Tagged With "Together is better"
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ICYMI: CONNECTING LATINO YOUTH/FAMILIES/COMMUNITIES W/EXT RESOURCES
Contrary with what many think, Latino/x population in the US is not a monolith, far from fitting the one-size-fits-all formula, the 60 million Americans of Latino/Hispanic origin represent over 20 Latin American countries, and a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, education levels, geographic locations, histories, political affiliations. Visit this virtual chat archive to learn what extension professionals across the country have been doing to be successful in reaching the Latino/x...
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New Connect Extension Podcast Episodes
The Extension Foundation has had the pleasure of hosting a number of outstanding individuals across Cooperative Extension for our Connect Extension podcast. The Connect Extension Podcast is available in most places podcasts are available. Here is a listing of some of our more recent episodes: Episode 16: Navigating the Grocey Store Aisle: Understanding Food Marketing Labels In this episode, we connect with Stacey Stearns from the University of Connecticut Extension on a project she is...
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2 things to make your team better...today!
As fun as it might be to live in the magical world of Harry Potter, sadly we don't. And there's no "silver bullet" to fix issues. If you're someone who knows your team can be better and wants it to be better, here are a two that will help quickly! Make RECOGNITION a resource This goes way beyond just saying "thanks" to a team member. Developing the ability to both give & receive gratitude authentically is a must. These human skills are a great way to increase psychological safety on your...
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University-wide Engagement and the Transdisciplinary University
Photo by Hans-Peter Gauster on Unsplash Lou Swanson, Emeritus Vice President of Engagement, Colorado State University Scott Reed , Vice Provost Emeritus, Outreach and Engagement, Oregon State University Blah blah ‘….. disciplinary ’ - what’s the difference? Each is quintessential in their power to produce knowledge. It is not a matter of which type of academic inquiry is better than the others. But one of these, a single author writing within the narrow foci of a single sub-discipline tends...
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Get better at anything!
Had the good fortune of carving out some time to finish a book that has made a quick impact on my life; " Triggers " by Marshall Goldsmith. The most powerful aspect of this book for me was self questioning . Heard about this technique from one of his social media posts & had been half-heartedly going through the motions of this technique. I needed some coaching on it for sure. He states that active questions make the most difference because of how they frame the responsibility. They...
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USDA to Host Educational Webinar Series on Livestock Mandatory Reporting in June 2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will host a series of three live educational webinars about USDA’s Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) Program from Tuesday, June 8, through Thursday, June 10, 2021.
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Procrastinate now...don't put it off!
Almost every organization would like to remove delays to unlocking their team's capacity to generate & implement great ideas. If you can identify & develop new opportunities quicker, your business model has a better chance to survive. No answers here just some thoughts on how these might be related. I'll procrastinate tomorrow... Graphic from www.jamesclear.com We've all received & given feedback on this topic. For the proactive person, someone who lags a bit can be maddening.
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Resilience in action...
Resilience is defined as: " the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. " Our resilience has been challenged big time over the course of this pandemic. How have you done? What have you done that worked? Honestly, it's been hard at times for our family. It's in what we did to get through together that matters. Chances are some of these are on your list! They celebrate other people's success They accept full responsibility for their past behavior They invest their energy in...
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Farm Journal & NRCS Water Quality Stewardship Guide
@Nate Birt with Farm Journal has shared some resources from a public-private partnership with NRCS for Cooperative Extension professionals to utilize and share with farmers/ranchers in their local communiities. From Nate: " By downloading a personal copy of the guide, Extension leaders can encourage farmers and ranchers to type their own answers into the workbook pages, and better prepare themselves to get help from Extension experts in their communities, NRCS agents, etc." More information:...
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Keep Your Patients Healthy Throughout Adulthood by Improving Nutrition
Authors : Dana DeSilva, PhD, RD, ORISE Health Policy Fellow, and LT Dennis Anderson-Villaluz, MBA, RD, LDN, FAND, Nutrition Advisor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Adults’ dietary patterns often reflect habits that they established during childhood and adolescence. Sometimes, this means carrying unhealthy habits into adulthood — but it’s never too late to make changes. Health professionals can use the Dietary Guidelines for...
