Iowa State University Extension

 

Extension Grant Targets Rural, Urban Families 07.11.07

AMES, Iowa--A recent $100,000 grant will target rural and urban at-risk children and their families during a five-year program through Iowa State University Extension to Families. Funding for the grant comes from the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) for its Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) program.  more...

Project Summary

Iowa State University Extension implements scientifically tested parent and youth programs that result in enhanced family interactions and positive youth development. Using a collaborative approach, teams link state and local Extension staff, public schools, and community stakeholders, including parents, to promote, implement, and evaluate evidence-based programs. Research shows a combination of family-based and school-based programs produce positive family and youth outcomes and are more effective than either program alone. Chosen for local implementation are: The Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14, a parent, youth, and family skills-building curriculum designed to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors that lead to positive family and youth outcomes, and Life Skills Training, a school-based program focusing on social-emotional learning. Participants are 5th and 6th grade students and their parents or guardians in Buena Vista County and Waterloo.

Waterloo

Black Hawk County, located in the northeast part of the state has Waterloo, the fifth largest city in Iowa. It has the highest concentrations of African Americans per capita in the state of Iowa of which 35.9% are in poverty. The project in Black Hawk County focuses on several Waterloo inner city neighborhoods located in high poverty, ethnic neighborhoods. Using the community collaboration approach, the community team links state and local Extension personnel, public school staff, and other community stakeholders including parents to promote, implement, and evaluate evidence-based programs that enhance family interactions and produce positive youth outcomes. The two chosen programs for implementation are the Strengthening Families Program For Parents and Youth 10-14 and Life Skills Training, the school-based program. Through the work of community teams, the Waterloo project targets youth in grades 5th and 6th and their parents/guardians through evidenced-based programs.

Donna Andrusyk, ISU Extension Field Specialist
Madelyn Ridgeway, ISU Extension Field Specialist
Al Ricks, Black Hawk County Extension Director

Buena Vista County

Buena Vista County, a rural Iowa county in NW Iowa has the highest percent of Hispanics of any Iowa county at 18.6%. The total county poverty rate is 10.5%. The county’s Hispanic poverty rate is 21.5%. The African American poverty rate is 60.8%. The Buena Vista project will work with the six county school districts. Using the community collaboration approach, state and local Extension staff, public school staff, community stakeholders, including parents will promote, implement, and evaluate evidence-based programs that enhance family interactions and produce positive outcomes. A combination of family based plus school-based programs produces positive family and youth results. Programs being implemented are Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14 with 5th grade families, and Life Skills Training, a school-based program with 7th grade students. These are evidenced-based programs that have been shown to produce positive youth outcomes.

Rhonda Christensen, Buena Vista County Extension Education Director
Sarah Thiessen, Program Assistant for Families