishments of 4-H through the related missions of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, and North Carolina A&T State University.

2003 was a cutting-edge year of innovative and traditional programs focusing on three of Extension’s major state programs: Child Care; Resilient Youth, Families, and Communities; and Youth Development. A total of 187,065 youth participated in 4-H programs across the state with over 115,842 involved in 4-H Clubs and School Enrichment; 78,281 involved in Short-term/Special Interest activities; 29,701 involved in 4-H child care programs; and over 4,629 “discovered the world” of 4-H camp.

Thirty-two counties targeted child care to train 1,943 childcare providers. 4-H implemented 26 new programs statewide and generated 942 additional spaces for youth to enjoy quality afterschool programming. Five hundred seventy five (575) collaborations serving children and families were sustained and 96 new collaborations were formed to support quality school-age care. In addition, school-age programs engaged 1,850 volunteers for 9,970 hours, with a dollar value (at $16.54 per hour) of $164,920.

Youth in 40 counties benefited as a result of involvement in community-based programs that focused on building resilience. Resilience programs reported 4,445 youth increased life skills; 3,326 youth increased academic performance; 2,208 youth engaged in community service; and 2,556 youth engaged in fewer risk-taking behaviors. But perhaps, the most telling impact of this program was the 1,642 youth that experienced decreased involvement with juvenile courts. An estimated $2,537,524 was gained in reduced costs of responding to high-risk behaviors or educational value of the programs offered to youth.

The North Carolina camping program reported that 4,629 youth participated in 2003, this number represents an increase in program participation of over 814 youth (279 of these youth were from limited resource families). In addition, the camping program reported the following impacts: 1,094 youth increased their knowledge of the value of camping (including 263 from limited resource families) and 665 parents increased their knowledge of the value of camping (including 137 from limited resource families). Volunteers contributed over 3,642 hours to the camping program with an estimated value of $60,238.

Seventy-three counties targeted youth development in 2003. Approximately 187,065 young people between the ages of 5 to 19 participated in programs with 115,842 youth involved in 4-H club and other long term units, school enrichment and diverse housing programs. The positive development of young people through 4-H participation can be illustrated by the following results from selected programs: 1) 19,372 youth increased their communication skills; 2) 19,070 youth increased their decision making skills; 3) 20,756 youth increased awareness of and engaged in community service activities; and 4) 13,349 youth increased their leadership skills. Youth development professionals reported that over 13,000 families are currently involved in 4-H club programs across the state and that 177 new clubs were formed for youth ages 5 to 19.

North Carolina 4-Hers saved their communities over $200,723 by performing community service projects. As a result of their 4-H project work, $405,762 was earned, and $163,129 was made by 4-Hers. 4-Her’s received over $104,372 in scholarships to continue their education beyond high school.

Extension’s 4-H program has a proud history of excellence and an exciting future. By continuing to respond to locally determined needs with programs that are relevant, productive, economically efficient, and of broad public appeal, the future of 4-H is unlimited in potential. The Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development network opens doors of state and national opportunities to all North Carolina’s children and their families and communities.