About CYFERnet
For general questions about CYFERnet: Email: cyf@umn.edu
Phone: (612) 624-8181.
If you're a professional serving children, youth and families or a parent
with your own children, you know that finding reliable, high quality,
research-based information on the Web can be a major challenge. That's
where CYFERnet can help you. CYFERnet's Web site brings together the best,
children, youth and family resources of all the public land-grant universities
in the country. Materials are carefully reviewed by college and university
faculty. Through CYFERnet you can also interact with your colleagues and
share your work nationally. Find out more about CYFERnet:
Why Use CYFERnet?
CYFERnet is designed to be used by anyone who needs
comprehensive children, youth, or family information including: educators,
researchers, parents, youth agency staff, community members, human services
and health care providers, students, policy makers, youth, media. CYFERnet
can:
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provide tools and information for working with youth, parents, families,
and communities.
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share practical research-based tools, curricula and activities with
a national audience.
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help locate experts in the areas of children, youth, and family across
the country.
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involve youth with online activities such as goCyberCamp and virtual
4-H clubs
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provide access to the latest research, statistical, and demographic
information.
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locate funding opportunities and grant writing information.
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provide resources and instruments for program evaluation.
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provide information on 3000 community-based State Strengthening programs
targeting at-risk audiences
Participate in CYFERnet
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Participate in a CYFERnet work group
to share your interest and expertise with others.
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Submit electronically
for review resources dealing with children, youth and families at
risk. After a successful review, they will be posted to the CYFERnet
web site.
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Attend or present at the annual national Children, Youth and Families
at Risk Conference (CYFAR).
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Participate in on-going e-mail
or web discussions on issues relevant to children, youth, and
families at risk.
To receive a detailed description of discussion groups and other opportunities
to participate, send an email message to: cyftalk@umn.edu.
For other questions about CYFERnet: Email: cyf@umn.edu
Phone: (612) 624-8181.
Background and History of CYFERnet
CYFERnet is a national network of Land Grant university faculty and county
Extension educators working to support community-based educational programs
for children, youth, parents and families. Through CYFERnet, partnering
institutions merge resources into a "national network of expertise" working
collaboratively to assist communities. CYFERnet provides program, evaluation
and technology assistance for children, youth and family community-based
programs. CYFERnet is funded as a joint project of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service and the Cooperative Extension System. You can read more information
on USDA's community projects by visiting the USDA's Children, Youth
and Families at Risk Program site. Materials on CYFERnet are screened,
peer reviewed and posted by CYFERnet's Editorial
Board members from universities across the United States.
The original CYFERnet Internet information site was created in 1992 by
professionals working for the Cooperative Extension System (USDA) and
the National Agricultural Library (USDA). The current CYFERnet project
builds directly on the work of five original human resource networks established
in 1993 in the areas of child care, collaboration, family resiliency,
health, and science and technology as well as the original CYFERnet Web
site and the Children, Youth and Families at Risk Evaluation Collaboration.
CYFERnet materials are made available through national conferences, printed
publications, and electronic technology including web sites, listservs,
e-mails, and satellite downlinks.
As part of USDA's Children, Youth and Families at Risk Program, CYFERnet
is committed to the vision that: CHILDREN will have their
basic physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs met. Babies
will be born healthy. YOUTH will demonstrate knowledge,
skills, attitudes, and behavior necessary for fulfilling, contributing
lives. FAMILIES will promote positive, productive and
contributing lives for all family members. PARENTS will
take primary responsibility for meeting their children's physical, social,
emotional, and intellectual needs and provide moral guidance and direction.
COMMUNITIES will provide safe, secure environments for
families with children.
Who Maintains CYFERnet's Website?
The CYFERnet Web site is maintained by the CYFERnet
Technology Team at land-grant university Extension services across the nation.
In addition to the Web site, information and communication technology
leadership is provided in areas of online collaboration, virtual teams, online
learning and teaching, and youth online activities and curriculum and many additional
services for the USDA Children, Youth and Families at Risk Program. The CYFERnet Technology
partners include Kansas State University, Iowa State University, the University of
Minnesota, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, New Mexico State University,
North Carolina State University, and the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service (USDA).
