What's happening with FCS programing at NDSU Extension?
Welcome to my blog!
Recently someone called to make a new suggestion for a Packaged Program and then went on to ask me to explain some of the functions of the PRC. She ended by saying, "I wish you could share this with everyone but it's so hard to find time when everyone can meet or be on a call". That afternoon I saw an email bout aBob Bertch's blog and one thing led to the next until we arrived at this point today.
I hope this blog will provide you with an opporutnity to keep up with things happening in my office, but most important, I hope it will allow you to feel better informed and to ask the questions you need to ask to do your jobs to the best of your ability. I welcome your questions and feedback! I will begin with the topics I was asked about and move onto other items as they emerge. You may read as your have time and expect monthly updates at the least. Best wishes for a great year ahead!
Deb
PRC's get 'Gearing Up' grants
ND PRC's will again provide the Gearing Up for Kindergarten program in slected schools. The grant is funded by the ND Parent Information Resrouce Center in Minot and they select the sites that qualify for the funding. NDSU Extension is responsible for reserach and curriculum development. This is the third year of research and curriculum development eforts.
In August 09 the new curriculum was released and is available for purchase at the Extension online ordering site. Local schools and HeadStart programs are being challenged to provide educational programs to help make the transition to Kindergarten more successful. A successful transition leads to more successful school experiences. Continued research is establishing solid impact data and reports are availabe online (Impact Reports), as well as more detailed reports available from Sean Brotherson. If you want to discuss how you might encourage your local schools to adopt this program, give me a call.
PRC site news and what it means to be part fo the 'PRC Network'
Each of the 8 regions in ND has some level of programming availabe through the regional Parent Resoruce Center, but it varied across the state. Each center is unique due to its funding sources. For example, the Dickinson PRC has 2 employees--one paid by the school district and grants, the other paid by Extension and grants. The Williston and Devils Lake PRC are in the middle of transitioning to a location at the Williston college and Devils Lake Region Community College campus. Devils Lake operates part-time and solely on grants. Williston operates full-time with grants and Williams county general fund budget. No Extension funds are used in either site.
Fargo PRC is the only other site that operates with county general fund budget (Cass County), along with various grants. Grand Forks operates with one full tiem staff person who is paid by the school district, grant funds and partial Extension appropriated funding. Valley City is part-time funded solely with grants and has an emphsis on Barnes and Stutsman counties.
Mandan and Minot operate with grants and State Extension appropriated funding but Mandan is full-time and Minot is part-time.
The point to all this explanation is to help you understand that each PRC operates uniquely. And Extesnion appropriated funding is NOT the only method used to fund them, making it imperative that county staff realize they cannot operate alike across the state and they cannot reach out to every county in their region in the same manner. Their grant funds dictate much of what they can do, and if they have county general fund money paying for their work, they must emphasize that county.
There is one new twist to this---a small, new grant this year that provides a small amount of money to reach out to neighboring counties that may not have had much direct support in the past. PRC coordinators will be in touch with you to talk about their plans.
Finally--the term 'PRC Network' is the phrase we use to talk about coordinated efforts among ALL sites. For example, as of this year EVERY site will recevie the DHS grant to operate a Circle of Parents program. NDSU Extension recevied a grant to coordinate this work, regardless of whetehr the site is Extension funded or based. Since each site has different 'employees of record' but similar programming, we refer to the 'Network' as we work to build more consistent programming across the state. Complicated? Yes. Worth the extra effort? Yes. If you are still confused give me a call!
Two New Grants will Address Disaster Work
Most every county in ND was impacted by flooding last spring and continues to deal with some consequences. NDSU wrote and received two grants to assist as follows:
1. Rural/Frontier County Disasater Response Grant
During the RESPONSE phase last spring we identified several gaps in training and support that would have been helpful to have in place, especially in our most rural and frontier counties (sparsely populated) who have minimal people available to respond. This grant will be led by Eunice Sahr and a campus team that will survey counties to find the gaps and identify the resources we need to have in place for the future. Information will be compiled into short web-based seminars that anyone in need can access if they find themselves in this situation. In a short time, ideas and resources will be at hand.
2. Disaster Family Financial Recovery Grant
During the RECOVERY phase of ANY disaster, financial concerns and economic uncertainty are at the top of the list for clientele concerns. This grant was written in conjuntion with the University of MN Extension and is led by the county staff that dealt with the Marshall, MN flooding 2 years ago. A unique recovery activity was piloted there and called a 'Financial Recovery Fair'. Continued follow-up research indicated that the pilot was successful. This grant will create a curriculum for others to follow and use this program. It will also provide funding to train 8 NDSU Extension agents to be certified by AFCP as an Accredited Financial Counselor--not to provide one-on-one couseling, but rather to assist in the 'Financial Recovery Fairs' and to provide educational opportunites to individuals in the recovery phase.