CYFAR Conference 2007
Chicago, IL

CYFAR 2007 Poster Session Proceedings


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The Effectiveness of Service-Learning on Student's Awareness and Understanding of Poverty


Jeffrey L. Jordan, Kathy Thompson and Lew Allen, University of Georgia
Laura Jordan, Griffin-Spalding County School System

The presentation reports on a new, multidisciplinary study on the connections between education, poverty, and service-learning. The findings discuss the effectiveness of using a service-learning approach to address poverty issues and the awareness and understanding of poverty among middle school students. The project is a collaboration between the University of Georgia's League of Professional Schools and the Griffin-Spalding County School System.


Engaging Female Youth in Science Career Exploration


Kim Christman, Melanie Costello, Sara Hankemeier, Jennifer Hunter, Johnna B. Jennings, Debbie Moser, and Sandy Stiles
University of Illinois Extension

Advanced Science Siesta is an outreach initiative focusing on science and science career exploration with seventh- and eighth- grade girls. Youth work side-by-side with science professionals at their field locations. This event enhances science skills, science career exploration, and education/training needed to become a scientist.


Exploring Methods for Culturally Competent Evaluation in CYFAR Projects


Louise Parker, Washington State University Extension
Nicole Werner, Washington State University Dept. of Human Development
Diana Castro and Maureen MacCracken, Washington State University Extension Mason County
Tatyana Bistrevsky, Washington State University Extension Spokane County

CYFAR projects reaching culturally diverse youth and families often face challenges in documenting their success through formal evaluation. Traditional evaluation methods such as surveys may be difficult to administer, and trust and access issues may limit participation. The poster shares strategies and methods for successfully engaging culturally diverse audiences in meaningful evaluation activities.


Just Be It! Healthy and Fit Project Reduces Childhood Obesity Risk Factors


Diana DelCampo, Jacqueline Baca, Desaree Jimenez, Roberta Rios, Paula Roybal Sanchez and Robert DelCampo
New Mexico State University

The Just Be It! Healthy and Fit program reduces the risk factors for childhood obesity of fifth-grade students in the New Mexico counties of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Los Alamos. Extension collaborates with the school system to deliver nutrition education, provide opportunities for physical activity, and encourage increased intake of fruits and vegetables for students.


A Model of Children’s Logic about Healthfulness and Unhealthfulness


Jennifer Paff Ogle, Jan Carroll, Susan S. Baker and Brian Butki, Colorado State University

Four focus groups explored the meanings that children attach to concepts such as health, healthy lifestyles, and healthy bodies. The focus groups were conducted as a preliminary study in support of a larger research agenda proposing to develop and test educational curricula aimed at concurrently promoting healthfulness and the ideology of "health at any size" among elementary school-age children.


Optimistic About My Future in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math: Pathways On-Line Mentoring Program for Youth with Disabilities


Melissa Scheer, Harry Tyrer, Bill Pabst, Tom Marrero and Lee Henson, University of Missouri-Columbia

This poster describes a pilot study of an on-line mentoring program designed to encourage youth with disabilities to develop an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). College student mentors used MSN hotmail and instant messenger to help youth to have positive experiences with STEM.


Using Fishing as a Vehicle for Positive Youth Development


Paul McKnight, University of Illinois

National award winning program utilizes the concept of fishing as a vehicle for youth development that reaches the underserved, hard-to-reach youth. The Fish Tales program attempted to enhance and/or instill life skills in youth as they learn to relate to their geographical background, their communities, and families-thus enriching their education.

Gender and 4-H: An Analysis of Perceptions of 4-H as Reported by Youth in Northwest Ohio


Greg Homan, Jason Hedrick and Jeff Dick, Ohio State University

Results from over 1400 youth in northwest Ohio reveal that 4-H is perceived more favorably from female than male youth. Parents and friends of youth also tend to encourage females to be active at higher levels than males. It is important for 4-H to consider youth perceptions in program planning and development. 4-H professionals should consider designing programs to be more attractive to male youth.

Okay, This is My Life: Psychosocial Experiences of Late Adolescents Coping with Parental Cancer


Kerri Ashurst, University of Kentucky

Qualitative research findings will be presented on the psychosocial experiences of adolescents and young adults who have a parent with cancer. Discussions will focus around risk/protective factors, influence of familial and community context, and prominent themes of coping and survival. Handouts will contain practical information about applying this information to at-risk audiences coping with a variety of life crises.

