Tagged With "lighting talks"
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Re: Extension's Role in Addressing Social Isolation.
We often talk about mental health and extension's role in addressing mental ill health symptoms: substance use, addiction, other anti-social behaviors. We rarely consider our role in working on "root causes" or social-environmental determinants of mental health disparities or low/poor social-emotional well-being among subpopulations (e.g., diverse demographics-age, gender, race, ethnicity, rural, etc.). We also tend to miss opportunities to plan and work across sectors & systems to...
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Celebrating National Rural Health Day 2022
On National Rural Health Day, we celebrate with the #CDC the #PowerofRural, and the many programs and professionals striving to protect rural communities' health through Extension programming and resources! The Extension Foundation is proud to support the critical work many programs are doing to bring health resources, tools and education to rural communities. Below are projects supported by the Extension Foundation that show the impact Cooperative Extension is making in rural communities...
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Dynamic Discussions 2022
This year the Impact Collaborative hosted professionals from Cooperative Extension and beyond to discuss various topics of interest at Dynamic Discussions. Together we have explored new ideas, gained new perspectives, and discussed the future of Extension. This year's conversations included misinformation, community resilience, Coming Together for Racial Understanding Experience, moving on from Extension's traditions, implementing DEI work, workforce development, recharging Extension's...
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Uplifting the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Youth
An estimated 5% of the 1.76 million youth in military families identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer. Surveyed LGBTQ youth with a parent currently serving in the military that experienced high levels of family support reported lower mental health challenges and suicide risk ( Trevor Project, 2022 ). When youth feel safe at home, their mental wellness is significantly improved. Fostering healthy family relationships translates into protective factors for younger and older...
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Flip Your Script
Oh, the things we tell ourselves. Sounds a bit like Dr. Seuss; sadly it's not. You have to wait until the end of the post for some of his wisdom! We're talking about how our personal narratives become aspects of things we believe about who we are. Here's one that's been in my arsenal forever: "I'm horrible at math." Big deal you say. Maybe you're not good at math. You have other things you're good at. What's the problem? Telling myself this has made an agreement that has limited my openness...
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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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Join Us for a Webinar on the Impact of the Move Your Way Campaign!
Move Your Way® is the promotional campaign for the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans . It aims to help people of all ages and abilities find safe, fun ways to get active. On April 26 from 2 to 3 p.m. ET , we’re hosting a webinar titled How Move Your Way Impacted Physical Activity Outcomes in Communities Across the United States . In the webinar, we’ll share how ODPHP worked with pilot organizations in communities across the country to implement the campaign,...
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Beliefs on the Leadership Journey
Getting clear with ourselves about our beliefs helps connect us to our core values. They will shift over our lives so it's a constant journey of discovery. Here are some things to ponder as you check in on your journey. Your Leadership Philosophy Defining what the huge topic of leadership is to you is of utmost importance. It helps us get clear on our approach, communicate it to others, and measure how we're doing every day. Here's mine right now... It's realizing it's not about me &...
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Future You
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, which is why we call it the present." -Bill Keane Ok, a little bit of a cheesy way to start. Seriously though, tomorrow isn't promised to any of us. Our challenge is to make the most out of every day because each one is an opportunity to move closer to the person we want to be. The journey is the destination. Here's a big thing that gets in the way... Damaging Self Talk When we describe ourselves (to ourselves and others) in...
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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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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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Become a Trusted Messenger of Health Information Training and Toolkit: Video Modules
Check out the new video training modules and updated resources from the " Getting to the Heart and Mind of the Matter ," Washington State University EXCITE Team. This team has designed a toolkit and training program specifically aimed at helping become more confident in being a trusted messenger of accurate health information. These new video modules effectively convey the toolkit's concepts and include engaging educational activities. Access the playlist for each section of the training...
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Recording and Resources: Catch Up on the NAPPC Webinar - Drilling Down on EPA Regulations: What Is the Latest Buzz on Pesticides and Bees?
