December 2021

The Extension Foundation, in cooperation with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy, through an Interagency Agreement with the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are funding the Cooperative Extension System to address health disparities among rural and other underserved communities. This initiative is called the Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching & Engagement (EXCITE). The EXCITE program...

Title Picture Attribute: US Air Force [Timmy Payne admires his work on his family Christmas by Airman 1st Class Jessica H. Evans, Dec. 5th, 2015, CC0] The holidays are a time when getting together with friends and families is always important. Reconnecting with the ones we love can be rejuvenating and highlights what’s important to us. However, for military service members and their families, the holidays can be tough and it’s not always possible for service members to be home with family...

Hello colleagues! Please take a moment to consider these exciting opportunities, and feel free to share them with others! University of Maryland Extension ( UME ) is seeking to fill two (2) Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Financial Wellness Educator positions , with one position at each of the following county Extension office locations: Calvert County (Position 103388) - This Office is located in Prince Frederick, Maryland, and provides programming to the Southern Maryland Cluster, which...

A new publication is available from the Extension Foundation. Collaborative Design in Extension: Using a Modified Game Jam to Explore Game-Based Learning describes the collaborative design process used to develop an interactive mobile app for consumers. The work was done as part of the New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) project Navigating the Grocery Store Aisle: Understanding "Non-GMO" & Other Food Labels . Other funders and supporters of the project are the Extension Foundation,...

Many of us have heard the phrases “go green,” “eco-friendly,” and “sustainable lifestyle” tossed around. But what do these phrases mean and how do they affect us, the planet, and other living organisms? When we are living sustainably we are living in harmony with our natural environment and all living creatures. This is a big goal!! A good place to start with sustainable living is to look at a single day. How do you get around? How many items do you use? What food do you eat? Ohio State...

A new USDA-NIFA funded project will develop cohorts of 4-H youth and create biotechnology video games. The games will convey fun and science-based information about biotechnology such as genetic engineering. They will also build public confidence in the safe use of biotechnology in agriculture and the food system. The project will also provide education to youth on career opportunities. The University of Connecticut (UConn) Extension , together with faculty members of other departments in...

by Karen Shirer, Ph.D. A colleague recently shared a CDC report that highlighted a startling and tragic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families. Researchers found that approximately one in 500 children experienced the death of a primary caregiver due to COVID-19. The authors stated: “ for every four deaths from COVID-19 , one child is left without a parent and/or grandparent who provided the child’s home and basic needs, including love, security, and daily care.” This study examined only...

exciteThe focus of the November EXCITE Spotlight session was utilizing Social Media in our Vaccine Education project. Teams shared resources, success stories, and difficulties of using social media to share their project messages and reach their audiences. As part of the presentation, The College of Menominee Nation was highlighted for the significant progress made in their projects goals after launching social media campaigns to reach their target audience. The College of Menominee Nation...

Please tune in to the GPCAH FarmSafe podcast this Wednesday, December 8, and listen to our latest episode. In this episode, we talk about lighting and marking and how they increase visibility of farm vehicles and equipment on roadways. Reflective tape and slow-moving vehicle emblems draw the other driver’s attention to the agricultural vehicle which may give them more time to adjust their speed and decrease the likelihood of a crash. Listen at bit.ly//GotoFarmSafe or wherever you usually...

Like a medical exam, a review of clients’ finances can identify strategies to improve their “financial fitness” and screen for potential problems, such as a high debt-to-income ratio. This article features 10 diagnostic tools to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a client’s financial situation that can be reviewed in a one-hour appointment.