Progress 09/01/11 to 05/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: One hundred twenty-one Alaska Native youth between the ages of 10-17 were engaged in healthy physical activities and nutrition provided by 23 adult mentors. Delivery modes included small group mentoring, in-school, afterschool, residential facility, family nights out, community events, and long term visit stays of 1-2 months as described in Outputs section of this report. Village communities include Tanana, Huslia, Minto, Manley, Nenana, Allakaket, and seven Fairbanks afterschool sites, including a charter school based on AK Native cultural beliefs and values. Changes/Problems: Although we had originally planned on providing Zumba classes, changes in instructor availability precluded this from occurring. This turn of events may have resulted in a stronger program in which we involved a greater variety of activities and involved a greater number and diversity of volunteer instructors. In response to available instructors and youth interest, we implemented programming around martial arts, breakdancing, improvisational skills, dog mushing, ski joring, basketball, and nutritional classes. We benefited from the additional skills of a UAF graduate student (ABD), who was able to put his dissertation research into practice through serving as a site coordinator/mentor through collaborative efforts of rural health and mentoring funding sources. Due to challenges in recruiting local mentors in remote sites, the site coordinators took on roles of mentors along with their recruitment of caring adults from outside of communities. Mentor recruitment is a major challenge in villages, hence, we hosted events and activities by leveraging resources of companion grant funds to increase travel to each site. Surprisingly, although it was difficult to recruit local mentors, the site coordinators, who served as mentors themselves, were able to recruit volunteers from other parts of the state and from out of state who were more than willing to give of their time in providing healthy physical activities for youth. Continuity of the programs is a huge impact as the norm for many village programs is that people come once and do not return, therefore leveraging of resources for travel and time is a major pathway in program delivery. Through physical activities, which help youth cope and consider a future for themselves, we hope to build capacity for future leaders to take on these responsibilities. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Mentor/Site Coordinator training offered in Spring 2012 and Spring 2013, and two adults participated in robotics training during summer 2012. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Presentations at National Mentoring Summit, January 2013, and National Afterschool Association, April 2013 shared experiences of rural health activities conducted through the grant offering which were leveraged for greater success and sustainability through additional funding sources. We submitted a presentation proposal for the Priester Health Conference but the proposal was not accepted. Leveraging resources of rural health with other funding sources has allowed us the opportunity to develop networks across the country with others serving similar populations of American Indian youth. This group conducts teleconferences and one of our site coordinators has visited twice with USDA NIFA and National 4-H Council staff in DC to share ideas and perspectives on developing a tribal 4-H model. A young adult Alaska Native female was able to accompany her on one of these visits and proved invaluable in educating others regarding realities of life in remote rural Alaska communities. We found that the best way to stay connected with the one very active village volunteer was through her Facebook page. We are observing her postings reach out to residents of other villages who are commenting on the youths’ activities. At least one new program will begin in the fall as a result of her outreach. In addition, one of the martial arts youth also developed a Facebook page, as well as the 4-H program being recognized on the Eskabo-Daan Facebook and website of Red Paw dog food. Youth are excited to see themselves on the site along with famous AK mushers such as Lance Mackey. A potential donor visited the martial arts programming site, and there are plans for hosting village youth in an immersion experience at their main dojo (studio) in San Francisco. Nike N7 Foundation also supported us in healthy physical activity with a $5,000 award which will help with instructor travel to Alaska. Additionally, we made a wonderful connection with a similar program by virtue of an Educator reading our rural health and safety proposal abstract. His phone call requesting further information led to potential partnering through our submission of a private sector grant revolving around basketball, which is phenomenally popular in tribal communities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