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Re: Resilience in action...
Thanks for these tips! We're working on a grant proposal to work with Coop Extension professionals to train in the use of improvisation tools and techniques ("yes...and", focussed listening, "accepting the offer") for communication. These improv skills offer a way to increase confidence and comfort when having to enter "difficult" stress and mental health conversations with farmers and clients. Your list for "resilience" is right in line with what we are focussed on...
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Meet or Work
There you are, attending another meeting struggling to stay engaged. Why? We want to be there (but our mind is wandering), we're interested in the reason it's taking place (but the slides are so boring) & most importantly we're ready to participate (if we ever get asked). This all too familiar scene seems to plague us even with so many great ideas floating around to make it better. Transparency of information & the speed at which it flows can make all the difference in focusing on...
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Now Available: The National Registry of Cooperative Extension Programs and Assets
This tool is now available to Cooperative Extension. Join 50+ other Extension programs that have already registered! Responding to specific requests in regional meetings and through various projects including EXCITE , the Extension Foundation has developed a National Registry of Cooperative Extension Programs and Assets (NRCEPA) . This tool will enable Cooperative Extension professionals to register their projects, programs, or curriculum for nationwide collaboration among Cooperative...
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10 Tips
Re-discovered this article by: Diana Moon from the Defense Centers of Excellence Strategic Communications, November 6, 2012 START The definition of "Resilience" is the ability to withstand, recover & grow in the face of stressors and changing demands. It's a skill that can be learned and sharpened with practice . Building flexible strength is a hallmark of resilience and necessary for getting back to peak performance after stressful events. Each of us face unique stressors which, without...
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It's July already?!
Historically, July is a big month for the Cooperative Extension Service . Our own @Rose Hayden-Smith reminded us a couple days ago. On this day (July 2nd) in 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act , providing the funding framework and vision for land-grant institutions and public higher education in the U.S. It was a visionary act, part of a legislative sweep that year! Emancipation Proclamation Homestead Act Pacific Railroad Act USDA was created as a cabinet-level agency This...
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It's situational and it's not...
My brother & I talk a lot and it has brought us closer, especially during our "philosophical" discussions. We like to dive deep into our passion areas, share what we've learned from books, articles, Ted Talks, work situations, parenting, etc. We just go with whatever is on our minds in a healthy banter. One thing keeps coming up regardless of topic is leadership & its close relationship with character . We agree on one point...leadership is situational but character isn't. Character...
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Collaboration & Competition
I’m just Karl... I'm from Branson, Missouri... I’m human... I’m going to make mistakes. Every decision I make will be what’s best for the team. It may not be what’s best for me (or you) but if it’s good for the team then it’s the best choice. At work, at home & in our communities we find ourselves on a "team" of some sort. The experience we have comes in how we approach them. Competition It's a myth that you have to work hard to beat the competition. Competition is the opposite of...
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A Conversation with Dr. Scott Reed, Extension Foundation Catalyst
Scott Reed is an emeritus of Oregon State University (OSU), where he served in various College of Forestry roles. He was a professor, executive associate dean, Extension program leader, and Dean and Director of OSU’s Extension Service. Scott served as the OSU’s Vice Provost for University Outreach and Engagement. He pioneered the innovative Open Campus, linking educational resources to advance college and career readiness, degree completion, and community development. Scott holds BS and MS...
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UC ANR is hiring a Statewide Director, Communities, Nutrition and Health
Dear Colleagues, Please follow the link to learn more about the position and apply/share the information: https://ucanr.edu/About/Jobs/?jobnum=1824 The closing date is September 3, 2021. Thank you, Tatiana tavoce@ucanr.edu
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3 Naturally Occuring Things
"Three things happen naturally in organizations; friction, confusion & underperformance. Everything else requires leadership." -Peter Drucker Friction happens when people don’t understand one another Interpersonal issues are present Confusion happens as a result of poor communication Team goals are unclear Underperformance happens when people aren’t engaged Skill-set mismatch The thing to keep in mind here is that these things “happen naturally”. It’s nobody’s fault. Take a deep breath!
