Search

This curriculum guide contains a six-unit, two-level program combining animal science and veterinary care for youth club leaders and members in grades three through twelve. The Facilitator and Educator/Leader Introductions describe the program, the goals, and the students who will participate. The six lesson plans contain what the lesson is about, what the students will learn, materials needed, time needed, the activity, background for the teacher, educator/leader notes, and an activity sheet. The unit topics are as follows: (1) Attitudes and responsibilities towards animals and food production that promote animal well-being and product quality; (2) animal handling and exhibition promoting animal well-being and product quality; (3) housing livestock to promote animal well-being and product quality; (4) livestock feeds and feeding to promote animal well-being and product quality; (5) promoting animal well-being and product quality through proper animal health practices; and (6) public perception of animal agriculture. Evaluation tools included with the program are the following: (1) advancement program guides for the educator and youths describing skill levels that must be gained to complete each level; (2) fair checklists for the livestock department at the local fair; (3) packer carcass evaluation forms; and (4) exhibitor checklists to provide youths with immediate feedback on animal care. (SLR)

This booklet is designed to help individuals help older family members handle their finances. Presented first are 10 guidelines for keeping the tension involved in intervening in an older relative's finances to a minimum. The following financial/legal instruments are explained: joint bank accounts, powers of attorney (including durable powers of attorney), living trusts, representative payees, and conservatorships. A final note and list of suggested readings conclude the booklet. (MN)

Energy Smarts Team members are energy conscious students who want to save energy at school and at home. Students in a classroom and their teacher form an Energy Smarts Team. Selected students monitor their building each day at recess, lunch, or after school for lights or other electrical equipment that has been left on. The team members keep a log and leave friendly reminder "tickets." The program is designed to save money for school districts, encourage the wise use of natural resources, and to provide fun activities for students that give them an opportunity to contribute to their school. This training manual provides a take-home meter reading activity, an energy poster contest activity, six additional energy activities, and procedures and materials that provide a starting point for teams to start monitoring their schools. Procedural materials include member agreements, team log sheets, example reminder tickets, participation certificates, and the "Top Ten Tips to Try to Tame Terrible Temperature Thieves." Background information is provided for various energy sources including coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear energy, renewable energy sources, electricity, and food. (LZ)

This guide offers advice to help people cope with a variety of losses, including losses associated with divorce, retirement, relocation, disability, or illness, and the loss of a pet, financial security, independence, or control and decision making. It discusses what one can expect when one suffers a loss and how to handle grief. Common reactions to grief, including physical, behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual reactions, are listed. A number of suggestions are made for ways that people experiencing loss and grief can help themselves: accept and talk about their feelings; give themselves time; accept support from others; resume their daily routines; be good to themselves; avoid alcohol and unnecessary medications; postpone major decisions; expect hard times; and seek professional help if needed. The conclusion reiterates the notion that grief takes time and hard work. A brief bibliography suggests publications for further reading. (NB)

This booklet discusses the important role that day care providers can play in ensuring that children eat healthy snacks and meals and learn good eating habits. Section one of the booklet examines snack foods, discusses the difference between nutritious and less-nutritious snacks, and recommends snack foods appropriate for different age groups. Section two addresses the problem of "picky" eaters and how to handle such children. Section three considers the case of overweight children, explaining how inactivity, poor food choices, and parental attitudes toward food can play a role in obesity, and suggesting food choices and preparation ideas for such children. Part four looks at the important role that vitamins and minerals play in good nutrition and recommends specific food sources for important vitamins and minerals. Part five outlines ways in which teachers can instruct children about different foods and why they should eat a variety of foods, providing examples of specific activities. Part six discusses food preparation ideas that can involve children, suggesting menu items that children and their teachers can prepare together. (MDM)

This booklet discusses the role that parents can play in helping their children mature, make decisions, and adjust to the challenges of the world around them. It suggests that parents and others who take care of children keep in mind the following ideas when interacting with children: (1) focus on "do's" instead of "don'ts"; (2) build feelings of confidence; (3) try to change behavior by changing surroundings or situations; (4) provide choices for children; (5) work with children, not against them; (6) set limits for children; (7) listen to yourself and your child; (8) set a good example; and (9) show love to your children. A parent self-test is provided to review the material covered in the booklet. (MDM)