One hundred twenty-one Alaska Native youth in seven sites were engaged in healthyphysical activities and nutrition provided by 23 adult mentors. Activities ranged from breakdancing, improv, martial arts, dog mushing, ski joring, and classes on energy drinks, hydration and healthy snacks. Leveraging rural health with additional support allowed a martial arts instructor to live in a village site for two months in spring of 2012 and one month in the fall, engaging 23 youth in weekly classes of 45 minutes each for youth ages 7-10, and 60 minute classes for ages 11-14. A core group of eight youth attended 12 or more classes, with the rest averaging 8-10 classes each. Two additional instructors joined him in the fall sessions. A tremendous benefit to this model is that the instructor(s) were able to be involved in daily community activities. The instructor returned in Spring 2013 for a month along with three other short-term instructors and a private funder interested in the partnership between San Francisco based Eskabo-Daan and Alaska 4-H. Dog mushing is a traditional means of transport as well as a popular sport. Through rural health and generous support of three tons of dog food from Red Paw Dog Food and donated transportation of a barge line , we supported a request by champion sprint musher and AK Native Elder, George Attla, for this culturally relevant programming. We benefited from his guidance as a retired sprint race champion and another volunteer in the village who took on the organizational and logistics of the project. Youth, ages 10-16, were engaged in this traditional sport while exploring career ventures in the sport of dog mushing. Youth learned skills of caring and feeding dogs, and of themselves while working in sub-zero temperatures. The school principal rearranged the school day so youth benefit from the few hours of daylight to work outside. Success of village programs led to partnering with the Fairbanks school district working with seven afterschool programs serving Alaska Native youth, and with the Boys and Girls Home of Alaska, serving youth in the court system. Weekly improv, soccer and related healthy living activities were conducted at the Nenana Student Living Center, a residential school environment for AK Native youth from outlying villages. A reality of life for many youth is spending time in the home village with family in Fairbanks. These partnerships allow us to maintain contact with youth in multiple locations and provide them a somewhat consistent program, thus increasing an essential sense of belonging. We collaborated with Operation Military Kids for a community health fair and Family Nights in which youth learned of surprising healthy food options such as spinach in ‘4-H’ (green) smoothies. Youth of the village of Tanana worked with the state Suicide Prevention Council to create their own pledge to present during halftime at the basketball game during 2013 Iron Dog week. Youth asked the audience to repeat the pledge — to help stop suicide in all of Alaska — with them. Their pledge: “I pledge to live, honor, and protect myself from any harm, to love my life, my family, my friends and my village. Today we stand together to stop suicide in Alaska.” The mentor has asked for help in developing a booklet on dealing with grief, specific to AK Native youth audience. This is in response to the fact that existing items are not resonating with youth, and she would like to create a piece they can relate to and therefore find useful. Significant results achieved Positive behavioral change was noted in 93% of participants, which included health measures of physical activity and nutrition, as well as measures of social competence. As youth became more confident in themselves through physical and nutritional activities, they also demonstrated increased confidence in their abilities to succeed in the various project areas, with major gains in curiosity of the activities within their communities and how they may be more involved, thereby gaining increased skills and confidence as well as respect of self and others. Key outcomes or accomplishments Teachers, parents and behavioral health aides reported positive behavioral outcomes in youth of the martial arts program including improvement in listening, following instructions, decreased disruptive behaviors and overall more positive, constructive and respectful social interactions with peers and adults. Many of these youth experience physical and emotional abuse. These activities provided them with an outlet to be kids, to learn something new, to demonstrate new skills with a sense of pride and helping one another to succeed. The mentors/instructors reported increased attendance and greater willingness to participate in activities, and increased interaction with the instructor. Youth also benefitted from a crochet circle that met several nights a week for a month during the summer. Although this may not be physical activity per se, it is a healthy activity for youth in the context of rural health in a remote village; offering them a safe, inclusive environment in which to speak freely with one or more caring adults who are supported by training in suicide prevention and aspects of behavioral health. This volunteer owns the village general store and B&B, and donated lodging/food for the martial arts instructors/mentors to spend time in the village with the youth. In addition to greater awareness of and involvement in physical activities and healthy food choices of participants, quite possibly the most important outcome has been opening a pathway for safe conversations and greater awareness of and access to resources for those struggling with suicide whether individually or through a family or community member. Healthy activities through 4-H provides a safe place for youth to learn and have fun together while they