Monday, October 25, 2021

Exploring Evidence-Based Programming in Cooperative Extension

The Extension Foundation is convening interested stakeholders to explore what evidence-based programming means to Cooperative Extension professionals and to determine how Extension can refer to these efforts. If you are interested in joining the conversation, we invite you to opt-in to receive information about upcoming focus groups to frame this important work by filling out this form. The goals of these conversations include:
· Explore questions and gather ideas to inform and shape this work
· Define what is an evidence-based program
· Identify the language for naming evidence-based programs
· Build a taxonomy of programming models
· Define the ways evidence-based programs can be communicated
· Establish an advisory committee. Learn more here.



First Fridays-Updates, Dialogue, and Learning for Leaders Opportunities for Extension Directors and Administrators - In an effort to better communicate the work of ECOP, address emerging issues, and provide opportunities for professional development, ECOP Chair Wendy Powers will host a series Cooperative Extension Section Updates and Learning for Leaders events over the coming year for Extension Directors and Administrators. These events will take place on the first Friday of each month beginning November 5, 2021, at 3:00 PM ET. Section Updates will be no longer that 1 hour and Learning for Leaders no longer than 90 minutes. Hold the dates/times now for First Friday events through September 2022 except for August when there is a regional conflict. More details - topics and connection details - to come.


Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Reaffirms Commitment to 4-H and Cooperative Extension - National 4-H Council is pleased to announce that the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has renewed its partnership with 4-H and Cooperative Extension with a commitment of an additional $5 million to support the advancement of health equity and well-being across the nation. This two-year investment will build upon prior efforts to catalyze change at the community-level by creating system level supports that facilitate the implementation of the recommendations contained in Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being. Special attention will be given to system-wide interventions that amplify the role of young people in addressing health-related issues, advance Cooperative Extension’s work to addressing barriers to life-long health, and position equitable development as a strategy for creating communities in which all people thrive. For more information, contact Roger Rennekamp, Extension Health Director at rogerrennekamp@extension.org.



U.S. Senate Recognition for 4-H - The U.S. Senate passed a resolution designating October 3-9, 2021, as “National 4-H Week”, encouraging all citizens to recognize the significant impact of 4-H in providing opportunities for America’s youth and “empowering young people with the skills needed to lead for a lifetime.” The resolution received support from 46 Senate co-sponsors, including 4-H Caucus Co-Chairs Senators Debbie Stabenow and John Boozman. “We need a strong and engaged next generation of leaders, both on and off the farm. 4-H provides our young people with opportunities to lead hands-on health, science, agriculture, and civic engagement projects,” said Senate Ag Committee Chair Stabenow. “As a former 4-H’er myself, I know 4-H equips young people with the skills they need to thrive in any career. I am glad my colleagues came together on a bipartisan basis to officially recognize National 4-H Week.” Click here to read more. In its role as the non-profit partner to Cooperative Extension, National 4-H Council supports the Congressional & Senate 4-H Caucuses, which includes 66 members across both chambers. For more information, contact Eliza Hernandez, National 4-H Council Chief of Staff at eherhandez@fourhcouncil.edu.

Monday, October 18, 2021

New Health Framework Serves as Roadmap


Health Program Action Team UpdateCooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being outlines a bold and ambitious plan by which the Cooperative Extension System can advanced its work to improve population health and achieve equity in health status. The Framework includes five high-level recommendations and a robust set of specific recommendations for achieving this goal. National 4-H Council, through the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, along with the Extension Foundation and USDA-NIFA have joined forces to provide funding to support implementation of the recommendations. Leadership for implementation of the recommendations will be provided by the Health Program Action Team of the ECOP Program Committee. The Health Program Action Team is currently being established through a transitional process that will incorporate membership of several existing groups (including the Health Innovation Task Force) into a consolidated leadership group. Messaging information about this work is located here. For more information, contact Roger Rennekamp, Extension Health Director, at rogerrennekamp@extension.org.




Thank You!
to the 55 Members of the Section plus 2, 1994 Extension Directors, from 44 states and 1 US territory, who participated in 2021 NEDA last week! - Watch for highlights and Leadership Resources. Have a look during the week at ECOP Chair Wendy Powers's 2021-2022 Action Plan at www.aplu.org/CESgoals and hold 3-4:30 p.m. ET every first Friday beginning November 5 (except August 2022) to virtually meet with Wendy for member-driven updates and/or Learning for Leaders events. 



Leadership Development for the 21st Century (LEAD21) Call for Application Deadline November 30 - The LEAD21 program is intended to meet the future needs for leadership development of faculty, specialists, district and regional directors, program and team leaders, research station and center directors, department heads and chairs, and others in the universities’ colleges of agricultural, environmental, natural resources, veterinary sciences, and human sciences and USDA/NIFA. Individuals from land-grant, NARRU institutions, and USDA are encouraged to participate. The primary purpose of LEAD21 is to develop leaders in land grant institutions and their strategic partners who link research, academics, and extension in order to lead more effectively in an increasingly complex environment, either in their current position or as they aspire to other positions. Learn about the program goals, components, and costs here.




