Various
county success stories from 2004 are hi-lighted below:
Asotin County: Sixty-seven youth attended a week-long joint Asotin County/Nez
Perce County, Idaho Extension Youth Activity Camp in August. The
camp targeted low income and at-risk children in the Lewiston-Clarkston
area and was held at an elementary school located in the poorest
area of Lewiston, ID. Scholarships were offered to low-income individuals,
and grants from the Asotin County Residential and Development Services
and Wal-Mart kept the cost of attendance low for all participants.
There is a documented need for Elder Care information to be
provided to area residents. The Asotin County Extension Office partnered
with University of Idaho Extension to co-sponsor a second Long-term
Health Care Workshop in 2004. Over 45 senior citizens attended this
program. Based on feedback from an informal needs assessment, the
Extension Office also began a new bi-monthly publication titled
"Balancing Life Newsletter" aimed specifically at providing
information to our single parent and senior citizen target audiences.
The 2003 WSU Asotin County Extension Civil Rights Review indicated
a need to actively recruit adult volunteer leaders and youth of
all ethnic and racial minorities. A plan was implemented to create
a series of brochures, posters, articles and educational displays
that would ultimately increase the number of protected classes participating
in the 4-H Youth Development Program. While our ethnic and racial
diversity recruitment plan is still a work in progress, we believe
that we have developed a strong foundation to recruit adults and
youth into 4-H of all races and ethnicities. The recruitment brochures
and posters that we developed tried to realistically portray the
diversity of the county. Specific pictures representing youth and
adults included: a senior citizen working with a black youth, a
young lady fishing from a wheel chair, and a multicultural 4-H club.
Our recruitment posters and brochures have been shared at 4-H Program
Days, with the 4-H Volunteer Development Action Team (VDAT), and
with neighboring counties. The posters and brochures have been prominently
placed in local schools, churches, local agencies and area businesses.
Plans in 2005 are to develop several educational displays that follow
the same theme as the current posters and brochures.
Benton/Franklin
County: One of the principal objectives for our Latino youth is to develop
stronger linkages with WSU and education. This is accomplished by
providing mentors/leaders that not only conduct learning experiences
for these youth but also facilitate discussions about career opportunities
and personal/educational motivation. Volunteer mentors/leaders from
the local community and WSU faculty provided ample opportunity for
conversation about personal interests, education, and the necessity
of being a life long learner. Twelve Latino Pasco High students
traveled to WSU Pullman campus on a recruitment trip. They visited
the campus and toured the Apparel Merchandising, Design and Textile
Department. Why? Because WSU has a great department, students will
learn about post high school options, and many people are unaware
that Washington State has the third largest apparel industry in
the U.S., behind only New York and California. This we did on March
10th. Originally, the students were to make a mid-week visit and
then again for the Fashion Show on April 16th. Unfortunately, the
mini-grant was only enough to cover the first trip. The news is
that with the help of Pasco High teachers and counselor a companion
Gear-Up grant was received in time to fund a second visit for the
fashion show.
Chelan/Douglas
County:
Spurs and Spokes Therapeutic Horseback Riding provides therapeutic
horseback riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities.
Both physical and emotional therapy are emphasized. Riders who are
no longer physically able to be mounted on horseback participate
in a horse driving program which uses a cart especially built to
load and secure a wheel chair. Thirty-six individuals with disabilities
are reached each year. 140 able-bodied youth and adult volunteers
assist the riders. Four riders and eight volunteers are Hispanic;
one rider and one volunteer are African-American. The program has
its own advisory board, of which one member is American Indian.
A 4-H leadership program has been initiated for Hispanic high school
students in Wenatchee. This is a pilot that will be extended to
other districts in both counties. Called 4-H ASTA (Assisting Students
to Achieve), the program trains the students in the experiential
learning method as a leadership development tool. The students then
serve as facilitators for groups of families at local schools for
Family Night Out activities. Because of the large Hispanic population,
the presence of bi-lingual/bi-cultural facilitators makes all the
difference in the comfort level and ability of Hispanic families
to participate. Portable training was carried out exclusively for
the 4-H ASTA club. Funding was secured to pay a stipend to the students
to preclude parental refusal based on financial need. This club
served as facilitators for Family Night Out activities in local
schools, reaching 70 participants for each of 3 nights.
