Tagged With "food safety preventive controls alliance"
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Let’s talk about nutrition security
By Noelle Harden I recently talked with my mom and grandparents about hunger and food insecurity in the military. My grandpa served in the air force, then worked for the Veterans Administration. My mom spent her childhood moving across the country from base to base. They shared their struggles to be able to afford healthy and affordable food. Food Insecurity in the Military The RAND Corporation released a report last month on food security in the military. They found that 15.4% of active...
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How Medicaid Helps Families Experiencing Food Insecurity
By Chris Plein, Ph.D., Rachel Brauner, and Lillian Byars, OneOp Medicaid provides health insurance coverage to eligible families and individuals with low incomes and/or specific healthcare needs. Since its inception in 1965, Medicaid has provided a platform for individuals to access needed care and to offset the costs often associated with healthcare. By providing access to care, it can help families stay healthy and avoid costly medical bills that can contribute to food insecurity. Over...
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The Spectrum of Prevention: A Framework to Tackle Food Insecurity in Communities
By: Jenny Rea, Ph.D. Adapted by Anna Peterson Did you know… 25% of active-duty spouses reported food insecurity in 2021? The 2021 Survey of Active Duty Spouses found that 27% of families with children under six experienced food insecurity. Among this same group of active-duty spouses, 41% were unemployed. These findings echo those mentioned in Noelle Harden’s (Health and Nutrition Educator, University of Minnesota Extension) recent blog post . Noelle provided an overview of nutrition...
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Healthy Eating Resources for Families Facing Food Insecurity
As any parent can tell you, it can be tough to get your kids to eat healthy foods. Proper nutrition is an important part of raising happy and healthy families. But what happens when proper nutrition is difficult to obtain? Not having enough food to eat is a growing problem for many families, so it can be hard to eat healthily when food is limited. Whether a family is facing a lack of access to healthy foods or affordability issues, this challenge of food insecurity puts families through...
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The Office of Nutrition Research is Seeking Input on Food Is Medicine Research Opportunities
The NIH Office of Nutrition Research (ONR) has announced the release of an interagency Request for Information (RFI) on Food Is Medicine research opportunities. As part of a government-wide collaboration that includes 12 federal agencies and offices, as well as 16 NIH institutes, centers, and offices, the request invites input on the following Food Is Medicine topic areas: Research Community Outreach and Engagement Education and Training Provision of Services and Activities Coverage for...
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EXCITE Pilot Project Celebration & Wrap-up
The Extension Collaboration on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE) project held its final Strategy Session, marking the last time the EXCITE pilot projects will meet before concluding their projects. This event signifies the end of a two-year effort aimed at bringing Immunization Education to Extension communities. During the session, the EXCITE Program team members, EXCITE teams, and partners gathered together to celebrate the project's efforts. The success of this project is a...
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UBUNTU is the glue: A unifying philosophy
It's the fall of 2020. The covid-19 pandemic is raging. Forced isolation to control the spread of the virus is the norm. Professionals in the entire Cooperative Extension system are working hard to figure out how to serve communities across the nation in new ways. One of our internal support efforts for Extension professionals focused on the nineteen 1890 institutions. Toward the end of a Zoom meeting with the 1890 Extension Leadership Academy design team, one of the team members asked if...
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The Impact of Food Insecurity on Mental Health
When families experience food insecurity, hunger may be only one result. An often-overlooked factor of insufficient access to food is the detrimental impact on mental health. Adults with low food security are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and heightened stress [1]. Socio-economic background, race, culture, and location all play a role in the development of one’s psychological well-being. Historically marginalized groups are already at a disproportionate disadvantage to being...
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Dam Safety Awareness Day: How Does a Changing Climate Impact Dams? USDA Scientists are Looking for Answers
How Does a Changing Climate Impact Dams? The Agriculture Research Service is Looking for the Answers Media contact : Maribel.Alonso@usda.gov How do the extreme weather changes resulting from climate change impact the condition of our nation’s aging dams? Do sudden shifts from extreme precipitation events to flash droughts put this infrastructure at risk? These are the types of questions researchers like Dr. Sherry Hunt, a research leader and acting location coordinator at the USDA...
