Progress 05/01/03 to 04/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: State level Technical assistance was ongoing, provided to 4-H Latino outreach programs at the local level in the areas of program design, program evaluation, and technology. State project staff offered this assistance to all county programs engaged in Latino outreach in addition to the two county programs receiving financial support from the project. The project conducted a survey of Spanish language competency among all Oregon State University Extension staff and the demand for opportunities to learn or improve Spanish language competency. The results led to the a series of trainings offered by the OSU Extension Service. Activities: Local county programs 4-H programs offered a variety of educational programs to Latino youth in grades K-12. The needs and interests of youth identified by both Latino youth and their parents determined program content. Most popular were soccer and technology programs. Other offerings included Latino cultural arts, gardening, after
school programs, natural resources, and camping. Over the five years of the project cumulatively over 3700 youth participated in 4-H Latino outreach programs and 404 Latino adult volunteers assisted with the delivery of 4-H programs. Events for youth The residential summer camp held annually in Marion County provided the first overnight camping experience for the majority of campers. This demonstrated the great degree of trust parents had developed in 4-H. Latino parents seldom allow their children to attend such camps, especially their daughters. Over the years, demand for participation has grown significantly leading to the addition of two more camping sessions annually. Products A soccer program management system was developed for county use. Also curricula in videography were developed. The Oregon 4-H Latino Outreach web site was revised/updated on an annual basis. This site is designed for youth development professionals and is one way the project disseminates information.
Dissemination The knowledge generated about Latino outreach through the project was disseminated to others in the field of outreach, primarily through conference presentations, publishing, and use of the project web site. Nine seminars and three poster sessions were held at national conferences. The project staff also hosted visits from Extension staff of other states who came to learn more about Oregon's 4-H outreach efforts to Latinos.
PARTICIPANTS: Project staff Project Director: Beverly B. Hobbs, PhD The project director provided oversight for the project as a whole, including financial monitoring and management, responding to reporting requirements, and representing the project within Extension and the University as well as to outside constituents. The project director also acted as a clearinghouse of information for outreach, connecting others from within and outside of Oregon with Oregon Outreach sites and the knowledge and experience of staff. Additionally, she provided technical assistance for program development. Evaluation Specialist: Barbara Sawer, EdD The project evaluator assisted project sites in the design of evaluation plans. She also provided assistance in preparing or reviewing evaluation instruments, facilitating the Institutional Review Board process, analyzing and interpreting data, consulting with staff on other evaluation-related issues and assisting with grant writing. Technology Specialist:
Lisa Conroy, BS The technology specialist assisted sites in developing computer training for participants and in establishing 4-H computer clubs based on the Oregon 4-H Tech Wizards model. She also assisted in the preparation of technology-related grant proposals and the development of technology curricula. Regional 4-H Agent: Mario Magana The regional agent coordinated activities among county programs using Marion County as the base of activity. He had primary responsibility for regional Latino 4-H soccer programs and events and was the originator and director for the Latino summer camp. County 4-H Agents: Anne Manlove and Pamela Olsen The county 4-H agents provided direct supervision and support for outreach coordinators. They assisted in the training of Latino adult volunteers and wrote grant proposals in support of the program. The county agent also planned for the integration of county 4-H programs and sought funding to stain the project after the grant ended. County 4-H Outreach
Coordinators: Dolores Hammond, Alexandra Steiner, Maria Alcazar, and Esmeralda Amescua County 4-H Outreach Coordinators were key to building trust and establishing relationships with the local Latino community and in developing culturally responsive programs that promote positive youth development. They developed and implemented programs in partnership with Latino communities and participated in the evaluation of those programs. They also shared their experiences with peers throughstaff development activities. Partner Organizations Partner organizations were most critical at the local project sites. Partners included public schools, local cultural organizations, Hispanic service organizations, cities, parks and recreation, farmworker housing, the Mexican Consul, and non-profit agencies, among others. Partner organizations shared a common determination to increase Latino access to community-based programs and opportunities that support the positive development of Latino youth. Training
Nine one-day and one two-day trainings were provided for Latino outreach staff. These were in addition to training provided for Extension staff by the 4-H department and the OSU Extension Service.
TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary target audience consisted of Latino youth in grades K-12. Latino adult volunteers also received educational programming as needed to increase skills for working with youth. All educational programming was delivered in a non-formal manner.
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Outcomes/Impacts Outcomes/impacts involving youth participants were assessed using a variety of evaluation techniques. These included written questionnaires, personal interviews, dialog and reflection, and observation. Overwhelmingly the outcome measured was a change in knowledge. An exception to this was when youth expressed that their decision to apply to college was a result of guidance and skill development received through participation in 4-H outreach programs. These particular youth would not have otherwise considered college attendance. Knowledge gained ranged from factual information about a topic to hands on skills in planting and caring for a garden or operating a video camera. Additional life skill development measured in several programs included the ability to work with others as part of a team, self-confidence in the ability to learn, ability to consider other points of view, decision making, and leadership among others.
Publications
- Hobbs, B. (2007). Culturally Responsive Practice: The Key to Engaging Latinos as Adult Volunteers. International Journal of Volunteer Administration. [On-line],24(6). Available at:http://www.ijova.org/PDF/VOL24_NO6/IJOVA_VOL24_NO6_Hobbs.pdf
- Magana, M., Hosty, M., & Hobbs, B. (2006). Recruiting Latino Youth to Participate in Resident Camps. Camping Magazine. 79(6), 35-78.
- Hobbs, B. (2004). Latino Outreach Programs: Why They Need to Be Different. Journal of Extension. [On-line], 42(4). Available at: http://www.joe.org/joe/2004august/ent.shtml
- Hobbs, B. (2006). Keys to Effective Extension Programs with Latino Audiences. CYFERnet Web Site: CYFAR, CSREES. Hobbs, B. (2004). Keys to Effective Extension Programs with Latino Audiences. Web site of the National Extension Diversity Center. Invited article.
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