Explore EPA Regulations on Pesticides and Bees in this webinar. Follow a pesticide's journey from risk assessment to the marketplace, led by host Andony Melathopoulos. Gain insights into the EPA's historical and current approaches, understanding their role in safeguarding pollinators. Since 2010, the EPA has focused on assessing pesticide risks to bees. The key question: Is the EPA effectively protecting bees? This webinar delves into this topic, exploring its impact on our environment and...
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How do you want to be remembered?
During a recent workshop we did a connection exercise where participants chose a question to discuss with others at their tables. When visiting the tables one of the folks was sharing their take on how they wanted to be remembered. It was very moving and inspirational. They asked me if I'd answer the same question. Here's the story I shared with them... When we were stationed in Japan my father's health was declining. Just a few years earlier he had recovered from an impossible amount of...
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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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Moving the Needle on Racial Equity in Extension, Part 2 of 3
The 1862 land grant institutions face a large task to move beyond their troubled legacy and meet the needs of contemporary people of color. To address racial inequities in extension, we embarked on educational and institutional change activities. We share three key lessons: the need to take time for building relationships of trust, to tailor individual communication about diversity, equity, and inclusion work for different colleagues, and to re-think the sources of expertise in extension work.
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Extension Foundation Releases New NTAE Titles
The Extension Foundation has added five new titles to its publications library. 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. NATE's goal is to incubate, accelerate, and expand promising work that will increase the impact of the Cooperative Extension System (CES) in the communities...
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Extension Foundation Releases New Titles
The Extension Foundation has added four 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 communities...
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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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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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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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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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Unearthing Financial Trauma
Transitioning into 2024 marked a new year. Many of us saw the new year as an opportunity to start fresh, but financial hardships and losses can have a lasting impact on our mental health. This type of impact leads to unforeseen trauma. Often, we make resolutions to hit the ground running in the new year, but old habits die hard, mainly when these habits are deeply rooted in our psyche. Let us be realistic: We all plan to go to the gym on January first; we even go shopping over the holiday...
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March 28: Accessibility Unleashed - Online Courses and Webinars
Join the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) for this webinar on accessibility in online courses and webinars. Accessibility Unleashed: Online Courses and Webinars Thursday, March 28, 2024 2:00pm ET, 1:00pm CT, 12:00pm MT, 11:00am PT https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83585417744 In this webinar we will share how the online course development team at the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program addresses accessibility requirements in asynchronous online...
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Upcoming Ext Foundation events- including two new offerings for Extension Professionals!
This month, the Extension Foundation is hosting a variety of events for both members and non-members. Including them are two new events designed to support Extension professionals! Throughout April, you can find sessions for skill building, discussion opportunities, and more. Register below. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event! ☘️💐🌸🔅🐇🌱🍀🌷 Extension Skills: Communicating your Extension Story to Elected Officials April 11th 2024, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET *Extension Foundation...
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Nothing changes if nothing changes
Stats tell us up to 80% of people who attend a conference, training, or other professional development won't change anything in their lives after the experience. The notes, books, articles, and videos you diligently collected during the experience have been all but abandoned. The ironic part is that most people respond positively when asked if they are lifelong learners. They often take pride in describing themselves this way. If this is so, why do we find it so difficult to act on those...
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Identifying Child Sexual Abuse: Ways to Protect Children and Resources for Getting Help
Written by: Jason Jowers, MS, MFT April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to promote the safety and well-being of all children and families and to recognize the child welfare professionals and allies who work tirelessly to protect children and youth. When talking about child abuse, one of the toughest issues to face is child sexual abuse. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (2024), “Child sexual abuse is any interaction between a child and an adult (or...
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Exciting Opportunity: Director of Extension Center for Health Outreach at Clemson University
We're currently seeking a dynamic leader to serve as the Director of Extension Center for Health Outreach (ECHO), driving collaborative efforts to address public health challenges and shape the future of our institution. Given your background, I believe you would be an excellent fit for this role. We have attached a PDF with information about the role and you can also find the official job posting at: https://apply.interfolio.com/144271 . If this position does not suit you, please pass the...