North Carolina
Cooperative Extension County Center Scotland
 

North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

East Carolina University
Regional Training Center
Application For Mini-Grant

APPLICANT INFORMATION
CountyBladen
Agency NameBladen Cooperative Extension Service
Federal Tax ID#56-6000-756 (County of Bladen)
Mailing AddressP.O. Box 249
Elizabethtown, NC 28337
Contact PersonAnn Votaw, Extension Agent
Family & Consumer Education
Telephone910-862-4591
Fax910-862-6939
E-mailAnn_Votaw@ncsu.edu
Agency TypeLocal Government/Public Agency
Geographic Area Youth from twelve counties
throughout coastal plains of North Carolina
Project Name Taking Charge!
Amount Requested $2000.00

TAKING CHARGE!

"The emotional problems are the main things teen talk about. They are searching for real direction on how to be free of these serious consequences without someone poking a finger in their face or lecturing them. That's what directive education is all about. And when it is implemented correctly ... it works!"

Source: Mike Long, video producer of "Everyone Is Not Doing It" and one of America's leading abstinence until marriage teacher trainers.

I. PROJECT SUMMARY

Taking Charge! is a educational program which was developed by the American Home Economics Association in cooperation with the Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Program, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Taking Charge! curriculum is a values-based, abstinence-focused program designed for adolescent students.

The program integrates interpersonal and family relationships, decision-making and goal-setting, and family life education. Additional specific topics include: self-esteem, values selecting, carer awareness, and building communication skills. Resources used to carry out the program included hands-on activities, videos, posters hand-outs and group activities.

The Taking Charge! program will be implemented at Camp E-Tik-Etu, a residential alternative school for troubled youth located in Bladen County, North Carolina (serves a 12 county region). E-Tik-Etu means "Their Crossing" in the Muskokee/Creek Tribe dialect. Taking Charge! is designed to help 80 boys ages 10-16 at Camp E-Tik-Etu to "take charge" of their futures by avoiding sexual activity and alcohol/drug use. The adolescents will instead choose educational and vocational achievement.

Students who are enrolled in Camp E-Tik-Etu, in addition to having emotional and behavioral problems, have poor academic skills and have lost the motivation to learn in the traditional school setting. The wilderness camp treatment model helps young people ages 10-16 develop more effective coping skills, develop problem solving skills, improve self esteem, improve family communication and rekindle the desire to learn. Students live in small peer groups of 10 students and most activities take place in this small group setting. Students develop individual goals for behavioral and educational improvements which are evaluated daily, weekly, and monthly. Students are enrolled at Camp E-Tik-Etu for approximately 12 months. Entry and exit dates are staggered throughout the calendar year and are based on students' individual needs.

II. OBJECTIVES AND EVALUATION

Objective #Objective Statement/DescriptionHow Objective will be measured
1.80 adolescent boys will participate in Taking Charge! Number involved in program/enrollment date
2.Eight Workshops/Training Sessions (8 hours)
will be offered in the fall and
repeated in the spring in the following areas: 		 
 A. Ten Basic values, generally regarded as basic tenets for good citizenship, fulfilling relationships, and sound personal ethics (equality, responsibility, honesty, promise-keeping, self-respect, dependability, trustworthiness, justice/fairness, self-control and respect for others) A. Evaluation instrument, pre & post questionnaire, role playing, values audit, participant/staff feedback
 B. Abstinence, parenting and child development,
alcohol/tobacco/drug use		 B. Evaluation instrument, pre & post questionnaire, participant/staff feedback
 C. Food safety, money matters, and planning meals on a budget C. Evaluation instruments, pre & post test, meal planning for camp use, participant/staff feedback
 D. Stress Management, EtiquetteD. Evaluation instruments, pre & post test, participant/staff feedback
3.Recognize student achievement/completion of program Participation in recognition reception, number completing the program

III. CURRENT EFFORTS

IV. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROGRAMS

Four agencies will be collaborating to implement the Taking Charge! program

  1. Bladen County Cooperative Extension Service (Lead agency, educational instruction, program facilitator, secretarial support, printing/copying cost)
  2. Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. (oversees Camp E-Tik-Etu, staff, students, facilities)
  3. Bladen County Mental Health (educational instruction)
  4. The Bladen County 4-H program (educational instruction)

V. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Staff from the preceding 4 collaborating agencies are involved in a wide range of community coalitions, committees, and task forces such as: Executive Board for Bladen County Health Watch, Bladen County Community Based Alternative Task Force, Bladen County Partnership for Children, Camp E-Tik-Etu Board of Directors, Southeastern Regional Substance Abuse Committee.

VI. PROPOSED USE OF FUNDS - BUDGET

Educational Materials
    videos on abstinence, parenting,
    planning meals, etiquette
    curriculum on parenting, money matters etiquette
    posters, wall calendars, buttons
 $1,000.00
Supplies
    paper, markers, folders, flipcharts
 $ 75.00
Recognition
    T-shirts 80 @ $10= $800
    2 recognition receptions $125
    (food, decorations, certificates)
$ 925.00
Inkind
    Program facilitator (F&CE Agent)
    (3.5 hrs/week X 16 = $56.00 x 16 wks = $896)
 $ 900.00
    Copying
    (80 participants x 10 copies, wkly x 8 wks x .05 = $320)
$ 320.00
    Office space
$ 200.00
    Mileage
    (40 miles, round trip x .315 x 16 wks = $201.60)
 $ 202.00
    Facility space at camp $25 x 16 meetings
    (8 in the Fall / 8 in the Spring)
$ 400.00
Total Budget$4022.00
Inkind$2022.00
Amount Requested$2,000.00

VII. OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING - SEE VI (INKIND)

VIII. LETTER(S) OF SUPPORT

See attached letters from the County Extension Director (Bladen County Cooperative Extension Service) and Educational Coordinator at Camp E-Tik-Etu (blue attachments).

Application Completed By (signature)

Title

Date of Application
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Information for this document was provided by Cathy Graham, Area Specialized Agent, Resource Development
Document created by Susan Johnson, Cumberland County Center on 8/10/99.
Revised by Roberto Cruz on 2/08/2006