Non Technical Summary
The enclosed proposal outlines a CYFAR Sustainable Communi??es Project plan to support the implementation and sustainability of the recently revised Missouri 4-H program, Youth Futures: College and Careers Within Reach. The phrase hopeful pathways was inten??onally included in the project title to represent 1) positive adolescent development as a framework for the project and 2) current programma??c evolu??on in postsecondary preparation and readiness programming for adolescent youth who are typically underrepresented and/or at-risk. The overall mission of the 4-H Youth Futures program is to help middle and high-school-aged youth identify and aspire to reach personal postsecondary goals based on their strengths and values and to expand accessibility to the paths leading to such goals.The overarching goal of the 4HYFHP Project is to successfully implement and sustain the Youth Futures program in three sites located in Jackson, St. Louis, and McDonald counties in Missouri based on locally-identified needs regarding youth at risk, ultimately to increase high school completion, postsecondary enrollment, hope, positive relationships, durable skills, and intentional self-regulation in youth served. The logistical plan is to leverage the educational and community resources of University of Missouri Extension (MUEXT) to provide high quality programming, continuous evaluation, and technical assistance to support project success and sustainability. The planned approach is to utilize the most valuable assets of current Missouri 4-H college and career programming--community connections and peer-mentor/ peer-peer relationships--as key methods to reach project and program objectives.

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
803	6099	3020	100%

Knowledge Area
803 - Sociological and Technological Change Affecting Individuals, Families, and Communities;

Subject Of Investigation
6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;

Goals / Objectives
The overall mission of the 4-H Youth Futures program is to help middle and high-school-aged youth identify and aspire to reach personal postsecondary goals based on their strengths and values and to expand accessibility to the paths leading to such goals.The overarching goal of the 4HYFHP Project is to successfully implement and sustain the Youth Futures program in three sites located in Jackson, St. Louis, and McDonald counties in Missouri based on locally-identified needs regarding youth at risk, ultimately to increase high school completion, postsecondary enrollment, hope, positive relationships, durable skills, and intentional self-regulation in youth served.Objectives:Establish pilot program club with one 4-H Youth Program Associate (YPA; adult mentor) at each site ready to implement the new Youth Futures Program pilot starting January 2025.Serve the Youth Futures program with fidelity as outlined in the program plan documentationto75 at-risk each year among the three sites.Youth served by the program will identify and aspire to achieve personal postsecondary (academic and career) goals.Youthserved by the program will increase their positive relational connections with peers and mentors.Youth served by the program will improve in self-efficacy and intentional self regulation regarding their personal pathway goals.

Project Methods
The 4HYFHP Project will utilizeyouth after school programming and evaluation methods. The Youth Futures programwill be implemented in each of the 3 sites, with the central method being classroom-like program delivery with applied experiential learning instructional methods and high impact experiences with community connections. The approach to implementation is a critical component of Youth Futures programming in that mentors (staff) are trained in Missouri 4-Hcollege and career beliefs and values regarding positive youth development. Another approach is through identity development and peer-peer and peer-adult relationships.Indicators of short term results include college and carer aspiration and identity data, relationship development data, evidence of intentional self-regulation, and self-efficacy data. College applications, FAFSA, and ACT completion rates by program participants will also be collected as indicators for long-term outcomes. Evaluators will use mixed methods analysis and integration to analyze the data. Activities include utilizing technology, human capital, partners, updated curricula, and community spaces resources to follow through with the Community Collaboration Approach to implementing the 4HYFHP Project. Activities include training, recruiting, enrolling teens in 4-H, engaging high context participants for at least two cohorts, implementation, collecting feedback, evaluating, and reporting.