Extension-Military
Partnership
Cathann A. Kress, Program Lead - Partnerships
Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense
Lisa Lauxman, Director Youth Development
National Institute of Food & Agriculture
Changes in Military Family Landscape
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High operational tempo
Deployment extensions
Large Guard and Reserve population deploying
Family isolation
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Single parent families
Sustained impact on children
Financial issues
Increasing stress
Our challenge:
Reaching families to offer assistance
and resources specifically designed
to help minimize their stress.
Challenges:
Changing Communities= Changing Services
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Delivering correct, user-friendly information
Reaching Guard and Reserve families
Engaging community leaders
Reaching the single service members
Meeting emerging expectations of new generations
Building a worldwide, trusted communication system to connect
with troops and families
“The Right Information, at the Right Time,
to the Right People”
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Expanding Services
Each of our goals is dependent
upon leveraging partnerships
for us to be successful.
Mission Focused Partnership
The mission of this partnership is
to advance the health, well-being, and
quality of life for military Service
members, families, and their
communities through the coordination
of research, education and extension
programs.
National Institute
of Food and Agriculture
Partners
MC&FP
NIFA
Air
Force
Cooperative
Extension
Land Grant
University
Army
Navy &
Marines
How the Partnership Grew
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1987 – Navy partnered with CES Families program
1995 - 4-H/Army Youth Development Project
2005 – 4-H/Air Force Youth Development Project
2007 – 4-H/Navy Youth Development Project
4-H built relationships with Army, Air Force, & Navy in support of the common
mission for positive youth development experiences for children and youth
wherever they live.
• 2009 – NIFA-MC&FP Partnership
Partnership expanded beyond 4-H and individual Services.
4-H Military Partnerships
Army Child Youth & School Services
NIFA Children, Youth Families at Risk
(CYFAR)
Air Force Airmen & Family Services
Navy Child & Youth Programs
USDA - National Institute of Food & Agriculture
Child Youth Deployment Support (TBD)
4-H/Army Youth Development Project
4-H Air Force Partnership
4-H Navy Partnership
Auburn University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Washington State University
University of Georgia
University of Maryland
Virginia Tech
Kansas State University
Kansas State University – serves as the overall lead University in the 4-H Military
Partnerships. KSU awards more than $9M to 52 State LGUs that provide direct
programming and support for military children/youth through the Military 4-H Clubs
and Operation: Military Kids grants.
Military 4-H Club Grants - Funding for these grants is provided by Army, Navy, Air Force
and NIFA (CYFAR). These grants establish 4-H clubs on military installations world wide
and provide 4-H opportunities to geographically dispersed military children/youth. In
2010, 47 states, DC & Guam applied for and received grants.
Operation: Military Kids Grants – OMK grants are funded by Army and serve all military
children/youth who experience a loved one being deployed. These grants focus on
building local support networks where these families live. In 2009 49 states and DC
applied for OMK grants.
•No Changes
By the Numbers
• 23,769 military youth enrolled in 4-H clubs
(worldwide)
• 107,731 youth involved through Operation: Military
Kids
• 101 4-H Military Club/OMK Grants awarded to states
• 1,298 military youth development professionals
trained
• 95 Active Army Installations and Guard & Reserve
using Operation READY
• 75 Extension staff working on Texas Army Bases (Fort
Hood, Fort. Bliss, & Fort Sam Houston)
Military Family and Consumer Science Programs
Army Family and Morale,
Welfare, Recreation
Command
Air Force
Ft. Knox in
development
Army Installations
Fort Bliss, Fort
Hood, Fort Riley, Fort
Sam Houston
USDA - National Institute
of Food & Agriculture
Cornell University
K-State Extension
Texas AgriLIFE Extension
Army Family Advocacy
Air Force Family Advocacy Military Life Skills Education
Program
Training Support and
Program
(Army Wide)
Research Project
(Ft. Bliss, Texas)
Army Relocation Assistance
(Air Force Wide)
Military Life Skills Education
(Army Wide)
Military Life Skills Education
(Ft. Hood, Texas)
Army One Source
Program
Substance Abuse Prevention
(Army Wide)
(Ft. Riley, Kansas)
(Ft. Sam Houston)
Warriors in Transition
(TX-GA-WA pilot)
National Institute
of Food and Agriculture
University of Georgia
Survivor Outreach Services
(Army Wide)
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States Most Highly Impacted by Deployments
WA
NH
MT
ND
VT
ME
MN
OR
ID
SD
WI
WY
NV
MI
IA
NE
CA
CO
AZ
PA
IL
UT
KS
OK
NM
OH
WV VA
MO
CT
NJ
DE
MD
KY
NC
TN
AR
HI
SC
MS
TX
IN
MA
RI
NY
AL
GA
LA
AK
FL
Legend
California, North Carolina, Texas, Indiana, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, Virginia,
Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, Michigan, Mississippi,
Alabama
States with the
highest rates of
deployments among
all components,
including Reserve &
Guard
Current Partnership Project States
WA
NH
MT
ND
VT
ME
MN
OR
ID
SD
WI
WY
NV
MI
IA
NE
CA
CO
AZ
PA
IL
UT
KS
OK
NM
OH
WV VA
MO
CT
NJ
DE
MD
KY
NC
TN
AR
HI
SC
MS
TX
IN
MA
RI
NY
AL
GA
LA
AK
FL
Legend
Washington State University, University of Arizona, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska,
Kansas State University, Purdue University, Ohio State University, Southern, Cornell, Penn State
University, West Virginia State University, West Virginia University, Virginia Tech, University of
Maryland, North Carolina State University, University of Georgia, Michigan State University
Participating states;
includes
representatives from
1862 & 1890
institutions
Lead Institution: Purdue University
• State highly impacted by deployments
with no installation;
• Military Family Research Institute;
Coordination of overall partnership with
DoD, NIFA, partnering universities,
and others.
