An Investment For The Future: The Value And Benefits Of The 4-H Youth Development Program And A 4-H Agent

The Mission of 4-H school-time programs, and the more frequently Florida 4-H creates supportive environments for diverse they participate in these activities, the more youth and adults to reach their fullest potential. The likely they will experience PYD. University of Florida Cooperative Extension 4-H program  Youth who are involved in one or more uses a learn-by-doing approach to enable youth to develop structured programs outside of school experience the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to become higher PYD. The quality of activities youth were competent, caring, and contributing citizens of the world. involved in had more of an impact than the This mission is accomplished by using the knowledge and quantity of activities. However, youth who resources of the land grant university system, along with participated in many out-of-school-time the involvement of caring adults. It is a privileged to use activities, regardless of type, experienced more the 4-H Name and Emblem granted through a partnership PYD than peers who participated in no activities with USDA. at all. The 4-H program intentionally and purposefully utilizes Florida 4-H exemplifies these characteristics. the most current research models in positive youth development, ecological systems, experiential learning, A variety of studies across the country have identified life lifeskill development, and volunteer management, skills gained through 4-H and the general impact of the creating community leadership systems that are not program. As an example, a University study of 5th, 7th , necessarily tied to individual sites or classes of people. It and 9th-grade students in Montana and Colorado (Astroth has been an efficient and effective program and youth & Hayne, 2001, Goodwin, 2005) found that 4-H youth are development organization throughout Florida since 1909. more likely than other kids to report that they:  Succeed in school, getting more A’s than other kids 4-H Strengthens the Local Community by  Are involved as leaders in their school and the Providing a Positive Future for Youth community Quality and quantity do matter in community based youth  Are looked up to as role models by other kids programs. The more often youth are involved in youth  Help others in the community development programs, like 4-H, the more they and their  communities benefit. According to research (Learner, 4-H youth reported that they are less likely than other kids Positive Youth Development Study, 2007) to:  Youth who spend more time involved in high-  Shoplift or steal quality youth development programs like 4-H are  Use illegal drugs of any kind to get high more likely than other youth to experience  Ride in a car with someone who has been positive youth development (PYD) and drinking contribute and less likely to participate in risk  Smoke cigarettes behaviors. High-quality youth development  Damage property for the fun of it programs ensure an environment that encourages sustained positive relationships with adult  Skip school or cut classes without permission mentors, skill-building activities and leadership. Overall, research indicates that 4-H youth are busy  Research shows that the combination of context making contribution to improve the quality of life in their (environment) in which a youth learns; the families, neighborhoods and communities. 4-H does not content (subject matter) they learn; and the just attract high-achieving kids from privileged families – dosage (amount of time) spent learning in that nor is 4-H able to achieve the kind of results reported in environment are all necessary factors in this research summary by only working with “the best determining youth success and lack of kids.” Rather, 4-H is a powerful, proven program that involvement in risk behaviors. makes a positive difference for all who participate. Florida 4-H uses the same best practices to achieve  Youth involved in structured programs outside of similar results. school are more likely to experience PYD. The longer youth are involved in structured, out-of- lived in cities and suburbs, 4% lived on farms, and 4% lived in central cities. 4-H also serves volunteers, parents, Current Subject Matter Initiatives teachers, community leaders, and other adults who work Here are the major initiatives the 4-H Youth Development with youth. Nearly 13,000 adult volunteers serve 4-H Program is currently undertaking to meet the needs of annually, with the average adult volunteer donating 220 youth throughout the Sunshine State: hours per year in preparing for club meetings and  Teaching Youth about Science, teaching youth. There were also 578 4-H youth Agriculture, and the Environment volunteers, teens who shared their skills with younger 4-H 4-H teaches youth the important knowledge members and with other youth in their communities. needed to be informed stewards of the environment and successful in a rapidly 4-H uses best practices to interest youth in learning, advancing, technology-driven global economy. including: experiential learning (learn by doing), youth- 4-H members acquire knowledge and skills adult partnerships, fun curriculum materials and activities through 4-H projects in subject matter such as such as contests & events, service learning, and agriculture, natural resources, and collaborations with other youth-serving agencies & environmental education, as well as science, organizations. technology, and engineering.

 Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Smart Professional 4-H Staff are Critical to Choices providing the Proven Benefits of 4-H 4-H taps into the research-based knowledge of Although University-based faculty and staff provide the University of Florida and the land grant support for 4-H statewide, it takes local faculty working university system to teach youth to make with trained volunteers to deliver 4-H in each county. An smart, healthy, and safe choices. analysis of 4-H enrollment data for the most recent year available (2007), revealed that on-the-average, counties  Developing Youth to be Responsible Leaders with full-time professional 4-H staff had close to four and Citizens times more youth enrolled in 4-H clubs (averaging 21 4-H Although youth can gain a variety of subject clubs and 433 4-H club members) than counties without matter knowledge through 4-H projects, its full-time professional 4-H staff (averaging 6 clubs with ultimate aim is to teach leadership, citizenship, 95 4-H club members). and life skills. This includes important workforce preparation and meaningful Counties with 4-H professional staff engaged over eight developmental assets such as communication times more total youth per county (3,895) through all 4-H skills, organizational abilities, wise decision- delivery modes (4-H clubs, school enrichment, special making skills, independence and self- interest programs, after-school programs, camping, etc.) confidence, as well as respect and caring for than counties without 4-H faculty (443 youth). Volunteers others and the community. are critical in leading 4-H, counties with full-time professional staff available to recruit, train, and support volunteers had approximately five times the number of 4- 4-H Meets the Needs of Youth Wherever H volunteers (181) than counties without professional staff (37). They Live 4-H offers youth fun, safe, and inclusive learning 4-H professional staff are expected to operate a environments to meet their need for belonging, through 4- comprehensive county 4-H program using research-based H clubs, after school programs, special interest, school programs. As part of the University of Florida Extension, enrichment programs, and camping. 4-H provides youth , a county 4-H agent has the ability to access and fully ages 5-18, the opportunity to explore a variety of topics utilize successful programs from across the country, and to master the knowledge and skills they learn. 4-H national research, and juried curriculum materials programs are conducted at the local/county level and through the Land Grant University system. guided by county Extension/4-H agents and the volunteers they recruit and train. Regional, state, and In summary, 4-H professional staff are critical to national 4-H educational events are offered to reinforce providing a county 4-H youth development program to what is learned in local 4-H clubs and communities and to support volunteers and provide youth the benefits that expand 4-H members’ knowledge and skills to a more research and more than 100 years of success have shown advanced level. that 4-H provides. 4-H is critical to the development of young people and their communities. The University of Florida 4-H Youth Development Program annually reaches about 225,000 youth statewide, including about 21,350 youth as members of 1,200 4-H clubs. 4-H reaches youth from suburban, urban, and rural areas: 57% lived in small towns and rural areas, 35%