This booklet is designed to help persons who have elderly family members or who work with older adults understand and help compensate for the sensory changes that occur in later life. It contains sections on vision, hearing, taste and smell, and touch. Discussed in the section on vision are the following: common age-related changes, eye diseases or conditions, low vision aids, suggestions for helping individuals experiencing loss of vision or severe vision problems, types of eye care professionals, and related resource materials and organizations. The section on hearing includes information on these topics: types of hearing loss, reactions to hearing loss, ways of helping persons with hearing loss, sources of medical help, and the benefits and use of hearing aids. Included in the section on taste and smell are a description of common age-related changes in senses of touch and smell and ways of helping persons with taste or smell disorders. Age-related changes in sense of touch, precautionary measures to compensate for changes in sense of touch, and "touch hunger" are examined in the section on touch. The importance of attitude in coping with age-related sensory changes is emphasized. Concluding the booklet is a listing of related extension service publications on aging and aging-related problems. (MN)

One of four being published on a five-state project on the dynamics of child care subsidy use, this report provides a detailed look at families receiving child care subsidies in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Texas, and the factors associated with length of subsidy receipt and provider stability. Data were collected and analyzed by a team of policy and methodology experts brought together through the Child Care Policy Research Consortium. State policy data were collected through document reviews and interviews with key informants. Micro-data were obtained from state child care subsidy administrative systems. Payment record files were also obtained for services during 24 calendar months in each state. Among the major findings is that the exercise of policy discretion at the state level has produced very different child care subsidy programs. The populations served in the various subsidy systems differed by income, the proportion of subsidized families that were employed, and the proportion mixing work and welfare. States also varied in the types of services provided to subsidized families and children. The length of children's subsidy receipt was short in all states. Within states, the length of subsidy receipt varied with some family characteristics, and there was considerable reentry into the subsidy system. Most children with short periods of subsidy receipt had a consistent provider. Subsidy receipt periods were influenced by the interactions of child care subsidy, TANF, and regulatory policies rather than by any single child care policy. The report concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings for research and policy. Two appendices provide information on the data, measures, and analytic approaches and on additional state child care subsidy policies. (Contains 33 endnotes.) (KB)

This booklet is intended to help volunteer recruiters better understand characteristics of the Latino community that might impact volunteering. It also suggests strategies or steps to use in successfully recruiting and supporting Latino volunteers. Information is based on a study of Latinos and volunteerism conducted in Oregon in 1999. The majority of data gathered referred to Latinos who were relative newcomers or second generation and of Mexican origin, characteristics shared by most of Oregon's Latinos. The booklet discusses the following: how Latinos view volunteering, whether Latinos volunteer, the challenge for organizations, connecting with the Latino community, choosing outreach staff, introducing the organization's mission and goals, identifying potential volunteers, inviting participation, supporting volunteers, and recognizing volunteers. Sidebars provide strategies for building relationships and trust with the Latino community and for recruiting, supporting, and recognizing volunteers. Information on the Oregon study is appended. (SM)

Intended to disseminate information about products and processes which have an impact on student needs, the handbook is a compilation of 40 selected research and exemplary projects conducted in Oregon during fiscal years 1970 through 1975. Each practice was selected according to the following criteria: (1) It addresses a significant problem in career education; (2) it is effective in its environment; and (3) it is transportable. The practices are grouped in four sections: career awareness, career exploration, career preparation, and career specialization. For each practice, the information presented includes: a brief project description, materials developed, project background, groups involved, purpose, emphasis, group size, environment, resources (staff and materials), evaluation, and contact person(s). A cross reference title index is provided at the end of each section for practices encompassing more than one main area. A glossary and subject index are included. (Author/RG)

This manual was created for the practicing counselor as a supplement to whatever formal counselor training he or she may have received. It contains information regarding some of the most critical competency areas as well as a variety of other resources upon which the counselor may draw for further study or assistance. The manual is divided into 12 sections which represent the following major competency areas: individual counseling techniques, group counseling techniques, the counseling of culturally diverse clients, drug and alcohol counseling, interviewing skills, psychological assessment, career development, economic self-sufficiency planning, referral strategy, accountability methods and information resources. Each section contains a statement(s) of learning objective(s) followed by a pre-test covering the information in that section. This manual is a resource for increasing counselor awareness while providing a quick information source. (Author)

