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INVESTIGATOR: Walston, H.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY
FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY 40601

POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: AN AFTERSCHOOL MENTORING PROGRAM FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HISPANIC YOUTH

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: High-quality 4-H Youth Development programs coupled with good experiential learning (service learning - mentoring), when implemented properly, will enhance youth and college students social and life skills, and prepare them for their future careers as well as their role in society. The project will assist youth in becoming productive, responsible citizens and positive contributors to their local community, the state, and the nation, while empowering community partners and supporters to view children as resources rather than the problem. College students having engaged in this project as service learners will be better prepared to serve as leaders, solve problems, and have a broader perspective on issues, which are all traits that will positively impact the communities, states, and regions where they live. This youth development project is unique in that it is a culturally relevant and evidence-supported approach for responding to trauma in African-American and Hispanic youth ages 10-17.

OBJECTIVES: Goal: To establish an extension delivery afterschool 4-H Youth Development program for underserved African-American and Hispanic youth ages 10-17, which will increase the visibility and quality of Extension programs on campus and provide service learning experiences for students majoring in Agriculture, Food and Environment. Overall subordinate objectives are: 1) To develop and operationalize a 4-H Youth Development Afterschool Program for 75 African- American and Hispanic youth ages 10-17; 2) To assist the families of program youth in maintaining and/or increasing parenting skills, autonomy, and integrity in meeting their child's needs; 3) To promote classroom service learning experiences for college students majoring in Agriculture, Food and Environment, Education, and other degree programs; 4) To plan for collaboration and networking; and 5) To coordinate a process and outcome evaluation of the project.