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Extension in the 21st Century: A Conversation with Chuck Hibberd
Dr. Chuck Hibberd. Image Credit: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Charles "Chuck" Hibberd is an emeritus professor of the University of Nebraska, where he held several academic positions, including Dean of Cooperative Extension. His email tagline reads "Chuck Hibberd, retired Extensi on Director (but not done yet)." He directed the University's Panhandle Research and Extension Center for 13 years. Chuck also served as Extension director, associate dean of agriculture, and assistant vice...
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Three Cooperative Extension Leaders Selected As New Technologies for Ag Extension Catalysts
The Extension Foundation welcomes three new Catalyst team members: Dr. Barbara Board , District Extension Director Emeritus, Virginia Tech; Retired Eastern Region Extension Director and Interim Associate Administrator, North Carolina A&T State University. Dr. Dyremple Marsh , Retired College Dean, Research Director, and Extension Administrator, Delaware State University Dr. Dawn Mellion , Retired Vice-Chancellor for Southern University Cooperative Extension. The New Technologies for Ag...
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Searching for L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P.
Have you ever Googled "leadership"? The other day I got 2.5 Billion search results in under half a second. That might indicate I've got to get a whole lot better at searching for content on the internet. It also means the real messages of leadership can get buried in all that great information. Here are a few qualities (as verbs) that might resonate with you. L – Listening E – Empathizing A – Acting with awareness D – Dedicating time for others E – Encouraging R – Removing doubts S – Serving...
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New! Partnership and Development Specialist
A key program in the cooperative agreement is the Program Accelerator. The Program Accelerator is a unique partnership between a project/program team and the resources of the Extension Foundation for a year of rapid growth and progress resulting in expanding the team’s local impact and national potential. Our unique methods and a team of catalysts and key informants work individually with each team to produce scalable, better-resourced, and more effective programs and community-based...
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Bob wasn't my boss, but...
Received this in my email today from one of my mentors... Only knew Bob for a short few years, but the statements below are the way he lived his life. I am grateful he was able to influence me. He never lectured. He led by example. His example to be a better person. I miss him in my life. He was kind and generous. A man full of grace. "When you help others, your life starts to have meaning and purpose. Real joy comes not from material possessions but from people. When we give our hearts in...
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Extension Foundation Announces 2021-2022 New Technologies for Ag Extension Projects
The Extension Foundation will be supporting 20 projects across Cooperative Extension as part of its third year of the New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) program. This program is made possible by funding from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through a partnership with Oklahoma State University and the Extension Foundation. This program serves all Land-Grant Universities in the United States. The combined award going directly to all projects is...
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In Conversation with Dr. Rick Klemme
Dr. Rick Klemme grew up on a farm in east-central Illinois. He received his BA in economics and math from Illinois State University. He later earned an MA and Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Purdue. Rick began his nearly four-decade Extension career as an agricultural economist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW). He later became Dean and Director of UW Extension. Rick transitioned from that assignment to serve as the Executive Director of Extension’s Committee on Organization...
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Tips and Tools for Content Creators
Extension educators are content creators. Whether they prepare PowerPoint slides for a webinar, write a blog or social media post, prepare for an interview, or assemble a newsletter, they are constantly striving to create content that is current, relevant, and actionable. At a recent online conference, the Plutus™ Impact Summit, the following eight tips for personal finance content creation were shared: Address “Pain Points” and Goals – Help people by addressing topics that are causing them...
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Top 10 Heavy Hitters
The entire culture of our organizations can be summed up in this statement; what is rewarded is repeated . For your consideration (during MLB playoff time!)...here's a list of some heavy hitters to encourage & support with your leadership behavior! 1. Earn people's trust ; provide evidence every day of how you are trustworthy 2. Understand everyone has a life; work & life aren't separate, work is a part of a meaningful life 3. Listen , then act; diverse viewpoints are healthier, more...
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MFLN Family Development Sexual Behavior in Children & Youth (SBCY) Series So Far
The MFLN Family Development Sexual Behavior in Children & Youth (SBCY) Series is still ongoing through 2021 and throughout 2022! As we continue our conversation on age-appropriate sexual development of youth and working with children and youth exhibiting problematic sexual behavior (PSB), our upcoming SBCY webinars will focus on lots of great topics. A list of all upcoming topics and webinars is available on the SBCY series homepage . Each of these informative and interactive webinars...