The authors describe a data based physical education curriculum designed for low incidence severely handicapped students by Oregon State University in conjunction with Teaching Research. Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction to the physical education curriculum and the Teaching Research model with emphasis placed on the importance of individualized and data based instruction. Chapter 2 addresses the basic principles underlying the behavior modification approach that is utilized in the Data Based Gymnasium. Chapter 3 summarizes the principles of behavior programing in the Data Based Gymnasium and illustrates the forms used for tracking those behaviors. Some examples of how programming and tracking occurs are given. It is explained in a fourth chapter that gymnasium management, like classroom management, includes the welding together by a teacher/manager of the curriculum containing complete scope and sequence, a data keeping system, materials and reinforcers, aides, volunteers, and parents. Chapter 6 describes the Game, Exercise, and Leisure Sport Curriculum; placement procedures in the curriculum; and the development of the physical education individualized education program. Chapter 6 covers ways of tracking a student's performance in the acquisition of a skill; while Chapter 7 outlines guidelines for volunteers. Chapter 8 considers small group activities for the severely and moderately handicapped. The utilization of medical support services is the focus of Chapter 9. A final chapter points out three ways in which parents can be involved in their children's education, including the use of parents as volunteers. Appended are examples for the Game, Exercise, and Leisure Sport Curriculum. (SB)

This handbook of promising practices in Oregon career and vocational education contains descriptions of 46 practices in the areas of career awareness, career exploration, career preparation, and career specialization. Practices are reported according to the following format: topic, intended users, purpose, available products, resources needed, and source. Discussed in the section on career awareness are practices relating to career awareness curriculum kits, guidelines for integrating career and consumer education with reading programs, parent and community resources to develop elementary school programs, and infusing career education into the school curriculum. Integrating career education into junior high school curriculums, career information delivery systems, programs for the deaf, rural cooperative programs serving academically disadvantaged students, and computer-assisted career explorations are covered. Topics examined next include building reading and mathematics skills; implementing mainstreaming and cooperative work experience programs for the handicapped; exploring careers in music, business, and agriculture; evaluating secondary programs; developing job search and placement programs; and eliminating sex stereotyping and increasing non-traditional enrollments. Special support services and programs at the community college level for academically disadvantaged and handicapped students are described. (Earlier editions of the handbook are available separately through ERIC--see note.) (MN)

This cooperative extension bulletin is designed to help family and professional caregivers understand dementia in later life and learn to cope more effectively with the changes resulting from a progressive dementing illness. The first three sections describe the differences between senility and dementia, causes of dementia, and adjustments that families of dementia patients must make. The next two sections present a series of self-care guidelines for caregivers and general guidelines. Included among the guidelines discussed are the following: learn about the disease, ask for and accept help, maintain meaningful relationships, take breaks from caregiving, understand and accept feelings as normal human responses, make realistic commitments, hope for the best while planning for the worst, join a support group, keep expectations realistic, be consistent, limit choices, use repetition, use memory aids, simplify tasks, encourage recognition rather than recall, make the environment safe, use reminiscence, reassure and praise, and maintain a sense of humor. A section on approaches to special problems examines these topics: driving, managing money, wandering, Sundowner's syndrome, catastrophic reactions, hallucinations and delusions, bathing and grooming, meals, incontinence, hiding and losing things, and communication. A summary and list of resources conclude the booklet. (MN)

A small town can strengthen its local economy as a result of business people and concerned citizens collectively identifying that community's uniqueness and then capitalizing on it via advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, or publicity. This publication relates the science of marketing to communities. Seven simple techniques are provided to help residents of a small town identify and market what is unique about their community, i.e., brainstorming session, visitor questionnaire, photography contest, interviewing new businesses, focus groups, school essay contest, and professional visitation. A case study of Willcox, Arizona, is included along with a sample visitor registry form. (AH)

Many communities have economic development efforts, which are generally undertaken in an attempt to create productive employment opportunities and to strengthen the local tax base. Unfortunatley, the economic development efforts of many communities, especially rural communities, are not productive ones. Many rural development efforts fail because they are unrealistic. This publication provides some guidelines for evaluating community potential for different types of economic development, assuming that no formal economic development program is operative. Two forms are provided for gathering information. The first form, "Community Profile," elicits information on the following: location, population, climate, community facilities, education, medical, recreation facilities (public), communications, government, financial institutions, utilities and service, labor analysis, transportation, taxes (tax year 1981), available industrial properties, and major employers. The second form provides 36 questions to be used by individuals in rating their community. (AH)

Part of the Small Town Strategy series, this publication presents some of the more common techniques for identifying problems and setting objectives. A problem-solving process which can be used in many different situtations is presented. The process includes the following sequence: problem statement, goal statement; objectives, strategies, implementation plan, and evaluation. A specific example of how this process can be used forms the content. A worksheet, showing the elements of the planning process in outline form, provides a brief working guide to the problem-solving process outlined in this publication. (NQA)