Clallam
County:
Our 4-H program has a significant success story related to our use
of Federal Forest Secure Rural Schools funding. We began an after-school
program with these funds, and in 2004 the program served over 75
young people through the Port Angeles Boys and Girls Club, and through
the Evergreen Village low-income housing project. About 70% of the
youth being served are minority and low-income, with most being
Native American. This is a highly successful program that is taught
4 times per week, and which teaches youth about our local environment,
from forests, to wildlife, to oceans, and beyond.
Ferry County: The WSU Ferry County Office is looked to as a leader nationwide
in Native American programming and was called on to mentor several
new Extension Indian Reservation Project Agents over the year including
new agents on the Colville Reservation, and in Mississippi, North
Dakota, and Alaska,. Our office Faculty were invited by National
and State Program leaders to give a presentations at the National
Extension Indian Reservation Program Conference, the National Intertribal
Ag Council Conference, the Regional EIRP Conference in Idaho, and
at the WSU Plateau Culture Tribal Conference at WSU. Posters of
successful Tribal work were highlighted at the National Indian Ag
Council Conference and with Tribal Member and Staff presentation
to the WSU Administrators at the 2004 WSU Provost Tour.
The Chair's work includes securing MOA's and funding from several
sources for the wide variety of programs it offers in the Ferry
County and Colville Reservation area. Ferry County Extension has
maintained the branch offices that the Ferry County Chair established
and administers at the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
headquarters in Nespelem (62 miles from the home office) with 4
full-time employees and 4 part-time employees. Quarterly all staff
meetings have been initiated to bring the 2 office together as a
team. The staff in the branch offices have greatly increased the
service to citizens on the Colville Reservation and the south end
of Ferry County. This includes collaborative programming with Tribal
Range, Tribal Fish and Wildlife Departments, and Reservation Landowners
to continues the Bioagent for Invasive Weed Project which has cleaned
up several thousands of acres of Tribal Rangeland of non-native
Diffuse knapweed and greatly reduced the spread of invasive Dalmation
toadflax. Density of Diffuse knapweed has been reduced from 1000-2,000
pounds per acre to virtually 0 pounds in many areas.
We maintained a bulk mailing permit at the county level and county
funded that allows mailing of our "issue" newsletters
to all households in all parts of the county.
Grant County: Facilitated by a Grant County Extension faculty, the Ephrata
Farmers Market applied for and received certification for the WIC
and the Washington State Farmers Market Senior Citizens Food Voucher
program. This resulted in a significant increase in consumer participation
at the market by low income, elderly and minority individuals. The
market also has generated an additional outlet for small farms/land
owners to sell their products. Some of these individuals are classified
low income and minority.
Increased coordination
with local school districts (transportation/school time programming)
has increased participation in the after school youth programs in
Grant County. The program is targeted towards low resource families
and at risk youth and families. 4H enrollment in the Grant County
mirrors reported county demographics.
Jefferson County:
The Learning Center just launched four classes in Spanish language
and culture. 39 area students are becoming conversant with the language,
customs and literature of Hispanic peoples. Contribution to the
program is again for classroom space and totals $1000. The LC also
brokered an additional $300 in display ads for launching these classes.
The LC also provides college and career counseling to minority populations.
Kittitas County:
A Día de los Niños event was held in Ellensburg on
Saturday May 8, 2004 to celebrate children, literacy and diversity.
The planning committee represented a partnership between CWU College
of Education & Professional Studies, CWU Center for Teaching
& Learning, Ellensburg School District, WSU Extension, and Kittitas
County Health Department. The celebration was held at CWU's Black
Hall from 9am until noon. Children and family members could attend
30 minute mini-sessions, walk among booths spotlighting local resources/agencies,
and/or participate at interactive stations. Activities and/or mini-sessions
included music, craft projects, face painting, story telling, plays,
a book fair, science experiments, snacks, computer fun, and more.
CWU pre-service teachers and local residents presented the mini-lessons
and activities. Flyers advertising the event and the program were
printed in English and Spanish. Bilingual assistance was available
throughout the activity. Sponsorships covered the cost of snacks,
class supplies, the book fair; allowing all families to participate
free of charge.