Personal Finance and Workplace Money Skills for At-Risk and Special-Needs Youth


Linda Strieter, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Participants learned creative ways to teach personal finance, working with money in the workplace and banking procedures in a classroom or out of school setting. The author/presenter provided a sample copy of the four-lesson series, FUNdamental Finance for Farmstands for review. Participants learned how students, particularly, learning challenged, gain measurable financial literacy and money management skills through fun, hands-on activities.

Promising Practices for Youth Involvement in Civic Governance


Sandra Stockall and Amy Topp, University of Nebraska

This program introduces participants to promising practices that enhance youth and adult partnerships. These practices were identified through an evaluation completed by Halley Research, LLC in 2004 of a youth in governance project conducted in Nebraska. The success of the project sites in Nebraska was impacted by the practices that helped youth become full partners in community decision-making, leadership, and governance.

Building a Family Literacy Program with Agency Staff and Teen Mothers


Anna Guest-Jelley and Elizabeth B. Bolton, University of Florida

This poster highlights the development process of a family literacy program with agency staff and teenage mothers. The program is two-tiered for staff and clients. It is multi-faceted and includes components for building staff literacy, teaching, and evaluation skills; adult client literacy sklls; and literacy skills between adult clients and their children.

Family Meals: Building Blocks for Living Healthy


Patricia Brinkman, Linnette Goard, Shari Gallup, Melinda Hill, Cindy Oliveri, and Cheryle Jones Syracuse
Ohio State University

Research done in the area of strengthening families cites that strong families spend time together. Participants will learn about the research that indicates eating together can improve not only the family's nutritional status and health, but children's character development, social skills and development of family traditions. Strategies, resources and suggested activities for teaching about family meals will be provided.

The Family Solutions Program: Applications to Juvenile Delinquency, Truant Students and Youth with Behavior Problems


William Quinn, Clemson University

The Family Solutions Program is a multiple family group intervention for youth at risk. This ten session weekly program includes topics on family cooperation, parent-child relations, education, anger management, conflict-resolution, and parent skills. The FSP has been evaluated in multiple sites with demonstrated effectiveness in reducing re-offense rates, improving family communication, and reducing parent stress. The FSP is used by juvenile justice and courts, as well as schools.

Intentional Harmony: Managing Work and Your Dual Earner Couple Relationship


Angela R. Wiley, University of Illinois

Learn how to help diverse time-crunched dual-earner couples who are trying to manage work pressure and personal life. Teach how to keep romantic relationship thriving while working by maintaining intimacy, resolving conflicts, handling chores, and recognizing red flags. Learn how to partner with community agencies and organizations to deliver national award-winning couples education.

Continuous Improvement in Community Youth Programs: Sustainability through Process Evaluation


Jessica A. Sanderson, Jennifer V. Trachtenberg, Iva Kosutic, Stephen A. Anderson and Ronald M. Sabatelli, University of Connecticut

This poster will describe a method for implementing continuous program improvement in community youth programs. Baseline process evaluation data, feedback to the program on strengths and limitations, assistance in preparing program improvement plans, and follow-up evaluation to assess program changes are core elements. A case study of an inner-city neighborhood youth center will be used to demonstrate this method.

Eating Moving For Life


Terrie James, Keith Cleek, Trisha Echols, Reyna Alvarez, and Easter Tucker, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension

The E ating and M oving for L ife program is an intervention using lab screenings to establish baseline levels for blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol. Participants also complete pre- and post- self-assessments of their behavior. They attend 16 dietary and fitness lessons to reduce the risk of hypertension, diabetes, and other nutrition-related chronic diseases in minority populations.

Perceptions of UVM Extension CYFAR Professionals as a Learning Organization


Ellen Rowe, University of Vermont

Research study addressed the lack of understanding about the relationship between the learning organization and the extension service, as applied to the University of Vermont extension and to determine the process that would influence UVM Extension toward becoming a learning organization. Results of the Dimensions of Learning Organization Questionnaire conducted with the University of Vermont extension including CYFAR project staff will be shared.