Part of the Small Town Strategy series, this publication is designed to help communities decide whether further local economic growth is possible and desirable. The publication provides a discussion outline to be used to study the costs and benefits of growing or not growing. Questions are listed which should be raised by the community when considering a particular type of development (i.e., industrial, business, agricultural, and recreational development; general population growth; and rising incomes and demands of local residents). The questions, followed by comments, are divided into five areas: identifying local interest, local resources, types of growth, fiscal effects, and economic effects. Some of the questions and comments pertain to community attitudes and goals, economic costs and benefits, natural and human resources, housing availability, transportation, cooperation between the community and neighboring communities, public facilities and services, tax revenues, and community trade. Some questions may require the collection of data. (NQA)

Rural America is growing again; and, the change in growth and migration patterns means new opportunities for small towns to expand their economic bases and to improve community facilities and services. Part of the Small Town Strategy series, this publication characterizes one small southwestern town that is typical of many others and outlines a development strategy designed for small towns like the one described. A brief discussion of the necessity for a special strategy, the economic development committee, and the improvement of community facilities and services is followed by a discussion of a logical strategy for promoting growth. The strategy for promoting growth includes the following sequence: develop an overall plan, look at the infrastructure, compile a list of"suspects," convert "suspects" to prospects, sell the prospect, follow through on commitments, and keep existing business. (NQA)

Public officials in smaller communities that participate less frequently in the bond market need information to assist them in answering questions concerning bond financing. This booklet, developed as a part of a Western Rural Development Center series, outlines seven steps in debt management, identifies types of professional services available, and provides some criteria for selecting consultants. General references and other sources of assistance in getting started and a glossary of specialized bond market terminology are included. (AH)

Growth or development affects a rural community in three separate but interrelated areas: private, social, and public sectors. Private impacts are economic shocks to businesses and citizens of the community. Social impacts affect the community structure as well as individuals within the community, i.e., increased property tax costs may create hardships for young residents who wish to purchase housing, as well as for older residents on fixed incomes. Public sector is impacted by growth because elected officials are ultimately responsible for coping with changes in the community. Officials must deal with increased demands for public services and rising property tax rates, planning, and zoning decisions. Because of the importance of public sector decisions, it is essential that officials carefully analyze the potential impacts of growth. This publication attempts to provide a simple framework that can be used by officials and citizens to assess the effect of a specific development on public sector costs and revenues over time. (AH)

The guide introduces a method of identifying problems associated with rapid community growth; outlines several growth management options, and some challenges to be faced when attempting to influence related policy choices; and examines how people being impacted might cope more effectively. Part I, "Growth Impacts Assessment," provides an overview of rapid growth impacts, and introduces an impact assessment and management model. Part II, "Community Growth Management," identifies several alternatives for coping with rapid growth, and examines processes and prospects for influencing growth management decisions. Part III, "Coping with Rapid Community Growth," outlines several opportunities for citizens living in impacted communities to obtain more effective leverage in the public decision-making process. The section also suggests an important role for public agency professionals and appointive officials in growth impacts assessment and in the analysis of growth management options. (AH)

Designed to help local government officials, agency personnel, and members of citizen groups involved in the planning process for a rapidly growing community, this introduction to community needs assessment provides background information on the reasons for conducting community needs assessment, guidelines for determining which techniques are most appropriate, and a brief description of 13 different needs assessment techniques. Advantages and disadvantages of each method are given plus a list of references. The techniques include use of census and vital statistics records, content analysis, participant observation, case studies, social network analysis, surveys, key informants, life histories, nominal group process, delphi technique, advisory groups and task forces, community forums, and community impressions. Although a community needs assessment is an excellent means of involving the public in problem solving and developing local goals, the guide stresses the need to use multiple methods when carrying out a needs assessment--or many people and potential problem areas will fall through the slats. A brief, closing example illustrates how needs assessment techniques were used in Creston, Washington. (BRR)

Prepared to help small towns assess community population and economic trends, this publication provides a step-by-step guide for establishing an on-going local data collection system, which is based on four local indicators and will provide accurate, up-to-date estimates of population, family income, and gross sales within a town's trade area. The four local indicators are discussed: (1) electric hook-ups which are used to estimate present population; (2) school enrollment which is used to project population trends; (3) sales tax collections which are used to assess present economic activity; and (4) postal delivery service and postal receipts which are used to provide a further estimate of population and economic activity in the community. In addition to these four local indicators, this publication shows how to access and interpret three important indicators available from the United States Census: (1) population by incorporated community and census districts, including data on number of households and average family size; (2) personal income, including estimates of per capita and median family income; and (3) labor force, including total employment and unemployment, and male and female labor force participation rates. Examples from the community of Willcox, Arizona are provided throughout the publication. (NQA)

