WINTER 2000

In this issue  • Families find strength in grant-funded program • Task force takes on youth and family issues • Des Moines Initiative offers new learning opportunities • Fight fire with fire -- for better firefighter training • Journey into new agriculture ventures • CIRAS works on quality control in agriculture • "Speaking of skin cancer" -- A cooperative success • Conferences examine transitions in agriculture • Dairy laboratory is "center of excellence" __________   The Extension Connection Winter 2000 homepage __________ Previous issues Fall 1999 Summer 1999 Spring 1999 Winter 1999 Fall 1998 __________ ISU Extension homepage

Families find strength in grant-funded program Well over 1,000 Iowa families have received tools to make them stronger. Several hundred more will have the tools by the end of 1999, and three times that many will receive them by the end of 2000. These aren't hardware store tools. They are skill and knowledge tools that come from participating in "Strengthening Families: For Parents and Youth 10-14," an Iowa State University Extension research-based curriculum being offered in communities and funded by legislative dollars through the Governor's Alliance on Substance Abuse and the Department of Education. "We like the parent/child/family component of the program." -- Mark Casper       Lori Kuntz, parent education coordinator from Louisa County, and Jane Simmons participate in the "Reaching Our Goals Game" during a Strengthening Families facilitator training session. "I have learned new ways to talk to my son about responsibility, discipline and consequences," said Kelly Goodwin, a Louisa-Muscatine (L & M) parent. "There isn't as much yelling and screaming at our house," said another L & M parent participant. "I feel like I've improved how I handle things when I'm under stress, and I know what my family's values are now," said a youth participant from Anamosa. "My mom follows through with almost everything she says now. I know what the consequences of my actions are going to be," said an Anamosa 10-year-old participant. Virginia Molgaard, ISU Extension family life specialist, works with a group of participants. Ninety-eight Iowa communities are receiving grant dollars to implement "Strengthening Families: For Parents and Youth 10-14" as a response to the Legislature's growing concern about an Iowa drug problem. Support is being given because of the program's unique design &emdash; as the only scientifically tested program in which parents and youth in this age group learn together how to prevent substance abuse. The seven-week program is intended to prevent teen substance abuse and other behavior problems, strengthen parenting skills and build family strengths. "Middle-school age kids struggle with 'who am I?' and 'why am I important?'," said Sheryl Hanthorn, Pella Christian Elementary guidance counselor and a program facilitator in her community. "Strengthening Families gives them 100 percent of Mom and Dad's attention two hours (per week) for seven weeks." "We had recognized a need in our school district for better parenting skills," said Mark Casper, L & M School guidance counselor. "We like the parent/child/family component of the program." During the first hour of the evening, adults meet as a parent group and students meet as a youth group. The second hour brings the two groups together for family sessions and time to practice the first hour's activities. L & M's first offering of the program has ended, and Casper said parents are anxious to continue with the support group that they had formed. Program coordinators see the grant dollars going to communities as seed money, providing the basis for a program that will be repeated annually, much as it has been in Pella.