4-H Youth Development/Nutrition, Family and Consumer Science Advisor
Imperial County
Position Description:
0.75FTE 4-H Youth Development. Develop, implement, administer and evaluate the
UCCE 4-H Youth Development program in Imperial County.
0.25 FTE Nutrition, Family and Consumer Science. Manage the Food Stamp Nutrition
Education Program (FSNEP) budget, train and supervise two program representatives.
Justification: The UC ANR Strategic Vision states that the division works to contribute
to “. . . healthy Californians through teaching, research, and outreach education programs
focused on nutrition and healthy lifestyles and through its work on animal and ecosystem
health.” (Emphasis added) This position, with its dual charge of youth development and
nutrition education, follows the strategic vision in its most basic premise. The following
statistics illustrate the importance of maintaining an academic in this position.
Imperial County is one of the poorest and neediest counties in California. The county
population is 76.3% Hispanic origin, has 21.5% individuals living below poverty level
and 65% of the children are eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Sixty-eight
percent (68%) of the population speak a language other than English at home. Only
10.3% of the population has a bachelors degree or higher, as compared to 26.6%
statewide. Additionally, 39.6% of the population is obese (highest rate in CA). Imperial
County also has the highest unemployment rate in the United States at 29%.
The following ANR Intiatives will be addressed: Both the 4-H Youth Development and
the NFCS programs fall under the Healthy Families and Communities Strategic Initiative.
 Strategic Issue 1 – Promoting Healthy Behaviors for Childhood Obesity
Prevention
 Strategic Issue 3 – Promoting Positive Youth Development
Extension: 4-H Youth Development – The existing structure of the 4-H YD Program
includes a mix of both traditional, ongoing 4-H clubs (17 clubs currently enroll over 700
members, led by 230 adult volunteer leaders), as well as school garden clubs, school
enrichment camp, afterschool clubs, Summer Day Camps, and a club at the Naval Air
Facility (Military Partnership Program).
Nutrition, Family and Consumer Science – the UCCE Imperial County FSNEP provides
adult nutrition classes taught at community centers, shelters, schools and at the Desert
Research and Extension Center (DREC). Children nutrition classes are also taught at
DREC and at participating, eligible schools. In the FY10-11, 3,684 children were served,
3,500 adults were served, 40 teachers were enlisted, 380 adult classes were taught and 9
Health Fairs attended.
Research: It is expected that the academic chosen to fill this position will bring their
own expertise and experience to address the most pressing of social issues facing the
population. The following are possible questions:
4-H YD: How does the 4-H YD Program and other youth development programs offered
by ANR promote positive youth development of individuals, families, organizations and
communities?
NFCS: To what degree does a multifaceted, multi-level, school-centered, environmental
intervention targeting culturally diverse children promote healthful dietary and activity
habits, prevent obesity and support more regional agriculture?
Publication outlets would include Journal of Extension and Journal of American Dietetics
Association.
ANR continuum: 4-H YDP – State 4-H Youth Development Program and 4-H Center
for Youth Development; at UC Davis, a new Youth Development Specialist, a Family
Studies Specialist and a Community Studies Specialist; a $1.4 million grant from Thrive
Foundation to implement and evaluate the Step-It-Up-2-Thrive Model of positive youth
development in the California 4-H Program; CA 4-H YDP participation in the Tufts
University “4-H Study of Positive Youth Development” and other national studies.
NFCS – UC Faculty, Specialists and Advisors: research and education expertise is
extensive in numerous topics relevant to child obesity including nutrition, education,
agriculture, child development and food systems; UC Expanded Food and Nutrition
Education Programs (EFNEP); UC Davis FSNEP (also known as SNAP Ed); UC Davis
Dept. of Nutrition Ctr. of Nutrition in Schools; UC Berkeley Atkins Center for Weight
and Health (CWH); UC Berkley School of Public Health.
Support: Imperial County will provide office space, County travel, administrative
support, office supplies, computing, Internet, telephone, and other services available to
other advisors in the office.
Other Support: 4-H YDP – It is expected continued support for 4-H would be given by
Imperial County Office of Education, Naval Air Facility, Board of Trustees of the CA
Midwinter Fair and Fiesta, all County School Districts, Imperial County Farm Bureau,
Imperial Valley Housing Authority, JC Penny Foundation and various local businesses
and organizations.
NFCS – Dedicated to leveraging every opportunity, FSNEP collaborates with dozens of
organizations and entities to maximize their successes. They include: School districts,
Imperial County Health Dept., Shelters, Imperial County Office of Education, Nutrition
Network, DREC, Community Centers and Master Gardeners.
Location: Imperial