Rapid residential growth in rural areas or on the fringes of urban areas brings both costs and benefits. Seven factors determine whether new homes and subdivisions generate more revenues than expenditures. Local governments can substantially influence four of these seven factors in order to reduce the public costs of residential growth. Less controllable factors include number of children in new homes, assessed value of new homes, and excess capacity in public facilities. The more controllable factors are the type and level of public services; location, density, and design of residential developments; subdivider-installed improvements; and connection and systems development charges. Communities can reduce public costs of residential development through municipal and county ordinances and planning. Local governments can influence the location of residential development in a community through comprehensive planning, zoning, capital improvement programming, and urban growth boundaries. However, policy decisions which reduce public costs of residential development directly and indirectly increase land and housing prices in the community, thus generating new taxable assessed valuation. This provides the community with the potential to increase property tax revenues without increasing tax rate. Therefore, in making choices about residential growth and local policies to influence growth, communities must balance these costs and benefits. (NQA)

To help government agency representatives and community leaders understand local population trends, particularly in rapid growth situations, this publication outlines a simple framework for analyzing population changes and provides useful criteria that can be applied when considering management and policy alternatives. It is noted that two "population communities" must be considered: the local community of long term residents and the newcomer community. The guide points out some of the ways population information can be used to make informed guesses about social and economic effects of development. Suggestions are included for guiding citizens in responsible public decisionmaking and policymaking so that changes can be systematically managed. The suggested framework for population analysis poses practical growth questions that any rapidly growing community can apply in analyzing its own circumstances. In order not to overwhelm the citizen or planner who may be collecting population information, the framework focuses on priority needs so that only the most useful information is sought. Definitions are included as well as sources of population data and four references. (BRR)

Capital improvements programming is one financial managment technique for providing public services within the constraints of limited financial resources--a particular problem for communities experiencing rapid population growth. Long-range planning and improvement of public facilities for water supply, sewage treatment, parks and recreation, transportation, housing, health care, education, and other facilities are of special concern. So that the capital improvements programming process can be better understood, this guide first provides the necessary definitions for capital expenditure, capital program, capital budget, and capital improvements, and contrasts the annual capital budget (short term) and the capital improvements program (long range). After explaining that responsibility for developing a capital improvements program varies with locale, the guide describes main participants in the process along with their activities: chief executive, planning agency, coordinating body, operating departments, governing body, citizens' advisory committee, and consultants. The seven major steps listed and discussed for programming capital improvements are: submission of project proposals to program coordinator; evaluation and selection of projects for inclusion in the program; financial analysis of the jurisdiction's ability to pay and selection of the means for financing; preparation of a proposed program; consideration and final approval by the governing body; public approval of financing arrangments; and annual review and revision. References conclude the guide. (BRR)

Promoting coordinated and/or joint programs among local agencies is one strategy small, rural communities can use to cope with rapid population and economic growth. Interagency coordination is a process in which two or more organizations come together to solve a specific problem or meet a specific need. Coordination means more than just cooperation and ranges from informal information exchanges to formalized, joint relationships. Interagency coordination is particularly needed in times of rapid growth to deal with an increasing number of agencies, an increasing complexity and comprehensiveness of individual and community needs and problems, and an increasing number of special interest groups. Benefits include reducing duplication and overlap, covering gaps and oversights, minimizing conflicts, and giving smaller agencies a voice. Barriers may arise because of administrator training (to lead, not coordinate), internal agency structure, agency reputation, unequal power among agencies, or unclear goals. Initiating interagency coordination efforts can be facilitated if local organizations: identify the impacted area, key organizations, resource flow; define problems, needs, coordination structure, objectives; get commitment to the problem and to coordination; work toward a consensus; follow an action plan; and make sure agencies are notified of any benefits of their contribution. The guide concludes with 7 references. (BRR)

Presenting concepts generally applicable only to small rural regions or to local economies, this publication explains multipliers, shows how they are used in calculating impacts, and provides some criteria for determining whether a given multiplier can be used in a specific situation. Following a discussion of aggregate multipliers, which lump different types of businesses together, and disaggregate models, which divide the economy into sectors with a multiplier for each sector, is a review of problems frequently encountered in applying multipliers to community change (interchanging multipliers, double counting, pyramiding, and confusing multipliers with other economic measurements, e.g., turnover and value added). The criteria stated for determining the appropriateness of a multiplier include the basis for the multiplier, i.e., local data, primary or secondary data; aggregate versus disaggregate multipliers; the basis for an employment multiplier, e.g., number of jobs or full-time equivalent; the base year on which the economic model was formulated; the function of a multiplier; the extent of the impact in relation to the size of the affected industry on which the multiplier is based; the calculator of the multiplier; and the inclusion of household income as a sector similar to the business sectors in the local economic model. (NQA)