Klickitat
County:
One of our most active and successful agricultural producers is
an older Hispanic male. He recommends program ideas and encourages
us to hold workshops on his ranch. We continue to refurbish and
donate surplused computers to low income clientele, most of whom
are Native American or Hispanic. The county chair continues to learn
Spanish.
Lincoln/Adams County: Lincoln County Mental Health and Lincoln County Department of
Developmental Disabilities jointly operate the Sunrise Clubhouse.
The clubhouse is open to all clients, youth and adults, of Lincoln
County Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. Purpose of
the clubhouse is to provide a safe environment where clients can
develop and enhance their workforce and social skills. Lincoln County
Extension facilitated a program at the Sunrise Clubhouse utilizing
the TRUE COLORS personality assessment. Participants were led through
a discussion about the different personality characteristics. Following
the discussion, participants identified their primary "color"
and a discussion was held about the diversity and commonality of
personalities in the room. Utilizing a group discussion, participants
identified realistic hobbies and jobs most suited to their personality
strengths. The Find your TRUE COLORS! workshop was enjoyed by all.
The largest impact this program has had on all participants was
an increased understanding of self. Clients and Staff became more
aware of their strengths and weaknesses, their interests, and why
they enjoy the types of activities they enjoy. The staff also increased
their understanding of their clients. This program increased awareness
of specific client interests and strengths that will assist the
staff in appropriately placing the clients in jobs and volunteer
roles within the community.
Mason County: SALSA is one of Mason County's newest 4-H clubs, standing for
Somos Amistosos Listos Sentimos Alegria (We are friendly, clever
and feel joyful). This club is comprised of over 50 young Hispanic
members who are enrolled in the Performing Arts Project, and Leadership.
Members have performed traditional Mexican folk dances at a number
of conferences statewide and for many local events. The teen members
have had opportunities to attend the statewide "Know Your Government"
Conference in Olympia, the Latino Youth Summit, the 4-H Teen Technology
conference and several other leadership meetings. Parents of the
members have become active as new 4-H volunteers and often have
accompanied the club on their various trips to conferences. This
has created a real sense of family pride for these participants.
Okanogan County: Reaching broadly and deeply within communities to train leaders
and build partnerships and community connections is the focus of
the Horizons Program. Horizons is a NW Area Foundation conceived
and funded project delivered in North central WA by WSU Extension.
The project has brought together Hispanics, Native Americans, and
whites, to address poverty reduction in three local communities.
We have sent two community members, both Hispanic, to training so
that they can teach LeadershipPlenty in Spanish. Another Hispanic
community member was trained to teach the English version of the
curriculum.
Pacific County: A regional pesticide pre-license and re-certification was conducted
specifically for Hispanic pesticide users. The training was taught
in Spanish, and educational resource materials were printed in Spanish.
In addition, Don Tapio served as a liaison to Hispanic pesticide
applicators who had questions regarding either becoming licensed
or acquiring required re-certification credits. WSU Extension in
Pacific and Grays Harbor counties has become identified as a source
of pesticide licensing information by the Hispanic community.
Pend Oreille County: Quarterly newsletter "Diggings" is a collaborative
effort of county Extension and the Kalispel Tribe Natural Resources
Department. Department members contribute newsletter ideas and articles.
Tribal language is part of the newsletter heading and some articles.
Sponsored a winter class on the Kalispel language.
Pierce County: Chief Leschi School is a Title I Native American School located
in the Puyallup Valley. The pre K-12 school serves 92 different
tribes. It is the largest school funded by the Bureau of Indian
Affairs in both square footage and enrollment in the nation. The
Chief Leschi School is unique among tribal schools because it is
neither a reservation school nor inner-urban school, but a hybrid
of the two.
Skagit County:
Ideas for Living Program reaches food stamp/low income/at-risk recipients
through a variety of outreach to the Latino and Native American
communities. Classes presented in Spanish more than doubled.
4-H Youth Program faculty used a Diversity Mini-grant to take the
Intensive Spanish course offered by the WSU Skagit Learning Center.
This serves as a resource to the Spanish Speaking Strengthening
Families program team.
Snohomish County: The "Empezando" conference focusing on working with
Hispanic families was developed by staff members and several additional
staff members attended the conference. Food $ense staff attended
the "Food Cultures" workshop at the Growing Healthy Kids
Conference. The Community Horticulture faculty member attended a
Garden Writer's seminar that included a trail talk with a local
Salish ranger on Ethnobotany and 4 other professional development
programs relating to Native American, African and Caribbean cultures.
