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How Can Extension Help When #CaregivingHappens?

 

More than 90 million Americans provide care for someone who is aging, disabled, has one or more chronic conditions, just needs a little extra help, or some combination thereof. These individuals may not identify as “caregivers” but the role they play in the life of someone else is critical. November is National Family Caregiver Month and this year’s theme is #CaregivingHappens.

#CaregivingHappens when we least expect it: when we are at work, running errands, during natural disasters, or just living our everyday life. The key to optimally meeting the care needs of someone else is knowledge and preparation – we can’t be ready for every scenario but we can assemble tools in our caregiving toolbox to be ready to act when #CaregivingHappens. What role does Cooperative Extension play in helping when #CaregivingHappens?

Tips for Extension Professionals

  • Determine challenges faced by caregivers in your local communities.
  • Recognize Cooperative Extension resources that can meet your community’s unique caregiver needs.
  • Develop new resources and programs to address gaps when #CaregivingHappens.
  • Maintain a national clearinghouse of resources.
  • Identify upcoming educational opportunities that enhance your knowledge to best meet your caregivers’ needs.


Upcoming Events for Extension Professionals & Caregivers

Cooperative Extension plays an important role in communities, serving as educators and connectors. As such, we have a unique perspective when it comes to systematic approaches to addressing complex issues caregivers face. #CaregivingHappens. #ExtensionResponds.

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About the Extension Foundation

The Extension Foundation was formed in 2006 by Extension Directors and Administrators. Today, the Foundation partners with Cooperative Extension through liaison roles and a formal plan of work with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) to increase system capacity while providing programmatic services, and helping Extension programs scale and investigate new methods and models for implementing programs. The Foundation provides professional development to Cooperative Extension professionals and offers exclusive services to its members. In 2020 and 2021, the Extension Foundation has awarded 85% of its direct funding back to the Cooperative Extension System, 100% of funds are used to support Cooperative Extension initiatives. 

This technology is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension (funding opportunity no. USDA-NIFA-OP-010186), grant no. 2023-41595-41325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation. For more information, please visit extension.org. You can view the terms of useat extension.org/terms.

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