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Expanding Food Security in Military Families
Since 2010, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Department of Defense have supported OneOp in delivering evidence-based programming focused on improving the well-being of military families. This year, the newest series within the Military Family R eadiness Academy streamlines the efforts of these two agencies into a single focus: to expand food security in military families. We value the support of our longtime advocate, Brent Elrod, Science Programs Officer and...
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Registration for the Healthy People 2030 Webinar Series: Strengthening Resilience in Children and Adolescents Is Now Open
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) is pleased to announce its next webinar: Healthy People 2030 Webinar Series: Strengthening Resilience in Children and Adolescents . This webinar will take place on Wednesday, June 28 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm ET. To register, please visit the Healthy People 2030 Webinar Series Registration page . Continuing Education Credits* (CEs) are available for this webinar. During this one-hour event, ODPHP and the Centers for Disease Control and...
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The National Meat Summits Steering Committee: Introduction and Opportunities to Collaborate
Are you working to support meat supply chains in your region? Interested in learning from other efforts happening across the U.S.? Join us for this webinar to learn about the recently formed National Meat Summits Steering Committee, which works to build connections, increase knowledge, grow collective skills and advance market opportunities for local and regional meat supply chains. The webinar will also provide lessons learned from the 2023 Mountain Meat Summit and International Livestock...
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Social Determinants of Health for Military Families in Transition
By: Jenny Rea, Ph.D. , Edited by Anna Peterson Arizona is home to 500,000+ service members, veterans, and their families. I recently had the opportunity to attend the Arizona Coalition for Military Families’ 13th Annual Statewide Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona. This annual event is Arizona’s only conference that brings together the military, government, and community. The symposium focuses on strengthening services and support for Arizona’s military-connected population. As Extension...
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EXCITE Launches Implementation Phase for 33 Immunization Education Projects/37 Land-grant Universities
Cooperative Extension has been given the opportunity to continue immunization education work through the Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE). The Extension Foundation, in cooperation with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), through an Interagency Agreement with the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are funding the Cooperative Extension System to increase...
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June Check in: Recap of this Year's Program Center Stage Webinars!
Cooperative Extension implements community-driven impactful programming across the system. To showcase these programs, the Extension Foundation hosts a monthly series called Program Center Stage , which invites Extension teams from diverse areas to spotlight their programs and project methods, strategies, and impacts. This series serves as a platform for Extension professionals and partners to connect with these programs, gain insights and explore opportunities for collaboration or program...
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How Practicing Connection Can Cultivate Food Security Collaborations
Like many of the issues that impact our families and communities, food security is complex. There are multiple factors that affect the issue, including economic, social, environmental and political factors. Interrelated issues like poverty, healthcare, and climate change make food security even more complex. Complex issues can only be addressed from multiple perspectives and by a wide range of people and organizations. Obach and their collaborators write, “Building networks allows for...
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Toxic Leadership
What is toxic leadership? Using coercive, controlling, or manipulative tactics prioritizes personal gain over meaningful goals undermining collaborative achievements. When our actions hurt those we are charged with caring for, it can damage relationships and the whole organization. Common Characteristics Micromanagement Excessive control and monitoring of others leave little space for autonomy or independence. It inhibits creativity and imagination. Intimidation Using threats, humiliation,...
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Helping Military Families Inflation-Proof Their Budget
For over two years, U.S. inflation rates have exceeded their long-term average of about 3%. Like all Americans, military families have experienced a loss of purchasing power as their income cannot buy as much as it did previously. Individuals cannot stop inflation but they can mitigate its impact. Below are six inflation-fighting strategies for Extension professionals to discuss with Service members: Needs Versus Wants Analysis - During inflationary times, it is more important than ever to...
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Ten Strategies to Fight Shrinkflation
One cause of food insecurity among military families is inflation. As food costs rise, the ability to make nutritionally sound food purchases and maintain consistent access to food decreases. In February 2023, food prices were 9.5% higher than a year earlier according to the USDA Economic Research Service. Another cause of concern for cash-strapped military families is “ shrinkflation ,” i.e., where food and household product (e.g., toilet paper) manufacturers keep prices the same but reduce...
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Three Ways Service Providers Can Expand Food Security in Their Communities
In 2021, 33.8 million people living in the United States were food insecure (Weeks et al, 2023). Food security is defined by the USDA as, “Access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members” (OPA). Frequent relocations, barriers to spousal employment, and the Basic Allowance for Housing being factored into SNAP eligibility compounds the issue of food security for military families. As a result, one in four service members currently experience food...
