EDEN Records Activities in Response to COVID-19

The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) has developed a reporting system for tracking the reach and impact of Extension's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. EDEN is requesting the help of Directors and Administrators in directing Extension faculty and staff to an online form they can use to report how they are delivering both new and ongoing programs in innovative ways. Extension personnel may report as frequently as they wish, either as events or activities occur or at regular intervals. The reporting form can be accessed at bit.ly/EDEN-COVID19-Activities-Report (worksheet found here). EDEN is collaborating with eXtension and ECOP to mount a comprehensive and coordinated effort to support a systemwide response to the current pandemic. Visit extensiondisaster.net and virtual.extension.org for the most recent information.

Big Ideas from the March 27 Learning Through COVID-19 Zoom Meeting - Last Friday, colleagues Chuck Hibberd (University of Nebraska), Ami Smith (West Virginia State University), Laura Stephenson (University of Kentucky), Ken LaValley (University of New Hampshire), and Mike Gaffney (Washington State University) joined ECOP Chair Mark Latimore (Fort Valley State University) and Health Extension Director Roger Rennekamp to present a Learning for Leaders Zoom meeting of the Cooperative Extension Section. More than 70 individuals joined! Although the video recording is at this time unavailable, click here to view/download 14 big ideas that were shared by the group. Contact Roger at rogerrennekamp@extension.org if you have any questions.



National Awards Nomination Deadline is Less than 5 Weeks Away - Go to www.aplu.org/CESawards for details and to obtain handy prep forms. Respond by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, May 1, 2020. Assistant Director Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org will help answer questions or address concerns.



National System Dialogue Opportunity - Q: What is the National Action Dialogue? A: An online community of Extension Professionals (116 and growing) that is currently exploring a Community-Based Programming in the Digital Networked COVID-19 Age. Other conversations to follow. To learn more and join, go to: https://connect.extension.org/g/national-action-dialogue.

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service COVID-19 Update - Currently, all NASS reports are on schedule, but the health of producers and employees is the first priority. NASS is evaluating each report as conditions change, and will promptly announce any changes to the report schedule on nass.usda.gov and Twitter @usda_nass. NASS has temporarily suspended all in-person data collection. Midway through data collection for several surveys, NASS asks producers to respond online or by phone to decrease the need for additional follow-up and in-office mail processing. See the press release for more information.

Leading Through COVID-19 and the New World of Virtual Extension

Last Friday Cooperative Extension/ECOP Executive Director Rick Klemme, on behalf of ECOP Chair Mark Latimore (Fort Valley State University), invited members of the Cooperative Extension Section to meet via Zoom on Friday, March 27, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. This special Learning for Leaders session is called Leading Through COVID-19 and the New World of Virtual Extension. Five colleagues, one from every region, will share ideas on how to be an effective leader in a world pandemic or similar emergency. Directors and Administrators are encouraged to send questions to be posed during the hour and links to resources to Health Extension Director Roger Rennekamp rogerrennekamp@extension.org. The recorded version of the session will be released in next week's ECOP Monday Minute. Click here to download/save calendar file or contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org for connection details.



Cooperative Extension Learning Resources for COVID-19 - A collection of relevant learning resources for supporting institutional response to COVID-19 can be found at virtual.extension.org. Under "Extension Responses to COVID-19", discover outward-facing resources for the general public and internal guidance for Extension professionals developed by contributing institutions. Additionally, resources designed to help Extension professionals adapt to working in remotely is found under “Working Collaboratively in a Virtual World”. To submit resources by region and institution, forward links (no attachments, please) to contact-us@extension.org. Questions or comments regarding Extension System’s COVID-19 response can be directed to Roger Rennekamp rogerrennekamp@extension.org.



System-Wide Announcement: Powerful and FREE to ALL Extension Professionals - All Extension Directors and Administrators are invited to share the following opportunities widely with Cooperative Extension Professionals everywhere and across all areas of Extension programming and on-line learning/communications professionals.

