Alabama Extension is Auburn University’s most visible and accessible public-facing unit and is essential to the university’s land grant mission. Human Sciences Extension serves as a vital Alabama Extension program with the following goals:

• Equipping Alabamians with the resources needed to make informed choices
• Strengthening relationships
• Enhancing communities

Alabama Extension’s Human Sciences team is a trusted source for credible, research-based information supporting individuals, families, and communities. Their commitment begins with meeting people where they are and respecting each person’s unique circumstances and needs. The team responds to community members, partners, and stakeholders. Guided by a strong belief in innovation, collaboration, and exceptional customer service, they deliver meaningful programs and resources. They document outcomes and impacts, ensuring that it continues to make a measurable difference.

Throughout 2024, the Human Sciences team implemented high-quality programs to enhance health and well-being at every stage of life. New partners and strengthened collaboration allowed the team to offer new programs and extend their reach into Alabama communities.

2024 By the Numbers

• 20 Human Sciences Extension professionals.
• 21 Statewide Human Sciences programs and initiatives.
• 50 Human Sciences Extension publications.
• 10 Peer-reviewed scholarly products, including a five-part publication series on helping parents understand vaping and a three-part series on play spaces.
• 11,210,500 Human Sciences Extension total news audience reach. “Are Nicotine Pouches the Next Vaping” was Extension’s third most popular story with 10.34 million readers.

Safe Sleep Initiative

In 2023, Children’s of Alabama hospital and Alabama Extension launched the Rural Alabama Safe Sleep Initiative, supported by a grant from the American Academy of Pediatrics. This collaboration addresses sleep-related and other childhood injuries by providing critical safe sleep education and resources to Alabama families.

The initiative began with a professional development session for Extension agents, led by partners at Children’s of Alabama hospital. Through the training, agents were equipped with educational materials and resources to use at community events.

Throughout 2024, Human Sciences Extension agents conducted ten community-based safe sleep education events, reaching 273 individuals across various counties. Significant improvements were observed in safe infant sleeping practices, particularly in how babies should sleep and where they should sleep at night. This successful partnership leveraged the pediatric expertise of Children’s of Alabama and the community education and reach expertise of Human Sciences Extension agents to improve the safety and well-being of children in Alabama.

Just In Time Parenting

Alabama Extension is the national host of Just in Time Parenting (JITP), which reached more than 17,540 national subscribers and 75,556 unique website visitors in 2024. JITP is a free digital newsletter program that addresses the needs of parents and caregivers of children under 5 years old. With few public, evidence-based parenting resources online, JITP fills a critical gap by offering accessible, research-backed content in English and Spanish. The newsletters, covering nutrition, child development, and family relationships, are ADA-compliant, culturally translated, and advertisement free. Engagement metrics show users spend more than 2 minutes per session, indicating meaningful interaction. Surveys reveal that parents find JITP as helpful or more helpful than advice from family, friends, or health care providers. The program supports child development and helps prevent abuse by promoting knowledge, emotional support, and resource awareness. Broader societal benefits include better school readiness, long-term health, and economic outcomes. JITP continues to evolve, updating Spanish content, and expanding its digital reach. In an AI-driven world, trusted, high-quality parenting resources like JITP are more vital than ever.

Tuning In To Kids

Tuning in to Kids (TiK) is a research-based parenting program that strengthens emotional and social development in young children by equipping parents—especially those in rural or low-resource communities—with emotion coaching and communication skills. In 2024–2025, TiK reached parents in Bibb, Elmore, and Lee Counties through workshops focused on emotional intelligence, grief processing, and self-care. Participants, including single and expectant parents, reported high engagement and meaningful personal growth. While formal evaluation is ongoing, global research on TiK shows improved child behavior, reduced parental stress, and stronger parent-child communication. Alabama’s experience aligns with these outcomes, with more than 280 individuals reached since 2019. The broader public benefits when children can self-regulate and control their behavior better. Overall, society functions better when children are raised to be more resilient, and those children become adults who are more adept at workplace and relationship functioning, as shown in many studies of social-emotional competence.

iCare Kids

The iCare Kids Series empowers 4th and 5th graders with foundational life skills and early financial literacy, addressing a critical gap in youth education. Through engaging, face-to-face sessions, 199 students explored concepts such as goal setting, money management, philanthropy, and legacy building. Post-program surveys revealed that more 50 percent of participants planned to apply what they learned related to making smarter financial choices and giving back to their communities. By helping children connect their dreams to actionable goals, iCare Kids fosters a sense of purpose, responsibility, and long-term vision. These are foundational lessons for developing strong life skills and financial literacy in adulthood. The program’s benefits extend beyond the classroom. It promotes stronger families through take-home activities, encourages civic engagement, and supports future economic stability by equipping youth with essential financial skills.