The 4-H program expanded its afterschool programming to include
seven new sites in low-income areas in collaboration with a 21st
Century Learning Communities Grant.
Spokane County: Spokane Extension hired a bilingual Russian instructor to provide
education to this target audience and the results have been self-evident.
Our instructor teaches diabetes education, general nutrition, food
safety and resource management. She works with both adults and youth.
She worked with 149 families in 2003-04 and 83% of her participant's
acquired new food practices. Tatyana has spent 100's of hours translating
teaching materials from English to Russian. This has greatly enhanced
the learning for Russian participants.
Spokane Extension increased staff level in 2003-04 and to increase
the opportunity for diverse populations to apply we hand delivered
position descriptions and application packets to AHANA (African
American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American Business and Professional
Organization) and to Bethel AME Center for potential African American
applicants.
Bethel AME Church hosted a Strengthening Families Program facilitator
training in January of 2004. Fourteen facilitators were trained
including four bilingual, Spanish speaking individuals, one of whom
is from Spokane County. As a result of that training, Spokane County
Extension cosponsored a seven-week Strengthening Families Program
with Links, Inc. (an African American Sorority, and Bethel AME,
hosted in their community building. This spring and summer, Extension
has collaborated with the Richard Allen Youth Academy, an outreach
arm of Bethel AME, on several grant proposals to make Strengthening
Families Program classes an integral part of their family programs.
To date, none of those proposals have been funded. Representatives
from Richard Allen Enterprises and Links, Inc. continue to be members
of the Spokane County Extension Family Living Advisory Board.
As a result
of meeting with the Executive Board of the community group, El Centro,
two bilingual, Spanish-speaking persons participated in Strengthening
Families facilitator trainings. One of the trainings was specific
to the Spanish language version of the Strengthening Families Program.
We expect to cosponsor a bilingual program with El Centro in the
next year. Also, one of the trained facilitators now works as an
assistant in Spokane County's Food Sense program.
Thurston
County: Administrative
Support staff and Food Safety Program staff have participated as
vendors at health fairs at the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis
Nation and the Nisqually Nation again in 2004. Plans are underway
to develop a Leadership Academy for South Puget Indian Tribes through
SPIPA, (South Puget Indian Planning Agency) which represents five
or more tribes in the area. Plans include identifying specific leadership
training needs, curriculum development, and delivery to best meet
the needs of the Tribes involved.
Food $ense staff are building relationships with Native American
populations and identifying needs and methods in which to present
nutrition education through the Food $ense program.
The Thurston County staff continue to identify ways in which to
reach out to Hispanic, African American, and Native Americans in
all program areas. Staff are planning a retreat in which this will
be explored further with specific methods, goals and objectives
identified.
Staff created a bulletin board "Celebrating Diversity"
to include events and feature articles to highlight our community's
diversity.
Staff began plans to research a tour for a Japanese visitor from
Washington's "Sister State" Hyogo Prefecture for January
2005. The Hyogo Prefecture Government employee will be conducting
research on public/private partnerships and volunteerism in parks
systems. The Washington State University Thurston County Extension
Master Gardener's "Closed Loop" park will be a featured
highlight, along with visits with county, state and local parks
systems in Olympia, Seattle and King County, New York City and London.
Whitman County: The
Whitman County Extension Office of Washington State University Extension
has been successful this year in reaching out to under-served audiences
that are seldom interested in many of our traditional programs.
The programs utilized in this effort included a Fishing Kids event,
hunter safety education, shooting sports training, Youth Project
Camp and the after school educational series known as TAZ (Tuesday
Adventure Zone). These programs were implemented specifically to
reach new under-served audiences in Whitman County. These programs
were successful in attracting youth and adults from Asian, Hispanic,
Native American and Black ethnic groups as well as our much larger
white population. One of the programs also met the needs of a special
group of 20 people with disabilities. Total participant numbers
equaled 480, with an ethnic makeup of 2% Hispanic, 2% Asian, .25%
Native American and .8% Black. While these percentages are small,
they are generally representative of the county population as a
whole, which is 88% White.