DEI Professional Development Opportunity for Extension Professionals - Michigan State University Extension’s Tollgate Farm and Education Center is hosting a virtual professional development panel discussion series for Extension and educational professionals about learning to better incorporate the perspectives of diverse groups in educational programs. Moderators and panelists from each community provide a chance for educators to deepen their teaching practice in a safe online space for open conversation and community. Interested parties may register here for upcoming sessions, including:
  • November 4: Incorporating Indigenous Perspectives and Maple Sugaring Experiences in Place-based Teaching and Learning
  • December 2: Incorporating Black Perspectives in Place-Based Teaching and Learning
  • February 3: Special Needs Perspectives and PBE In and Beyond the Classroom
  • March 3: Engaging with LGTBQ+IA Communities in PBE in Formal and Non-Formal Settings
  • April 7: A Latinx Lens: Incorporating Latinx Perspectives through Place-Based Educational Programming
  • May 5: Incorporating Asian Principles, Practices, and People in Community- and Place-Based Learning



RFA Vaccine Hesitancy of the Cooperative Extension System: PROPOSAL DEADLINE EXTENDED - The EXCITE team invites all Land-grant Institutions to apply for up to $300,000 funding for Dec. 1, 2021- April 30, 2023, to: 1) assess vaccine hesitancy of Extension field educators, specialists, and administrators, and 2) create and implement a strategy to reduce vaccine hesitancy for COVID-19 and other adult immunizations to increase confidence and willingness to become immunization educators in their community. The goal of this project is to reduce hesitancy around vaccination and increase willingness to serve in educational roles around adult vaccination among Cooperative Extension personnel at all three types of Land-grant institutions (1862, 1890, 1994). View the Vaccine Hesitancy of the Cooperative Extension RFA, and view the application guide. The deadline for the RFA is now November 12, 2021.

Monday, October 11, 2021

Annual Passing of the Gavel

Wendy Powers,
University of California
On October 14, 2021, during the Cooperative Extension Section Business Meeting portion of NEDAMembers will witness the official passing of their Chair's gavel from Chris Watkins, Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell University to Wendy Powers, Associate Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California. Dr. Powers’ vision as ECOP Chair is to advance the ECOP Strategic Directions, focusing on priorities, as identified by member institutions, and building on successes and lessons learned during the recent past. The intended outcome is a cohesive Cooperative Extension System and stronger member programs, inclusive of all. Our sincere appreciation for outstanding leadership and commitment to the mission of Extension over the past year is extended to Dr. Watkins.



NIH Requests Information from Extension on Research Opportunities to End Hunger, Food and Nutrition Insecurity - NIH has posted NOT-OD-21-183 - Request for Information (RFI): Research Opportunities to End Hunger, Food and Nutrition Insecurity. Through this RFI input is invited on the approaches NIH can take to address hunger, food insecurity and nutrition insecurity through innovative and multidisciplinary research - including implementation science and health outcomes-based research. Several areas of investigation could potentially reveal strategies to advance nutrition science, and improve coordination of federal food and nutrition policy, along with strategies and tactics to integrate nutrition with healthcare. This RFI is intended to solicit input from a broad array of stakeholder communities beyond the biomedical research community and healthcare sector. Responses can be provided by email or an email attachment. There are no forms or page limits. Responses will be accepted until November 1, 2021. Please direct all inquiries to Christopher Lynch, Ph.D., OD/Office of Nutrition Research (ONR), Telephone: 301-827-3988, and Email: nutritionresearch@nih.gov.



Competitive Nutrition/Health Grant Program Listening Session - The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) brings together stakeholders from various parts of the food and healthcare systems. The competitive grant program portfolio includes nutrition incentive projects, produce prescription projects, training, technical assistance, evaluation, and information centers which provide support services to both nutrition incentive and produce prescription projects. NIFA will host a webinar to listen to stakeholder feedback regarding all aspects of the GusNIP program. Go online here for more information or to register for the October 20, at 2:00 p.m. ET session.



Final Call for Editor for Youth Development Journal - The Publications Committee of the Journal of Youth Development: Bridging Research and Practice (JYD) is searching for their next Editor. JYD is an established open access, peer-reviewed journal in which neither authors nor readers pay anything for access. JYD is hosted by the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP) and the National Afterschool Association (NAA) with a collective membership of over 35,000 practitioners, researchers and leaders in child and youth learning and development throughout communities across the country including state affiliates. JYD’s editorial policies and practices are set by the Publication Committee in consultation with the Editor. Nominations (including self-nominations) for Editorship should send a brief (one- to two-page) statement of interest and vision for the journal and a letter of support from the head of the institution or department where the individual works by November 1 and request two letters of reference from individuals who can comment on the qualifications of the candidate for meeting the job qualifications outlined above. All materials should be submitted to Dale Blyth, Chair of the Search Committee at blyth004@umn.edu.