• Connect Extension Hub connect.extension.org, is a new, open and very powerful way to engage system-wide for rapid response and collaboration. Aaron Weibe aaronweibe@extension.org may be contacted with questions/concerns. There is no cost to join to connect on rapid ground-breaking topics like this one:
  
• National Action Dialogue for Community Based Programming (CBP) in the Digital Networked COVID-19 Age, March 26 & April 1, 3 - 4:30 PM ET. The purpose of this series is to support Extension colleagues in their rapid response to CBP in the Digital networked COVID-19 issue by delving in, capturing collective wisdom, inspiring innovative thinking, and focusing on new opportunities, partnerships, solutions, tangible actions and collaborations on issues for farms, families, businesses, and communities that will exist long beyond this public health crisis. This is open to ALL Cooperative Extension professionals. Facilitated by Molly Immendorf, eXtension Foundation; joined by a panel of innovative thinkers from around Extension. Register here.    

International Scene Update - The North American Agricultural Advisory Network (NAAAN) is being established as an affiliate of the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS). GFRAS is an international NGO that provides networking, learning, and information exchange for agricultural extension programs, practitioners, and stakeholders across the world. GFRAS has regional network affiliates covering most countries in the world. NAAAN aspires to link agricultural extension communities of practice (and related stakeholders) in Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. with each other, and through GFRAS, with their counterparts in other countries across the globe. For more information, contact David Nielson dnielson0427@gmail.com, Kerri Wright Platais at Kerri.Wright.Platais@ColoState.edu, or Ashley Stokes Ashley.Stokes@colostate.edu. Click here to learn where NAAAN will be housed in Denver at  Colorado State University System's Northwestern Center.

COVID-19 Social Distancing Strikes Movement

In response to preventing the spread of COVID-19:

• The ECOP Meeting set for this week is transformed to a Zoom meeting on March 18. Contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org for more details.
• ECOP's Health Director is assembling a state-by-state list of outward-facing Extension websites dedicated to the COVID-19 pandemic that contain resources for public consumption. Summary of be posted by eXtension! Contact Roger Rennekamp rogerrennekamp@extension.org for more details. 
• ECOP Leadership considers scheduling a Learning for Leaders aimed at systems-equipping Extension Directors and Administrators.
• eXtension releases virtual.extension.org, Resources for Extension Professionals Working Online, a means through which Extension educators and administrators can share with their Cooperative Extension colleagues various resources and guides about teaching and working virtually. To share resources with eXtension, email to contact-us@extension.org.

Stay tuned to email and this blog for further details.


2020 National Recognition Opportunity - Land-grant Cooperative Extension professionals and institutions deserve recognition for excellence through the annual National Cooperative Extension Awards Program. 1862 Directors and 1890 Administrators are encouraged take this opportunity to nominate by May 1. For complete details go to www.aplu.org/CESawards. Self-guided prep forms are available from download. Contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org for more information.


Extension's Behavior Health Strategic Plan Bumps Up - Last week’s Monday Minute announced the Rural Community Action Guide. This resource supplements the Extension Opioid Crisis Response Workgroup's Report to ECOP and impact essential resources found at opioidresponse.extension.org. The Guide also highlights the PROSPER Partnership Model as one of three “Evidence-Based Prevention Strategies That Work” for Cooperative Extension. That Model is guiding plans for the formation of state partnerships among states choosing to participate in the new behavioral health network. Professionals from across the System can connect on this important issue through the National Behavioral Health Extension Network (NBH e-NET); contact Greg Pliler at 515-294-4426 or nbh_enet@iastate.edu.


Data Collection for Census of Agriculture Special Studies - Last chance to respond to the 2019 Organic Survey and the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties. NASS is collecting the data through March. Producers can respond online, by phone, or mail. Promotional materials for websites, social media, newsletters, email signatures, and more are available on the NASS Partner Tools webpage. Results for both Special Studies will be available at www.nass.usda.gov this fall. Stay connected with us on Twitter @usda_nass for the latest information!

