“Armchair Travel” Presents
A New WORLD Discovered:
Overview of the 4-H Programs of
Distinction Submission Process
Suzanne Le Menestrel
Shannon Bedo
National Program Leader,
Program Specialist,
Youth Development
Research
Youth Development
Your Travel Agents Today
from National 4-H Headquarters, CSREES, USDA
Where Are We Going?
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Overview of Programs of Distinction
Benefits
Submission Process
Questions and Answers
Sit Back in Your Seats
Programs of Distinction are:
Peer-reviewed program descriptions that
reflect the high quality of 4-H youth
development programs around the
country
Get Ready for Take Off:
Definition of a Program:
“An organized, purposeful set of
activities designed to
achieve positive youth
development outcomes.”
Programs of Distinction Must:
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Exhibit strong program development
characteristics
Contribute to the body of knowledge about
youth development
Convey new ideas, materials, or
innovative methods
Demonstrate evidence of effectiveness
Why 4-H Programs of
Distinction?
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Designed to help 4-H professionals to:
 communicate the high quality of 4-H
youth development programs
 assist others in improving their practices
in positive youth development
 better understand and promote the
nature of scholarship in their work
 submit program outcomes
through a peer-evaluated format
 Tell the story of 4-H
Benefits to Submitters
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National recognition
Eligibility for seminar or poster presentation at NAE4-HA
Eligibility for the Annie E. Casey Foundation Families
Count Family Strengthening Awards
Detailed feedback provided by peers
Opportunity for program improvement and enhancing
communication skills
Wonderful addition to professional file or resume
Ability to generate reports for local and state funders
and policy makers
How Do We Get There?
Submission Process
Step 1: Download submission form and guidelines from
the National 4-H Headquarters site:
http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/about/pod.htm
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Example programs
Link to Annie E. Casey Family Strengthening Awards
How Do We Get There?
Continued
Step 2: Submitted directly to National 4-H Headquarters
from the author or by recommendation from a State
4-H Program Leader
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Manuscripts are accepted on a continuous basis
All manuscripts submitted electronically using the
Programs of Distinction submission form available
online.
How Do We Get There?
Continued
Step 3: Submitters receive a “receipt” e-mail
acknowledging that the manuscript was received
(state leader will be copied)
Step 4: Identifying information (e.g., city, state, names)
is removed from the manuscript in order to ensure a
blind review
Step 5: The “blind” manuscript is sent to three
reviewers with experience in the selected
category(ies)
How Do We Get There?
Continued
Step 6: Reviewers are asked to complete their
reviews within two weeks
Step 7: Submitters receive reviewer comments
and notification of the status of their
submission within four weeks from the date
the manuscript was received
The Road Map
Submitter emails manuscript to National 4-H Headquarters at
any time
Headquarters creates a “blind” version, sends to 3 reviewers
Reviewers have 2 weeks to return review to Headquarters
Returned to submitter for edits or a
re-submission, if needed
Submission is rejected as
a Program of Distinction
Designation as a Program
of Distinction!
Overview of Scoring Process
75 content points
+ 25 readability points
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= 100 possible points
Easy as 1,2,3 . . . Or 4,5
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Scoring rubric lists each objective
– matches with submission form
1-5 Criteria rating scale with
descriptions
Comments help submitters know
how to correct their manuscripts.
Final recommendation:
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Publish as a designated POD
Publish as a designated POD with
minor revisions
Ask submitter to revise and resubmit
– needs major revisions
Reject as POD
Destination: Database
At least 2 publish
At least 2 minor
or publish
At least 2 major
At least 2 major or
reject
2 or more ≥ 90
CSREES makes
grammatical
edits - publish
CSREES works with
submitter to
make minor
revisions publish
N/A
N/A
2 or more ≥ 80
CSREES works with
submitter to
make minor
revisions publish
Submitter makes
suggested
revisions and
returns to one
peer reviewer
no pass - CSREES
communicates
needed
changes to
submitter resubmit
no pass - CSREES
communicates
needed
changes to
submitter resubmit
N/A
no pass - CSREES
communicates
needed
changes to
submitter resubmit
no pass - CSREES
communicates
needed
changes to
submitter resubmit
N/A
no pass - CSREES
communicates
needed
changes to
submitter resubmit
reject with offer to
send
comments
Scores
2 or more ≥ 70
2 or more ≤ 70
N/A
N/A
Travel Tips
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Reviewers are looking for something original
 Example: serves a unique audience
 Find something unique about your program
Share your draft with colleagues first for a fresh
pair of eyes
Keep your state leader in the loop!
Please keep open communication with us!
Look at POD’s already on the website.
Practice Makes Perfect
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Working Through the Scoring Rubric
THANK YOU
Thank you for participating in the
Programs of Distinction training!
Contact Information
Suzanne Le Menestrel
slemenestrel@csrees.usda.gov
202-720-2297
 Shannon Bedo
sbedo@csrees.usda.gov
202-720-2088
 General Programs of Distinction E-Mail:
POD@csrees.usda.gov
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