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Feel the surge? Resist the urge!
A few years ago an assignment came my way due to a lack of personnel with the right experience. It featured a lot of diverse tasks to prepare a team for a challenging assignment involving advanced training, remote communication, outside agency networking/coordination & team building. After months of painstakingly detailed work, my bosses felt I had not asked the right questions, sweat the small stuff enough and let too many “balls drop”. In a one-way conversation, they fired me. This hit...
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We are hiring: University of Minnesota Extension Specialist Faculty Position
The Department of Family Social Science in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and University of Minnesota Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing seeks a tenure track Assistant Professor whose work centers community-based applied research approaches to studying family health, resilience and thriving in the context of social and economic inequalities. The person in this role will contribute through 1) establishing a national and international reputation in...
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CDC Awards $11M to Cooperative Extension to Combat Obesity
Sixteen land grant universities will receive first-year CDC awards totaling more than $11 million to help reduce disparities in US counties with high rates of obesity. The awards are part of the 5-year High Obesity Program (HOP) . Through these awards Cooperative Extension at these sixteen institutions will work to increase the availability of affordable, healthy foods and safe, convenient places for physical activity. HOP serves counties where more than 40% of adults have obesity. Obesity...
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Normalizing the Conversation: Mental Health
By: Sara Croymans adapted by Anna Peterson Part 1 of this blog post introduced the topic of military mental health and suicide and provided a variety of resources. To learn more, go back and read the blog post here . Many Service members and veterans with mental health needs are not seeking treatment for mental health care. One study found that more than 60% of veterans of the Iraq war that screened positive for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety, or depression did...
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Funding Opp: USDA Seeks Partner to Evaluate Impact of Food Supply Chain Funding
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development today announced that it is inviting proposals to evaluate the impact of the agency’s grant and loan programs on regional food supply chains . The agency is making $750,000 available to measure how well USDA Rural Development programs are creating market opportunities for small- and mid-sized farmers and independent agricultural businesses throughout the food supply chain. In 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration and USDA...
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Invitation to Participate in a Vertebrate Pest Management Needs Assessment Survey
Because human and vertebrate pest conflicts are on the rise in urban and rural areas, there is an urgent need to increase awareness and adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in vertebrate pest management. Extension Professionals and others who work in the fields of wildlife damage must possess knowledge and resources to address this need. With that situation known, the IPM Pesticide Safety Education Collaboration Team invites you to take part in this needs assessment survey of...
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Register Today for the next Healthy People 2030 Webinar “Injury and Violence Prevention Strategies for the LGBTQ+ Community”
Space is still available for the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion's (ODPHP) next webinar: Injury and Violence Prevention Strategies for the LGBTQ+ Community . This webinar will take place on Tuesday, September 19 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm ET. To register, please visit the Healthy People 2030 Webinar Series Registration page . Continuing Education Credits* (CEs) are available for this webinar. During this one-hour event, ODPHP and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s...
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Holiday Shopping with a Financial Mind$et
As we approach the Christmas season, be mindful of excessive holiday spending. While Christmas is the season of giving, excessive spending can lead to much regret, depression, and even added financial struggles in the new year. According to Berden and Haws (2012), spending can quickly get out of hand when it is driven by emotions rather than a plan. Have you ever gone to the store to grab a few items, but as you stroll next to the; buy one get one free, the rollbacks, the manager's special,...
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Family Life Educator Position - Illinois
WE TRANSFORM LIVES. Everything we do is designed to improve the quality of life of the people in the state of Illinois, across the nation, and around the world. We discover, develop, translate, and disseminate knowledge to address societal concerns and train the next generation of experts and leaders in a way that empowers them to expand the boundaries of science to higher levels of understanding and influence. Be a part of our story. Through learning partnerships that extend knowledge and...
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Taking Care of Mental Health: The Significance of National Suicide Awareness Month
Written by: Jason Jowers, MS, MFT September is more than just the transition from summer to fall; it’s also a time when we come together to raise awareness about an issue that affects millions of people worldwide—suicide. National Suicide Awareness Month is a crucial period during which we focus on spreading hope, support, and resources to help those in need. We wanted to fully explore the significance of this month, the objectives of many suicide prevention organizations, and how you can...