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Other Lead Institutions
• The Ohio State University
• Washington State University
• eXtension (University of NebraskaLincoln)
• North Carolina State University
• University of Arizona
• Kansas State University
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DoD – USDA Partnership - Current
Office of the Secretary of Defense – Office
of Military Community & Family Policy
USDA – National Institute of Food &
Agriculture
Purdue University
Overall Partnership Leadership
Internship Program
University of Arizona
Multi-Disciplinary Partnerships
North Carolina State University
Project Y.E.S.
(Youth Extension Service)
Ohio State University
Virtual Child Care Lab School
Project Sub-Awards
Washington State University
Communications & Marketing
eXtension (U of Nebraska)
Online Resources & Training
Kansas State University
University Passport Program
(in development)
Exceptional Family Member
Program Support
Child Care Training & TA
Family Readiness Clearinghouse
(completed)
University of Maryland
National Summit on Military Families
Virginia Tech
Military Families Listening Sessions
Universities / Sub-Awards: Cornell / Community Gardening; Michigan State / Youth Fitness; Ohio State / Basic Meal
Preparation; Purdue / Heartlink & Key Spouse Program Support / Personal Worklife Skills; Southern / Out-of-School
Connections; West Virginia State / Health Literacy Education; University of Arizona / Deployment Curriculum &
Resources; University of Georgia / Community Capacity Building / Database for Annual Report / JFSAP Program
Evaluation
DoD – USDA Partnership (2011)
Office of the Secretary of Defense – Office
of Military Community & Family Policy
USDA – National Institute of Food &
Agriculture
Purdue University
Overall Partnership Leadership
Internship Program
Project Sub-Awards
University of Arizona
Multi-Disciplinary Partnerships
Kansas State University
University Passport Program
Cornell
EFMP Benchmark Study
Ohio State
Autism Study – Phase II
West Virginia University
Medicaid Project
North Carolina State University
Project Y.E.S.
(Youth Extension Service)
TBD
Child Care Training and
Technical Assistance
Ohio State University
Virtual Child Care Lab School
TBD
Family Readiness Clearinghouse
Washington State University
Communications & Marketing
eXtension (U of Nebraska)
Online Resources & Training
Universities / Sub-Awards : Cornell / Community Gardening; Michigan State / Youth Fitness; Ohio State / Basic Meal
Preparation; Purdue / Heartlink & Key Spouse Program Support / Personal Worklife Skills; Southern / Out-of-School
Connections; West Virginia State / Health Literacy Education; University of Arizona / Deployment Curriculum &
Resources; University of Georgia / Community Capacity Building / Database for Annual Report / JFSAP Program
Evaluation
Key Objectives
• Improve community capacity to support
military families
• Increase professional development and
workforce development opportunities
• Expand and strengthen programs in family
readiness, child development, & youth
development
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Community Capacity Building
TARGET: Local communities and leaders
GOAL: Build greater awareness of challenges faced by
military families and build local support
PROGRAM EXAMPLES:
• Military Community, Family & Youth Extension
Programs
• Communications & Outreach
• County-Based Services Directory (NACo)
• PROJECT Y.E.S.
Military Community, Family &
Youth Extension Program
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Youth Fitness Programs
Database for Child and Youth Report
Health Literacy Education
Basic Meal Preparation
Personal Work Life Skills
Community Gardening
Heart Link & Key Spouse Program Support
4-H Out-of-School Programs
Training and Materials for Youth Camps
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Workforce & Professional Development
TARGET: Potential employees (including military
spouses)
GOAL: Recruit and retain talent to work in MC&FP
related fields within the military
PROGRAM EXAMPLES:
• Internship Program
• Professional Development & Technical Assistance for
Children, Youth & Family Programs
• Child Development Lab School System
• Joint Family Readiness Conference
• University Passport Program
Strengthening Family, Child & Youth
Development Programs
TARGET: Military Helping Professionals
GOAL: Enhance and strengthen programs particularly
through research-based efforts
PROGRAM EXAMPLES:
• Autism Services Review for EFMP
• Review of Medicaid Access for EFMP
• Family Readiness Clearinghouse
• eXtension.org Military Community of Practice
• Engaging Faculty Expertise
– Sabbaticals, colloquia, etc.
– Focus on program evaluation, military family research,
program and curricula development;
Benefits
DoD & Components
• High quality workforce to
meet demand
• High quality curriculum
and materials
• Faculty expertise for
research, strategic planning,
and evaluation
• Enhanced quality and
capacity to serve military
families
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USDA, LGU’s, CES
Engaged faculty
Curriculum
development;
Increased participation in
4-H and family
educational programs;
New resources
Enhanced collaborations
Multi-state projects
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Lessons Learned
• Military Command Structure
• Try not to surprise your partners
• Recognize that three partners (NIFA, DoD,
Universities) bring different things to the table
• Do your homework
– Research on unique needs of military families
– Doing the same programs with same people
won’t work
– Know what others are doing in support of
military families
Future Partnership Projects
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Related Links
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www.extension.org
www.4-hmilitarypartnerships.org
www.networkofcare.org
www.militaryonesource.com
www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil
www.defense.gov
Questions?
• Cathann Kress cathann.kress@osd.mil
• Lisa Lauxman llauxman@nifa.usda.gov
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