Rural Community Action Guide Launched

USDA’s Rural Community Action Guide: Building Stronger, Healthy Drug-Free Rural Communities was released last month to arm rural leaders with information they can put into immediate action to create change. The new tool features “Evidence-Based Prevention Strategies That Work” by Cooperative Extension (Section 3, p. 42) and provides background information, recommended action steps, and promising practices to help manage the impact of substance use disorder on local communities and help persons with the disease of addiction. Stay tuned to ECOP Monday Minute to learn about regional roundtables opportunities with USDA Rural Development and programs that work across the country.

eXtension's Impact Collaborative Program Trains 45 New Innovation Facilitators - The Impact Collaborative trained 45 new Innovation Facilitators representing 18 Land-Grant universities, joining 107 others that represent 49 Land-Grant Universities. Participants spent three days learning the Impact Collaborative’s Innovation Skill-Building methodology and obtained skills and tools that will help catalyze innovation with local project and program teams. This particular training session was unique as it marks the first time that the Impact Collaborative has delivered the Innovation Facilitator training virtually. Some highlights from this training include:
   • 100% of participants responded that they would likely or possibly recommend this training to others.
   • 98% of participants stated they would definitely or probably use the information presented in the training.
Learn more about this training session here.


A Survey Says: Land-grant faculty prioritize public engagement activities, but feel isolated. - Using results from the first comprehensive, census survey of 46 land-grant institutions across the U.S., a team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Massachusetts Amherst examined faculty views and participation in public engagement activities and the role of science in society. Results based on 10,706 faculty spread across multiple fields reveal that most faculty prioritize engaging with the public about science but feel isolated in their outreach work. The report also explores the institutional climate surrounding public communication and factors that may encourage or discourage involvement in outreach and engagement. To see more highlights about views and attitudes from land-grant faculty, go to the full report, PNAS brief, and press release.

USDA NASS Data Collections - The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is currently collecting data for its March Agricultural Survey. A quarterly survey, it asks about acres planted, planting intentions, and the amount of grain and oilseed stored. Data collection ends March 18. Survey results will be released March 31. Please help NASS authorities spread the word. NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer recently published a blog about the 2020 crop season and what to expect from NASS numbers. It’s an informative read about NASS’ estimation process that’s definitely of interest to producers and worth a share. A recent article by Farm Week continues the discussion about March Ag, the importance of response, and NASS’ record of accuracy.

Opportunity to Host 2021 National Health Outreach Conference

Although the 2020 National Health Outreach Conference (NHOC) hosted by Missouri is still a couple of months away, now is the time for institutions to consider hosting the 2021 conference. Originally known as the Priester Conference, NHOC is an annual gathering of Extension faculty and staff, cross-campus collaborators, and external partners focused on the role that they can collectively play in improving the health of the nation. Please contact ECOP Health Extension Director Roger Rennekamp rogerrennekamp@extension.org for more information about hosting the 2021 conference or to obtain a copy of the request for proposals. Completed proposals are due by April 15, 2020.



2020 Learning For Leaders Dates - ECOP Leaders appreciate wide-spread participation in the Learning for Leaders Sessions. The 3/6/2020 Session is cancelled. Please save the following Fridays, 3-4:00 p.m. ET, that are found on the updated ECOP Calendar.
   • May 1, 2020
   • June 5, 2020
   • September 4, 2020 
The last session was held on January 10, 2020 - Positioning 4-H and Extension for Investment. Browse almost 20 current topics here and here that are of interest.



National Awards Process in Full Swing - There are 9 weeks left to devote system resources for the Diversity in Extension (team or individual) and/or the Excellence in Extension Award (individual) nominations. For all of the details visit www.aplu.org/cesawards. Contact Assistant Director Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org, 202-478-6088, for more information.


FY21 Budget Process - APLU's Policy Board of Directors approved the Budget and Advocacy Committee’s (BAC) Recommendation to move forward with 8% increase in capacity funding and AFRI and a $5M increase for the 1994 Tribal colleges' line from the enacted FY20 funding levels. The table below should be of interest to Directors and Administrators. Materials for use at the upcoming CARET/AHS and PILD Conferences as well as in conversations with other NIFA supporting organizations, go to www.land-grant.org/appropriations-documents.

All in Millions

EDEN Resources to Address Epidemics - With coronavirus spreading, now is a great time to use the Extension Disaster Education Network’s Epidemic Preparedness for Community-based Organizations program. This program provides PowerPoints, a draft script and templates that community organizations can use to develop their epidemic plans. An Extension educator or other local facilitator would bring together organizations and agencies to talk about which ones would provide which community services – in addition to serving their regular clients or members – during an epidemic. The program focuses on process more than content so no special training is needed to facilitate it. Please share this resource with Extension educators/agents. Send successes or suggestions for improvement to Becky Koch, North Dakota State University.