Iowa State University Extension

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Current Community Projects:
Buena Vista County
Waterloo
 
Past Community Projects:
Davenport
Perry
Sioux City
Dubuque
Union County
Council Bluffs
Des Moines
Postville
 

ISU Extension to Families

Extension to Families Staff

CYFERnet

about CYFAR

The statewide goals for Iowa's Children, Youth, and Families At Risk (CYFAR) project are to improve the ability of families who are at risk to raise children who are healthy, contributing citizens and to improve the well-being of children, youth, and families and to build community capacity to support these families.

Families form the core of a community. Families care for children and dependent adults, prepare children for school and life, and provide a safe haven for their members. When families are strong, communities thrive. When communities are strong and support families, families thrive.

National -- State -- Local

Through an annual Congressional appropriation for the National Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Program, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, allocates funding to Land-Grant University Extension Services for community-based programs for at-risk children and their families.

In 1991, USDA-CSREES began funding the Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) National Initiative. CYFAR transitioned to a federal base program in 1999 and is now part of CSREES's broad portfolio of programs. CYFAR is funded through the Families, Youth Communities emphasis areas.

Children, Youth, and Families at Risk Philosophy
The CYFAR mission is to marshal resources of the Land-Grant and Cooperative Extension Systems so that, in collaboration with other organizations, they can develop and deliver educational programs that equip youth who are at risk for not meeting basic human needs with the skills they need to lead positive, productive, contributing lives.

CYFAR...

  • is based on research on effective programs for at-risk youth and families and on the human ecological principle of working across the lifespan in the context of the family and community;
  • supports comprehensive, intensive, community-based programs developed with active citizen participation; and
  • promotes positive youth and family development by supporting healthy environments and providing opportunities for learning and leadership by youth and adults in their communities.

 

History

Iowa State University Extension has engaged with the National CYFAR effort since 1991 in a variety of ways, including participating in these funded local/state projects:

 

Iowa State University Extension has also provided national leadership to:

Project Staff

Sustainable Community Projects (2007- current)
Barbara Woods, ISU Extension Specialist
Kristin Taylor, ISU Extension Specialist

Buena Vista County
Lisa Muesburg, Program Assistant for Families

Waterloo
Madelyn Ridgeway, ISU Extension Field Specialist

New Community Project (2001-2006)

Davenport
Jennifer Best, Becky Bray

Perry
Beth Fleming, Jeff Macomber, Rosa Morales de Gonzales

Sioux City
Sherry McGill

State Strengthening Project (1995-2000)

Dubuque
Beverly Berna, Kelly Tallman

Union County
Suzanne Johnston, Sharon Wasteney

Youth at Risk Project (1991-1997)

Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Postville