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ICYMI: Shop Simple with MyPlate and More MyPlate Updates!
Last week, we were joined by the MyPlate team from the USDA Center of Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) for a preview of two MyPlate tools that will help Americans make healthy food choices. Big thanks to @Barbara Jirka from USDA-CNPP for helping to organize this! New to the USDA - Shop Simple with MyPlate , allows individuals to find cost-saving opportunities in their local area and discover new ways to prepare budget-friendly foods. The panelists presented the background on the...
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Thoughts from a former NFL coach
During my short college coaching time, had the pleasure of attending a clinic where some successful coaches shared their X’s & O’s & overall philosophies. Knowing why, how & what gets these guys out of bed in the morning is powerful knowledge. One of the speakers was Marty Schottenheimer; his passion for coaching resonated with all of us. An awesome opportunity to hear from a great NFL coach & man. Here are some of his thoughts... He is perhaps most famous for his pre-game...
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Finding Thanks and Practicing Gratitude with Military Youth and Families
Halloween candy is dwindling down if it wasn’t all gobbled up over the trick-or-treat weekend. The spooky season’s pumpkins have now transitioned into full-on fall decor. Families and friends will soon be connecting and coming together to celebrate and find thankfulness in another year with the quickly approaching holidays. The holidays also allow many of us to spend time consciously and prioritize the things that matter most. While celebrating with loved ones is first and foremost...
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UBUNTU lives!
UBUNTU is the social philosophy that Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu used to unite post-apartheid South Africa. It says... I am only because you are. Quick story: An anthropologist visited a village in Africa and set up an experiment. He put a basket of fruit under the biggest tree in the village, lined up all the kids in the village and said they were going to have a race. The first one to the basket got to enjoy the fruit. He lined them up and sent them off with a "ready, set, go!" None of...
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Re: UBUNTU lives!
Thanks for sharing! How do we spread this mindset in our community, organization, world? We have work to do!
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Resolutions!
At this time our thoughts are often thrust into pondering meaningful ways to focus the upcoming year. We are bombarded with things others feel we should “value” but these decisions should be personal. A couple of years ago I shared my New Year’s resolutions with my wife & she in turn shared hers. At the top of her list was having more patience but the one that sticks in my mind is this… “I will love myself…..after I lose 5 pounds!” 🤣 Too funny, but telling at the same time. We often...
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The Changing World of Medicaid: What to Watch for in 2022
Medicaid, the single largest source of health coverage in the United States, is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage to children, pregnant women, parents, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Join the Military Families Learning network at 11:00 a.m. ET on February 23, 2022, as Christopher Plein, Ph.D., Eberly Family Professor for Outstanding Public Service at West Virginia University, discusses Medicaid, new program developments and possibilities for the...
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Professional & Amateur gap
Developing our leadership is a lifelong pursuit. It takes constant learning about ourselves and awareness of the influence we have. If you're like me, you enjoy reading, watching, listening to something on leadership most days. It's a good habit for continued growth as we get diverse perspectives from everything we digest. One of the things we can do to help integrate new learnings into our lives is to take notes on what is important to us from these books, videos, articles and podcasts we...
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ICYMI: Using the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to Promote Healthy Aging
This week, Julia Quam from the HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion joined us for a wonderful webinar on Using the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to Promote Healthy Aging. For the first time, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 provides nutrition guidance by life stage, including specific guidance for older adults. Older adults have unique nutrition needs, experience changes in body composition, and face increased risks of malnutrition and chronic disease,...
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Teamwork Part 4: What does your work mean to you?
There’s a manufacturing company in Saint Louis called Barry-Wehmiller . T hey developed a purpose statement for what they call their Guiding Principles of Leadership . It says: ”We measure success by the way we touch the lives of people.” In 2008 during the housing crisis this was challenged. They lost a ton of business virtually overnight and were faced with a huge decision. Within 24 hours their CEO, Bob Chapman, announced that instead of laying off thousands of employees they decided it...