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Fueling Hope: Breast Cancer Awareness through Nutrition
In October, the focus shifts to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society (2023), breast cancer stands as the most prevalent cancer in women, and among Hispanic women in the United States, it remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis frequently gives rise to a multitude of questions and anxieties related to diet and nutrition. Register with OneOp on October 25, 2023 as we delve deeper into strategies that assist...
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Available Grant Opportunities for Cooperative Extension!
Each week, the Extension Foundation newsletter dedicates a section to highlight the latest federal grant opportunities available for the Cooperative Extension system. In this blog post, we're excited to share with you a compilation of the most recent funding prospects featured in our newsletter. Cooperative Extension professionals who want to stay informed about these valuable opportunities can easily do so by subscribing to our weekly Connect Digest. You can subscribe to the Newsletter here...
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Illinois Extension Youth Development Educator position opening - closes November 9
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development – Unit 2 The University of Illinois Extension is seeking an individual to provide educational leadership for program delivery in Unit 2 (Boone, DeKalb, and Ogle Counties). Master’s degree related to subject matter emphasis required. To view complete job description and apply, visit https://go.illinois.edu/1020816 . Closing date is November 9, 2023 . The U of I is an EEO Employer/Vet/Disabled http://go.illinois.edu/EEO that participates in the federal...
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Extension Foundation Releases Four New NTAE Titles
Four new titles are available on the Extension Foundation’s website. The brief publications - written as magazine-style feature stories - share project work funded through the New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) program , a cooperative agreement between USDA NIFA, Oklahoma State University, and the Extension Foundation. The goal of NTAE is to incubate, accelerate, and expand promising work that will increase the impact of the Cooperative Extension System (CES) in the communities it...
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Illinois Extension is Seeking a Watershed Outreach Associate
The University of Illinois Extension is seeking an individual to deliver research-based educational programs, developed in cooperation with University personnel and campus-based faculty with an emphasis on watershed management in or near one of the phosphorus-priority watersheds
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National Bullying Prevention Month: What Parents and Providers Can Do To Combat Bullying
Written by: Jason Jowers, MS, MFT, Virginia Tech Every October, communities across the United States come together to observe National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying is a widespread problem in the U.S. that affects millions of children, adolescents, and even adults. Bullying behavior is very common. According to the CDC, about 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied on school property and 1 in 6 high schoolers reported being bullied electronically in the last year (CDC,...
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A Special Treat for Professionals: Free CPE Units Available Now for Reading the Dietary Guidelines for Americans ________________________________________
You can now earn 2.0 free continuing professional education (CPE) credits for reading the Introduction and Chapter 1 of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 ! Credits are provided by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing body for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians, Registered. The self-study module will equip professionals with knowledge of the scientific underpinnings that makes the Dietary Guidelines relevant across all life stages.
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Invitation to Participate in a Vertebrate Pest Management Needs Assessment Survey
Because human and vertebrate pest conflicts are on the rise in urban and rural areas, there is an urgent need to increase awareness and adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in vertebrate pest management. Extension Professionals and others who work in the fields of wildlife damage must possess knowledge and resources to address this need. With that situation known, the IPM Pesticide Safety Education Collaboration Team invites you to take part in this needs assessment survey of...
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UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: FCS Program Leader (Principal Agent and Assistant Director)
Job Post Here: https://ejobs.umd.edu/postings/113812 Colleagues and friends, I just want to float this job announcement to the top of your emails. The University of Maryland Extension (UME), within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) seeks a nationally recognized leader in Extension, outreach, and scholarship to serve as Assistant Director and Program Leader (AD/PL) for Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) . This position provides leadership and direction for UME’s FCS...
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Extension Foundation Releases Three New Publications
The Extension Foundation has added three new titles to its publications library. These brief publications - written as magazine-style feature stories - share project work funded through the New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) program , a cooperative agreement between USDA NIFA, Oklahoma State University, and the Extension Foundation. NATE's goal is to incubate, accelerate, and expand promising work that will increase the impact of the Cooperative Extension System (CES) in the...
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Mental Resilience
Thought you might enjoy a Yogi Berra quote to start... "Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical." Too funny and makes a great point. Life is a constant mental challenge. And we know, heaven or hell, it's between our ears. As you ponder what it will take for you to become more mentally resilient, here are some things to consider. "I don't count my sit-ups; I only start counting when it starts hurting because they're the only ones that count." -Muhammad Ali When the going gets...
