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The need for youth focused programs was recognized early on by the founders of the Cooperative Extension System. The youth component (4-H and Youth Development) was established to help young people build lifelong learning skills. In Alabama, and across the nation, 4-H and Youth Development programs involve youth in healthy learning experiences to increase self-esteem and build problem solving and leadership skills. A wide range of content offerings encourage youth to explore science, technology, and citizenship. Programs are delivered to youth audiences through base programs and special initiatives.
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System serves a sixty seven (67) county area, providing research-based outreach programs to rural and urban residents across the state. The System operates under six (6) base program areas including: 1) Agriculture, 2) Forestry and Natural Resources, 3) Family and Individual Well Being, 4) 4-H and Youth Development, 5) Community Resource Development, and 6) Urban Affairs and New Nontraditional Programs. The ongoing priority program efforts of the System involve many discipline-based and multi-disciplinary programs. Special initiative programs are also implemented to respond to important societal issues of broad concern. The Forefronting Youth Initiative is a youth development initiative that targets urban, new and nontraditional audiences.
In times of extraordinary change and instability, every part of society has a role to play in helping families to recognize and nurture the potential in youth to become contributing citizens. This involves teaching life-skills and providing opportunities for youth to contribute to society through service and leadership.
The Urban Affairs and New Nontraditional Programs Unit of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System has initiated the Forefronting Youth Initiative (FYI) to provide enhanced programming to meet the needs of urban communities. The initiative focuses on building and engaging the service learning and prevention skills of young people who dwell in Alabama's metropolitan areas to promote positive citizenship and community development.
The specific objectives of the initiative are to provide opportunities for youth to:
The Teen Leadership Connection program is designed to strengthen youth capacity in the areas of life skills and leadership. Designed to reach nontraditional audiences, the curriculum model focuses on enhancing efficiency, building esteem, creating cultural awareness, promoting morality and deterring violence.
Points of Light Youth Leadership Institute
The Points of Light Youth Leadership Institute (PYLI) curriculum serves as the primary educational support base for the Urban Youth Leadership and Community Service Learning Program Extension Team Project. PYLI is an innovative leadership and service training program. the mission of PYLI is to provide youth with the support, peer and community networks, and leadership skills that would enable them to make meaningful community contributions.
(SPACE) Students Promoting Action/Community Education
The SPACE program was established to recruit student volunteers from post secondary institutions (universities, junior and technical colleges) to support Extension outreach. SPACE students mentor, tutor and nurture through linkages with community agencies such as public schools, churches, health care facilities and other community oriented establishments. Their activities fulfill the mission of the SPACE program which is to improve the quality of life of families, elderly, youth and limited resources citizens.
Alabama Community Training in Volunteer Education (ACTIVE)
The ACTIVE program is designed to provide youth with meaningful volunteer opportunities, encourage youth to be productive and contributing citizens, enhance leadership skills through service learning, and promote youth involvement in community development activities. The ACTIVE experience encourages a lifelong journey of leadership and service.
LifeSmarts provided educational information that teaches students and others about consumer and marketplace issues. Because it is team oriented, the program gives participants an opportunity to develop team relationships in grades 9 through 12. It also helps them to learn more about consumer issues as they develop and enhance their communication and team building skills. LifeSmarts uses the Internet as the primary medium for local competitions.
(FAME) Fostering Achievement Through Mentoring Education
FAME seeks to form collaborative relationships with local educators, agencies and community service organizations to provide positive role models in urban communities. Mentoring programs are structured to facilitate educational, social, emotional and personal growth among youth and families. Programs are organized in the areas of youth development, tutorial assistance, youth entrepreneurship/job shadowing, teen parenting, and work force preparation (family coaches).
Youth enrolled in city school systems are bused to university research farm facilities for first hand observations of farm operations. The program focuses on fostering well-rounded, diverse citizens and consumers who understand the role all citizens play in the urban/rural interface and the total agricultural system. Parents are encouraged to participate to make the event a family outing.
| Wilma Ruffin, Ph.D. | Sylvia Oakes & Tyrone Smith |
| Extension Family and Human Development Specialist | Urban Regional Extension Agents |
| (256) 372-4960 | (256) 532-1578 (Ext. 16 & 17) |
Collaborative Alliances with Boy Scouts of America
The program works with pilot scouting troops (Boy Scouts of America) to expose youth to the particulars of animal science and husbandry, and curricula in pre-veterinary medicine. This youth development program fosters community building and provides increased visibility to the agricultural and environmental sciences.
(Yes I Can) Youth Education in School: Initiating Change/Action Now
This program focuses on prevention and intervention methods for all youth who are at risk of negative behavior because of societal pressures, various environmental and economic factors, poor values and morals and social circumstances. The supporting curriculum emphasizes five areas: 1) building self-esteem, 2) adopting positive lifestyles and social values, 3) improving study skills, 4) acquiring knowledge and practical job preparedness skills, and 6) providing opportunities for youth to engage in recreational and leisure activities that promote wellness.
The Welcome to the Real World curriculum takes a nontraditional approach to introducing young adults to career options. Through simulations, participants are involved in role modeling and making "real-life" financial decisions based on a chosen career. This curriculum supports workforce preparation training for youth.
| Rosalie Lane | Roger Richardson, Ph.D. |
| Extension Specialist, Housing and Urban CRD | CRD Specialist |
| (256) 372-4982 | (256) 372-4966 |
Alabama's Youth: Building Life Skills
This project was designed to create an awareness of nutritional needs and to educate youth on how one's daily diet influences health. Specific objectives are to: 1) optimize health through nutrition education by improving knowledge and skills for making wise food choices; and 2) implement community-based nutrition education programs in middle schools, community centers, after school care programs and in churches for youth 1016 years old.
Apps, Jerald. National Extension Leadership Development (NELD) Coordinator, University of Wisconsin, 1992 Presenter, North Central Regional Urban Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
Newman, B. and Newman, P. Development Through Life, California: Brooks/Cole Publishing Co., 1991.
Swinehart, B. Youth Development: Developing Leaders and Strengthening Communities, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Bolder, Colorado, 1990.
| Edna Coleman | Mary Hurt |
| Extension Youth Development Specialist | Retiree/Consultant |
| Wilma Ruffin, Ph.D. | Bernice Wilson, Ph.D. |
| Donnie Cook, Ph.D. | Jacqueline Johnson, V.M.D. |
| Rosalie Lane | Edna Coleman |
