Children, Youth, and Families At Risk
Iowa State University Extension
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.
- download 2007 CYFAR Report (pdf, 3.1 MB)
- search CYFAR project overview by state and year
- download CYFAR Philosophy 2001 (pdf, 19 pages)
- download CYFAR Philosophy 2008 (pdf, 6 pages)
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:
- Sustainable Community Projects (2007-current)
- New Communities Project (2001-2006)
- State Strengthening Project (1995-2000)
- Youth At Risk Projects (1991-1997)
Iowa State University Extension has also provided national leadership to:
Project Staff
Sustainable Community Projects (2007-current)
JaneAnn Stout, Associate Dean of the College of Human Sciences and Director to ISU Extension to Families
Marilyn Bode, ISU Extension Specialist
Diana Broshar, ISU Extension Program Specialist
Buena Vista County
Rhonda Christensen, Buena Vista County Extension Education Director
Sarah Thiessen, Program Assistant for Families
Waterloo
Donna Andrusyk, ISU Extension Field Specialist
Madelyn Ridgeway, ISU Extension Field Specialist
New Community Project (2001-2006)
Davenport
Jennifer Best, ISU Extension Field Specialist
Becky Bray, Scott County Extension Education Director
Perry
Beth Fleming, ISU Extension Field Specialist
Jeff Macomber, ISU Extension Field Specialist
Rosa Morales de Gonzales, ISU Extension Field Specialist
Sioux City
Sherry McGill, Woodbury County Extension Education Director
State Strengthening Project (1995-2000)
Dubuque
Beverly Berna, ISU Extension Field Specialist
Kelly Tallman, ISU Extension Field Specialist
Union County
Suzanne Johnston, ISU Extension Field Specialist
Sharon Wasteney, Union County Extension Education Director
Youth at Risk Project (1991-1997)
Des Moines
Council Bluffs
Postville