develop greater understanding of self and their place in the world. As they develop relationships and feel supported, they are more apt to speak up and find ways to navigate successfully. As tribal leaders have shared, one of the key things they want for their youth is to speak up and speak out - that it is okay to talk about what is happening in their environment and to know there are people who will listen and help them. We hope to increase our capacity to appropriately respond to youth and their families through future funding sources. Challenges In addition to the challenge of recruiting local mentors, it is challenging for families to complete required enrollment and evaluation paperwork. During a tribal 4-H training sponsored in spring of 2012, ideas were shared on how we might approach this with one idea to have all paperwork available for parents at the beginning of the school year. This was valuable insight and we were much more successful in the new school year. As we have experienced challenges with evaluation through a normal process of surveys, what we are finding to be informative is informal observation and sharing by mentors, parents, and resource partners.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Jones, D., Bacsujlaky, M., & Calhoun, K. (2013). Hope for the future: Affirming Western and Indigenous voice in Alaska 4-H. National Afterschool Association,Indianapolis, IN.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Bacsujlaky, M. (2013). National Mentoring Summit, Panel presentation. Washington, DC
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Ninety-one Alaska Native youth in seven sites were engaged in physical activities and nutrition provided by ten mentors, ranging from breakdancing, improv, martial arts, dog mushing, ski joring, and classes on energy drinks, hydration and healthy snacks. Leveraging rural health with additional support allowed a martial arts instructor to live in a village site for two months in spring of 2012 and one month in the fall, engaging 23 youth in weekly classes of 45 minutes each for youth ages 7-10, and 60 minute classes for ages 11-14. A core group of eight youth attended 12 or more classes, with the rest averaging 8-10 classes each, and instructor was able to be involved in daily community activities. Two additional instructors joined him in the fall sessions. Dog mushing is a traditional means of transport as well as a popular sport. Through rural health and generous support of three tons of dog food from a national supplier and donated transportation of a barge line , we supported a request by George Attla for this culturally relevant programming. We benefit from his guidance as a retired sprint race champion and another volunteer in the village who is taking on the organizational and logistics of the project. Youth, ages 10-16, are engaging in this traditional sport while exploring career ventures in the sport of dog mushing. Youth learn skills of caring and feeding dogs, and of themselves while working in sub-zero temperatures. The school principal rearranged the school day so youth benefit from the few hours of daylight to work outside. Success of village programs led to partnering with the Fairbanks school district working with nine afterschool programs serving Alaska Native youth and with the Boys and Girls Home of Alaska, serving youth in the court system. A reality of life for many youth is spending time in the home village with family in Fairbanks. These partnerships allow us to maintain contact with youth in multiple locations and provide them a somewhat consistent program, thus increasing a essential sense of belonging. Mentor recruitment is a major challenge in villages, hence, we hosted events and activities by leveraging resources of companion grant funds to increase travel to each site. Surprisingly, although it was difficult to recruit local mentors, the site coordinators, who served as mentors themselves, were able to recruit volunteers from other parts of the state and from out of state who were more than willing to give of their time in providing healthy physical activities for youth. Continuity of the programs is a huge impact as the norm for many village programs is that people come once and do not return, therefore leveraging of resources for travel and time is a major pathway in program delivery. While helping youth cope and consider a future for themselves, we hope to build capacity for future leaders to take on these responsibilities. We found that the best way to stay connected with the one local volunteer was through her facebook page, and one of the martial arts youth also developed a facebook page. PARTICIPANTS: Debra Jones, PI provides project oversight, reporting, and seeking of additional funds to extend/expand programming efforts. Mara Bacsujlaky serves as site coordinator/mentor for the villages of Tanana and Huslia. She has recruited volunteers/mentors from in-state (dog mushing, ski joring) as well as out-of-state (martial arts) to serve in remote sites where it is challenging to recruit mentors locally. She is also working with businesses and collaborators in supporting the programming. Kendra Calhoun serves as site coordinator/mentor for Minto, Manley, Nenana, and in-school and afterschool programs in Fairbanks. She has recruited volunteers who travel with her on a regular basis to provide breakdancing, improv, and nutrition classes in remote rural