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Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary impact of the Create Healthy Futures program, a self-paced, 6-lesson, web-based intervention on promoting healthy eating for Early Care and Education (ECE) providers, using a group-randomized controlled trial design with 3 repeated measurements. Methods: Nine ECE facilities in Ohio were recruited and randomly assigned to intervention (N = 4) and comparison (N = 5). The 111 participants are mostly female (97.3%), college graduated (59.5%), and overweight or obese (75.2%). Nutrition-related psychosocial and environmental factors and individual behaviors were assessed at baseline, post-test, and 3-month follow-up. We used mixed model analyses to compare changes between time points, controlling for ethnicity, age, and center effect, and calculated effect size to assess the magnitude of change. Results: We observed significant between-group changes in improving nutrition knowledge (p = 0.003), increasing perceived support for staff wellness (p = 0.038), and reducing perceived barriers to eating fruits and vegetables (p = 0.004) and promoting nutrition in classrooms (p = 0.038), with small to medium effect sizes. The study demonstrated high feasibility with 94.1% enrollment rate, 87.5% intervention completion rate, and 83.8% retention rate. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability of nutrition intervention programs using an online platform among ECE providers.

The study reported here examined the effects of age, gender, and 4-H involvement in clubs on life skill development of youth ages eight to 18 over a 12-month period. Regression analyses found age, gender, and 4-H involvement significantly influenced life skill development. Results found that females have higher levels of competencies in life skills at the start of the program and were more likely to change in these areas during the year than their male counterparts. This suggests changes in program designs may be needed to better engage, retain, and affect males in life skill development.

In recent years much attention has focused on the role of enhancing a teacher's professional knowledge and skills in helping to improve the quality of early care experiences for young children birth-5. In the study reported here, an environmental scan of the early childhood professional development programs offered within the Extension system was conducted to identify the programs' content, delivery, scope, evaluation, and partners. Results indicate that Extension has been a player in providing professional development opportunities for early childhood professionals and with a focused effort in streamlining the current resources has the capacity to become a leader in this field. [This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Agreement No. 2010-48869-20781, using funding from the Office of the Secretary of Defense.]

This investigation compared Extension educators' perceptions of community readiness, knowledge of prevention science, and experience with community collaborations with the perceptions of community human service professionals. First, Cooperative Extension System (CES) educators and human service professionals were found to hold similar perceptions of community readiness for prevention programs. Second, CES educators demonstrated less awareness of prevention programs in the community, but a greater knowledge of research-based community risk and protective factors than the human service professionals. Third, CES educators and human service professionals were similar in terms of community collaborative involvement, success, and personal effectiveness. (Contains 2 tables.)

Survey responses from 513 4-H volunteers found that 70.6% have Internet access; 52% use it at least weekly; 65% were willing to communicate with 4-H via e-mail; and only 12% were not likely to access 4-H materials on the Web. Results were used to determine policy for disseminating information to 4-H volunteers. (Contains 10 references.) (JOW)

Pennsylvania Extension youth and family educators (n=62) participated in an inservice program on enhancing community youth development programming. Participant evaluations showed significant gain in knowledge and understanding of community youth development concepts and support for the importance of developing a common framework and language for educators related to youth development. (SK)

Pennsylvania's 4-H youth program faculty and staff (n=16) participated in electronic brainstorming to determine priority needs for curriculum revision. The 46 areas needing revision were refined by 33 county Extension educators using interactive software on the World Wide Web. A curriculum priority list emerged that is being used for resource allocation and curriculum planning. (SK)

Survey responses from 228 Pennsylvania extension staff revealed time- or travel-related reasons inhibited inservice participation. They preferred regional locations over any other, though they were receptive to having some inservice programs delivered using distance education technologies. A pilot test of quarterly satellite inservice programs was undertaken as a result. (SK)

Pennsylvania extension educators (n=228) find it increasingly difficult to participate in inservice education, desire more distance delivery and an active voice in program planning, and would like inservice to be integrated into their plan of work. Past inservice experiences lacked quality in content and instruction. (SK)

From interviews with six mentor/protege pairs of extension agents (half of whom had negative experiences) were derived the following factors for effective mentoring: similar program responsibilities, geographic proximity, frequent information sharing, successful initiation of the relationship, friendship, clear expectations, and good mentor attitudes. (SK)

The article discusses a study comparing the Cooperative Extension System (CES) educators' perception of community readiness, knowledge of prevention science and experience with community collaborations with that of the perceptions of community human service professionals. Participants of the study include CES educators and human service professionals in 28 communities within Pennsylvania and Iowa that are involved in Promoting School-Community-University Partnerships to Enhance Resilience (PROSPER) program. Results of the comparison show that CES educators and human service professionals share similar perceptions regarding community readiness for prevention programs as well as having similar involvement, success and effectiveness in community collaborations.

The study reported here examined the effects of age, gender, and 4-H involvement in clubs on life skill development of youth ages eight to 18 over a 12-month period. Regression analyses found age, gender, and 4-H involvement significantly influenced life skill development. Results found that females have higher levels of competencies in life skills at the start of the program and were more likely to change in these areas during the year than their male counterparts. This suggests changes in program designs may be needed to better engage, retain, and affect males in life skill development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years much attention has focused on the role of enhancing a teacher's professional knowledge and skills in helping to improve the quality of early care experiences for young children birth-5. In the study reported here, an environmental scan of the early childhood professional development programs offered within the Extension system was conducted to identify the programs' content, delivery, scope, evaluation, and partners. Results indicate that Extension has been a player in providing professional development opportunities for early childhood professionals and with a focused effort in streamlining the current resources has the capacity to become a leader in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we describe the results of a study designed to assess knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards evidence-based and other prevention programs among county Extension educators. We examined differences across educators from the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) and 4-H Youth Development program areas. Analyses based on a multi-state sample of educators revealed significant differences across program areas such that, compared to their 4-H counterparts, FCS educators were more knowledgeable of evidence-based programs and had more favorable perceptions and attitudes towards evidence-based and other pre-packaged prevention programs. These findings suggest that Cooperative Extension administrators should work to encourage the use of evidence-based and other prevention programs, particularly within the 4-H program area.