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"Cheesy" Advice
On some recent trips, my wife was administering health screenings at two of the factories in the largest cheese-manufacturing company in the world, Leprino Foods has 5,500 employees in 19 locations around the globe. You've probably eaten their product without even knowing. Hang on to your organizational health hats! One of the leaders in this area, Patrick Lencioni, would be proud! Back to my wife's experience... Her time at their factories was very similar despite the locations being far...
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New Publication Available: Teaching Youth Food Safety - A Game-Based Approach
The Extension Foundation (EXF) has issued Teaching Youth Food Safety: A Game-Based Experience , a publication written by a team from the New Mexico State University Learning Games Lab. The publication details how the team is addressing food safety through game-based learning. Their ideas ties into research that indicates youth prefer to learn about food safety topics through interactive educational tools. The publication details how the team developed “Theme Park Cafe”, a food safety game...
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Dive into heart health: Free ‘DASH’ diet webinar for registered dietitians
https://extension.psu.edu/nutrition-professionals-exploring-the-dash-diet-1-cpeu Dive into heart health: Free ‘DASH’ diet webinar for registered dietitians Interested in learning about heart health to prevent or manage cardiovascular disease? Registered dietitians can earn one credit of continuing professional education units for free during a Penn State Extension webinar, “Exploring the DASH Diet to Lower Your Blood Pressure,” that will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 2. This session is...
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USDA Scientists Work to Ensure Nutritious and High-Quality Potatoes are Available During the Winter Season and All Year Round
Can you help us spread the word? USDA-ARS researchers team up with Chef Mark Mills to create three tasty and easy-to-prepare dishes featuring potatoes. While Chef Mills prepares a vegetable hash, Spanish tortilla, and potato black bean burger, ARS researchers chime in on the history of the potato, its value in U.S. agriculture, and how we are making healthier, tastier potato cultivars that last longer in storage. Click on the link to check out the potato recipes and learn more about ARS...
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Unlock the Power of Game-Based Learning with New Mexico State Learning Games Lab - Register Now for Our Exclusive Webinar
Research highlights the efficacy of game-based learning in educating youth. A team at New Mexico State University’s Learning Games Lab is applying that research, using their expertise in game-based learning to make food safety education exciting for the next generation of food handlers and enthusiasts. Youth prepare food for themselves and their families and may have careers in the food industry. It’s important that they learn about safe food handling, cooking, storage, and when food is...
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Cyberbullying Safety for Kids and Teens
Written by: Jason Jowers, MS, MFT There are so many ways for kids and teens to connect online. It’s more than just social media platforms; there are chatrooms, instant and direct messaging apps, and online video games. For military families, these virtual spaces are great ways for kids and teens to stay connected to a deployed parent or service member, as well as ways to stay connected with long-distance friends. However, these online areas share the hazards of being places where bullying...
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Food Safety Education for Youth: Theme Park Kitchen Game is now Available!
The Learning Games Lab team at New Mexico State University recently hosted a webinar with the Extension Foundation to introduce their latest educational technology innovation: " Theme Park Kitchen ," a food safety game for youth. Using their expertise in game-based learning and engaging young learners, the team has turned food safety education into an exciting game for the upcoming generation of food handlers. "Theme Park Kitchen" is an online game aimed at both entertaining and educating...
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EXCITE Adult Vaccination Project
The Virginia Cooperative Extension EXCITE Team and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) conducted a symposium on November 3rd, 2023 to discuss the EXCITE project funded through CDC and ways that Virginia Cooperative Extension Agents could get involved in vaccine education! This session introduced our vaccine ambassadors and their roles in their respective localities, provided background on adult vaccinations and the current vaccination schedule, and discussed approaches to communicating...
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UNH Extension seeks Field Specialist, Food and Agriculture, in Hillsborough County
This position is located at Extension’s Hillsborough County Office in Goffstown, N.H. The field specialist will provide technical assistance and develop educational programming in fruit and vegetable production to both new and experienced growers. Expertise in fruit or vegetable production is a priority for this position. Additional expertise in soil nutrition, integrated pest management or agricultural engineering is desirable. The candidate will work individually and as part of a team to...