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Moving Toward Inclusive Practice
How do we start engaging people in marginalized communities and why is th i s important? What does it mean to “come in differently?” Are helping professionals able to tell a well-meaning question from one with judgment behind it? Dr. Anne Phibbs poses these questions and more in OneOp’s podcast series entitled, Moving Toward Inclusive Practice with Dr. Anne Phibbs . By tuning in, each episode may help you on your journey toward a more inclusive, culturally-informed way of working. Hosted by...
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Nutrition During Pregnancy to Support a Healthy Mom and Baby
Posted on February 16, 2022 by HHS/ODPHP By Dennis Anderson-Villaluz, MBA, RD, LDN, FAND, nutrition advisor, and Julia Quam, MSPH, RDN, ORISE health policy fellow, of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Good nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy is essential for a healthy mom and baby. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 dedicates a chapter to women who are pregnant and breastfeeding. Health professionals can use this guidance to better understand unique...
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Leadership Priorities
"The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly." -Jim Rohn Strong Not Rude “Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.” -Vince Lombardi Our strength is shown in relationships with others. Leadership is about effective relationships. It's about honoring people over process to unlock everyone's strengths! Kind Not...
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A Philosophy for Working on Wicked Problems
A wicked problem is a term used in policy analysis to describe an environmental situation where no matter what policy actions are taken there are still going to be unacceptable losses. Examples of wicked problems can be found in climate change, endangered species, invasive species and environmental justice issues. In order to deal with the psychological stress of threat and uncertainty associated with wicked problems many people are tempted to take a strong position, such as moral outrage.
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Excellence and You!
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Will Durant Behavior change is hard. Starting something new means stopping something that's not adding value to your life. What if you thought about leadership development as a habit? Then you wouldn't have to worry about the "right" time to start. Choose wisely and align your saying with your doing. Influence is always happening. Bad driver. Happy bank teller. Slightly pleasant flight attendant. These reflect a...
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What's your style?
Nope, not your choice in clothing or furniture, sorry to disappoint... We're talking about the ways in which you live and operate in the world. Understanding our unique approaches can lead to more meaningful conversations, less confusion and less frustration with others. 6 Questions To Describe YOUR Style What do you value most? "A value is a decision-making principle: an articulation of what you want your decisions to accomplish." -Drew Dudley Who we are is how we lead; they are the roots...
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The "Doctor" is in!
Sport provides such fertile ground for life lessons. There is immediate feedback constantly. You made the shot or missed it. You completed the pass or it was incomplete. You won or lost. The scoreboard is just the start to all the statistics. AND... Since we can't participate and evaluate at the same time, there's always a coach. One of my favorite coaches is Glenn "Doc" Rivers in the NBA. In a Netflix series called " The Playbook " he and 4 other amazing coaches give us their take on " A...
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New EXCITE Interactive Dashboard with Video Feature
EXCITE announces a new interactive Dashboard that displays data of the 72 "Education" programs and 24 "Pilot Projects" of the EXCITE program. This Dashboard was created so anyone can view details and data of their local Extension immunization education projects. The Dashboard data and videos communicate EXCITE's reach, value, and story and it replaces the interactive map after making changes to better serve the projects' needs. View Dashboard View Dashboard Tutorial The Dashboard is easy to...
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Keeping the (Social) Work Growing this Month and Onward
The services provided by social workers are crucial to creating and cultivating individual and family wellness. During this time of insurmountable stressors at home and abroad, social workers are pillars in providing vital mental health and behavioral health services. Services that can aid family members in navigating daily anxiety, worry, and trauma. National Social Work Month March was Social Work Month, and the 2022 theme is The Time is Right for Social Work. Over the past three years,...
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New EXCITE Podcast: The Role of 1890 & 1994 Engagement Coordinators
We’re excited to share a new podcast episode about the important work of the Extension Collaboration on Immunization Teaching & Engagement (EXCITE) program. EXCITE is creating a framework that will model new ways for the Cooperative Extension system to engage and reach Extension programs across all three regions. The EXCITE team has developed practices to ensure that under-represented regions are included in the design of the new system-wide effort and that their institutions will be...