Monday, October 4, 2021

Cooperative Extension Section/ECOP Leadership Announcement

Dr. Beverly R. Durgan
University of Minnesota
T
he North Central Cooperative Extension Association (NCCEA), Robin Shepard-Executive Director, has announced that Dr. Beverly R. Durgan will become Chair-elect of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP). Dr. Durgan has been Dean and Director of University of Minnesota Extension since 2005. She was appointed Director of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station in 2006 and served in that role until 2012. University of Minnesota Extension is a state-wide organization with over 800 employees located in 87 county offices, 15 regional offices, and six University colleges. Dr. Durgan has served in numerous national leadership roles, including Vice Chair and Chair of the Budget and Advocacy Committee (BAC), one of two standing committees of the APLU Board on Agriculture Assembly's Policy Board of Directors. Dr. Durgan has chaired the North Central Administrative Heads Section (AHS), has served as an administrative liaison to several regional committees and projects and is the current chair of the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence, a national center that is a collaboration between extension, research, pork producers and the pork industry. Prior to her appointment as Dean, Dr. Durgan was Associate Dean for Research and Outreach and Chief Financial Officer in the College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota. As Associate Dean, she provided leadership for research and outreach programs of eleven academic departments and six research and outreach centers. Congratulations and thank you Dr. Durgan!



DEI Program Action Team Update - The ECOP Program Committee's Program Action Team on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion led by Vonda Richardson, Florida A&M University, and Rachel Welborn, Southern Rural Development Center, has established year one priorities which include:
  • Developing an information sharing system for posting resources such as peer-reviewed policies, procedures, best practices, and examples across the system that advance the efforts, working with Extension Foundation to host.
  • Establishing metrics to measure changes in awareness, behavior, and actions toward the goal of system, institutional and program transformations advancing DEI. Help establish a baseline starting point from which we can gauge success.
  • Identifying a few promising programs to support as national initiatives – focus on a few things we can do well together, models that work on the programming level.
  • Exploring collaborations that work among 1862/1890/1994 – what works, what could be improved? What could set up our system for collaboration rather than competition?
  • Developing an Extension DEI community acting on system-wide, institutional, and program actions
Crystal Tyler-Mackey, Virginia Cooperative Extension, has agreed to serve as the DEI Fellow for the project helping to guide efforts toward these priorities. The team consists of Extension administrators and directors as well as specialists throughout Extension with experience in DEI efforts. The team welcomes others to join. Please contact Vonda or Rachel for additional details.



Intent to Establish an Equity Commission and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership on the Equity Commission Advisory Committee and Equity Commission Subcommittee on Agriculture - Section 1006(a)(3) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 directs the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture to create an Equity Commission to advise the Agency in “addressing historical discrimination and disparities in the agriculture sector,” which includes “funding one or more equity commissions to address racial equity issues within USDA and its programs.” Nominations can be submitted to Dr. Dewayne L. Goldmon, USDA Senior Advisor for Racial Equity, Office of the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6006-S, Washington, DC 20250; or send by email to: EquityCommission@usda.gov. A Federal Official of USDA will acknowledge receipt of nominations. View the Federal Register Notice here.




Invitation to Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Public Conversation - The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research’s (FFAR) will hold its annual Public Conversation on October 7, 2021, 12:30 -2:00 p.m. ET. The Public Conversation is an opportunity to hear from the Foundation’s leadership. This gathering, held virtually this year, also includes a forum for the public to address FFAR. During the Public Conversation, FFAR will also recognize Executive Director Dr. Sally Rockey in anticipation of her retirement. Learn more about Dr. Rockey’s Retirement here and register for free here. FFAR will accept comments via completion of the registration form or by email at communications@foundationfar.org. Registered participants will receive the Zoom webinar link.



Making it Count: Applying Science to Support Universal Affordable Broadband Adoption - The APLU Office of Economic Development & Community Engagement invites Extension Directors and Administrators a conference on October 27, 2021, at Noon ET featuring presentations on papers that will inform current deliberations over how to structure, monitor, and evaluate the new suite of internet access and adoption programs made available by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and other federal funding programs. Read what topics will be included and register here and preview the current agenda at here. This opportunity has been made possible thanks to funding by USDA-NIFA.

 

Military Families Learning Network Looking for CES/Afghanistan Refugee Programs - Is your state working with Afghan refugees? Are your counties engaging locally with Afghan families relocating to the United States? The Military Families Learning Network in cooperation with the Department of Defense Office of Military Family Readiness Policy is interested to know how the Cooperative Extension System (CES) is responding to this new refugee influx. CES has successfully responded to immigrant needs in years past with local programs, educational materials, and partnerships with faith-based resources. Please send what your state or counties are doing or planning to do by email to Brigitte Scott, National Program Leader for the Military Families Learning Network, at brigit2@vt.edu by November 1, 2021. A description of these efforts will be shared with Department of Defense colleagues and others across the country.