Escape Vapes

In 2024, the Escape Vapes program empowered 1,690 youths across 17 counties. Health and Wellness Extension agents and county Extension directors led the program through interactive, school-based education. Escape Vapes effectively addressed key misconceptions about vaping, resulting in statistically significant increases in knowledge about nicotine, harmful chemicals in e-cigarettes, and the health risks of vaping. Notably, 85 percent of participants reported feeling confident in saying “No” to vaping, and 91 percent stated they would likely not try it.

The impact of this prevention effort extends beyond individual behavior change—reducing vaping among youth translates to substantial cost savings for Alabama. By preventing nicotine addiction, the program mitigates health care expenses related to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, lowers long-term chronic disease rates, and saves school districts millions in prevention and intervention efforts. Escape Vapes is making a measurable difference in protecting Alabama’s youth and public health.

WISE Money Management

The WISE Money program is a financial education initiative led by Alabama Extension to help individuals and families improve their money management skills. The program teaches practical strategies for budgeting, saving, debt reduction, and financial planning, empowering participants to make informed decisions. During 2024, the WISE Money program, led by five Extension agents, reached 1,254 participants in all seven regions of Alabama. The program served 88.2 percent adults and 11.8 percent youth with 61 percent Black, 39 percent White, and 4 percent Hispanic participants.

Participants reported increased confidence in developing and using a budget, initiating or increasing savings, and reducing household debt and expenses. Free resources, such as the monthly money calendar, provided ongoing support for long-term financial success. By reducing financial stress and anxiety, WISE Money fosters healthier families, stronger communities, and greater civic engagement. Over time, improved financial stability contributes to better physical and mental health, breaks cycles of poverty, and reduces societal costs related to health care, social services, and the justice system.

Right Bite: Cooking for Diabetes

Right Bite: Cooking for Diabetes addresses Alabama’s high rates of diabetes (13.4 percent) and hypertension (42 percent) by equipping participants with practical nutrition and meal planning skills. Delivered in four in-person sessions across the state, the program reached 180 individuals in 2024. Of those, 88 completed both pre- and post-program evaluations. Participants showed significant improvements in key behaviors, including reading nutrition labels, reducing sugary drinks, and using less salt at the table. Many also reported increased fruit and vegetable intake, better portion control, and healthier cooking habits. These changes support better blood glucose and blood pressure management, helping prevent serious complications. Participants often shared what they learned with family members, extending the program’s reach. One participant noted, “I’m planning on doing better and sharing information with my grandson who wants to lose weight.” By fostering healthier habits and informed food choices, Right Bite contributes to a stronger, more resilient Alabama.

Health Extension for Diabetes

Along with other land grant universities, Alabama Extension partners with Clemson University to implement the Health Extension for Diabetes program funded through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expansion grant. In 2024, 38 participants completed two online and three in-person cohorts, benefiting from an evidence-based diabetes education and support program delivered by trained Extension agents. Significant improvements were observed among participants with complete pre- and post-program data, including weight reduction, increased diabetes knowledge, and decreased feelings of being overwhelmed by diabetes management. Participants also reported increased physical activity and engagement in small lifestyle changes to enhance overall health. To expand impact, Alabama Extension developed county-level resource guides to address social determinants of health. Extension also collaborated with the Harrison College of Pharmacy at Auburn University to educate pharmacists on using these guides to support patients with diabetes. Improved diabetes management leads to better health outcomes, prolonged workforce participation, and reduced health care costs in Alabama.

New July 2025, 2024 Alabama Extension Human Sciences Annual Report, FCS-2881

Past Reports

• 2023 Alabama Extension Human Sciences Impact Report, FCS-2854
• 2022 Alabama Extension Human Sciences Impact Report, FCS-2726

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator, employer, and provider. If you need a reasonable accommodation or language access services, contact aceshse@auburn.edu.