sites. Graduate student, ABD, Andreas Droulias, serves as site coordinator/mentor (through collaborative funding) in Nenana providing basketball and related activities, putting his dissertation research on the health benefits of basketball in the village to practical application through a rural health/mentoring collaboration. Collaborators and supporters include Extension FCS/ANEP/EFNEP staff in nutrition sessions, CYFAR staff in shared physical and nutrition activities, small businesses, RedPaw dog food, Ruby Marine barge lines, Wright's Air, Cold Spot Feeds, Tanakon B&B, Tanana General Store, Eskabo-Daan of San Francisco, b-boys Canned Funk, Effie Kokrine Charter School, National 4-H Council/Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Training was conducted spring 2012 in conjunction with CYFAR staff to collaborate and share regarding at-risk programming. TARGET AUDIENCES: Ninety-one Alaska Native youth were engaged in physical activities and nutrition provided by ten mentors. Delivery mode efforts include small group mentoring, in-school, afterschool, residential facility, family nights out, community events, and long term visit stays of 1-2 months as described in Outputs section of this report. Village communities include Tanana, Huslia, Minto, Manley, Nenana, seven Fairbanks afterschool sites. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Although we had originally planned on providing Zumba classes, changes in instructor availability precluded this from occurring. In response to available instructors and youth interest, we implemented programming around martial arts, breakdancing, improvisational skills, dog mushing, ski joring, basketball, and nutritional classes (as planned). We benefit from the additional skills of a UAF grad. Student (ABD), who is putting his dissertation research into practice through serving as a site coordinator/mentor through collaborative efforts of rural health and mentoring funding sources. Due to challenges in recruiting local mentors in remote sites, the site coordinators took on roles of mentors along with their recruitment of caring adults from outside of communities.
Impacts
Teachers, parents and behavioral health aides reported positive behavioral outcomes in youth of the martial arts program including improvement in listening, following instructions, decreased disruptive behaviors and overall more positive, constructive and respectful social interactions with peers and adults. Many of these youth experience physical and emotional abuse. These activities provided them with an outlet to be kids, to learn something new, to demonstrate new skills with a sense of pride and helping one another to succeed. The mentor/instructor reported increased attendance and greater willingness to participate in activities, and increased interaction with the instructor. This highlights another challenge with programming in remote rural Alaska, a challenge of evaluation through the normal process of surveys. What we are finding to be more informative is informal observation and sharing. Youth also benefitted from a crochet circle that met several nights a week for a month during the summer. Although this may not be physical activity per se, it is a healthy activity for youth in the context of rural health in a remote village. This volunteer owns the general store and B&B, and donated lodging/food for the martial arts instructors/mentors to spend time in the village with the youth. In addition to the challenge of recruiting local mentors, it is challenging for families to complete required enrollment and evaluation paperwork. During a tribal 4-H training we sponsored in spring of 2012, ideas were shared on how we might approach this with one idea to have all paperwork available for parents at the beginning of the school year. This was valuable insight and we were much more successful in the new school year. Leveraging resources of rural health and mentoring has allowed us the opportunity to develop networks across the country with others serving similar populations of American Indian youth. This group conducts teleconferences and one of our site coordinators has visited twice with USDA NIFA and National 4-H Council staff in DC to share ideas and perspectives on developing a tribal 4-H model. A young adult Alaska Native female was able to accompany her on one of these visits and proved invaluable in educating others regarding realities of life in remote rural Alaska communities. Based on programming thus far, our Extension Director was willing to support funding a temporary position for this individual to serve as a local site coordinator. Although we were hopeful for this to happen, issues within village life precluded this coming to fruition. We will continue to strive for something of this nature to occur in the future. Additionally, we made a wonderful connection with a similar program by virtue of an Educator reading our rural health and safety abstract. His phone call requesting further information led to potential partnering through our submission of a private sector grant revolving around basketball, which is phenomenally popular in tribal communities. By invitation of National 4-H Council staff and the OJJDP grant offering, one of our site coordinators will be co-presenting at the 2013 National Mentoring Summit in January.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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