Extension Foundation Awarded Cooperative Agreement from EPA to Support Pesticide Safety Education Programs

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News Release from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a cooperative agreement to the Extension Foundation (EXF) to administer a national subaward program supporting Pesticide Safety Education Programs (PSEPs). The new project, titled “Empowered Up: A Comprehensive PSEFMP Promoting Efficiency & Environmental Justice,” will receive up to $15 million over five years. It will build upon a previous PSEP subaward program, also managed by EXF, which concluded in July 2023.

PSEPs, based at land grant universities, provide education and training on the safe and proper use of restricted use pesticides (RUPs)–those that are the most acutely toxic pesticides or that must be applied with special care—to applicators in agricultural, commercial, and residential settings. Federal law restricts RUP use to certified applicators or someone under their direct supervision, because of the harm RUPs can cause to people and the environment without additional safety measures. Applicators must undergo rigorous certification procedures to ensure they can use RUPs safely and effectively.  Under this agreement, EXF will provide funds to the PSEPs, which will help prepare applicators for certification and re-certification by teaching them safe and proper application methods, protecting applicators and the public from improper pesticide use.

The new award comes at a critical juncture. In 2017, EPA strengthened certification standards for applicators of RUPs, and required states, tribes, and territories to submit to EPA revised certification plans to meet or exceed the federal standards. All revised plans must be approved by EPA  by November 4, 2023 and then implemented. Many will have to update certification materials as a result. PSEPs will play an essential role in revising materials and trainings, conducting outreach to applicators, and playing other key roles in implementing the regulation.

With this new cooperative agreement, EXF also seeks to expand its environmental justice focus. The previous agreement required the publication of materials for pesticide applicators in multiple languages. The new cooperative agreement also requires  the promotion of environmental justice elements, namely collaborations between PSEPs and minority-serving institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, and Hispanic, Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander, and predominantly Black serving institutions.

To learn more about occupational pesticide safety and health, visit EPA’s website.

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Extension Foundation Selected as Vendor for USDA’s 22007 Outreach Support Program

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Highlights:

  • Through the 22007 Outreach Support Program, USDA would like to expand community-based partnerships to ensure all producer communities understand DFAP, know how to seek assistance, and know how to apply.

  • Extension Foundation is one of three organizations facilitating the 22007 Outreach Support Program. Extension Foundation is responsible for executing the application and funding process to provide funding and guidance to eligible Event Host applicants to plan and host 22007 outreach and/or technical assistance events in coordination with the 22007 regional hub vendors.

  • In partnership with USDA, Extension Foundation will facilitate coordination between Event Hosts and the DFAP regional hub vendors.

  • Event Hosts will only be responsible for planning, marketing, and hosting the outreach events. The DFAP Regional Vendors will be onsite at each event and will be responsible for providing program information and/or technical assistance to interested applicants.

  • To be eligible for funding, your organization must commit to host three (3) in-person events with a target of at least 35 attendees per event.

  • Your events should be accessible, culturally and linguistically appropriate and open to all producers and those who serve producers in your community who would like to learn more about DFAP or get assistance submitting an application. 

The Extension Foundation was selected by USDA to serve as one of its vendors for Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to solicit applications from eligible applicants pre-selected by USDA and assigned to the Extension Foundation, provide technical assistance, and make decisions on applications based upon USDA guidance. Section 22007 of the IRA directs USDA to provide financial assistance to producers who have experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs. To implement this legislative directive, USDA established the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program. This program gives USDA the ability to provide financial assistance for farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners determined to have experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs prior to January 1, 2021. 

Congress directed that the program should be administered by non-governmental organizations, so in May, USDA signed contracts with three non-governmental vendors who, together, constitute a national administrator and four regional hubs. The vendors are working together to solicit applications from eligible farmers, provide technical assistance, and make decisions about each case (following rules set by USDA).  

The 22007 application opened on July 7, 2023 and will now close on January 13, 2024. 

To ensure maximum producer participation and increase their awareness of financial assistance, USDA has partnered with community-based organizations across the country with experience in agriculture and trusted relationships with producer communities. Leveraging partner networks will enable USDA to meet its goal to reach broad, diverse, and inclusive communities in all geographic regions. 

Toward this end, USDA is seeking to expand partnerships with trusted producer-serving organizations.

Specifically, USDA would like to support organizations to host 22007 outreach events in coordination with the DFAP regional hubs vendors through the 22007 Outreach Support Program. The purpose of this program is to facilitate awareness and understanding of the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program among producer communities through effective, accessible, and inclusive outreach and technical assistance events across geographic regions.

At minimum, eligible applicants: 

  1. must be verified non-profit organizations or institutions of higher education; 
  2. commit to plan, market, and host three (3) in-person events with a target of at least 35 attendees per event by December 22, 2023;
  3. coordinate with the funder organization and the DFAP Regional Hub Vendors to facilitate their 22007 activities at the events; and
  4. submit required reporting event outcomes.

Funding for each event is set at $2,500, the total award will be $7,500 to host the three events.

Learn more at 22007.extension.org

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NIFA Awards $10 Million to Extension Foundation for Workforce Development

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The ECOP Workforce Development Program Action Team in collaboration with the NECIW National Working Group (NWG) and Extension Foundation (EXF) will collaborate with NIFA staff to form a robust network of public and private entities across every U.S. region to build the nation’s capacity to respond to the changing needs in the food and agriculture sector. The primary audience for this project, “will be Cooperative Extension practitioners, workforce intermediaries, and the participants they serve. Intermediaries such as the US Department of Labor, American Jobs Center, industry partners, state and local workforce agencies, and vendors like Eduworks and AgCareers are critical partners for this project. The intermediary’s role is to “bridge” the timing and information gap and align employee preparation and training to employer needs, thereby creating the optimal connection between the demand and supply sides of the world of work, ultimately serving as the direct connection to job seekers.

The objectives of this project are to:

  • Create a living clearinghouse with dynamic technology to organize and share Cooperative Extension’s agriculture workforce development offerings.
  • Develop a sustainable network of Extension Educators and Industry partners to strengthen the alignment of agriculture WD offerings with real-time industry needs.
  • Connect workforce intermediaries to Cooperative Extension skill development programs that cultivate upskilling, credentialing, and participant readiness to successfully join or rejoin the ag workforce.

According to USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, “the goal of their project, “NECIW Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP) Grant: Utilizing a Wealth of Extension Resources to Meet Agriculture’s Most Pressing Workforce Needs” is to connect similar regional efforts, identify gaps in the workforce ecosystem, and provide adaptive, science-based proven solutions to address local and regional workforce issues, including accessible training methodologies (i.e., experiential, skills-based learning opportunities and others), materials, instructors, and other solutions that result in participant’s upskilling, credentialing, and readiness to successfully join or rejoin the workforce).”

 

Read the full release from USDA-NIFA here. 

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Success from Extension Foundation’s New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) Program Accelerator: North Carolina State University Juntos Program Awarded $7.8 Million from USDA-NIFA

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The Juntos Program from North Carolina State University was competitively selected in 2020 as a recipient of the Extension Foundation’s New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) award and received it for a second time in 2021. The program was served by Extension Foundation staff including its key informants, and was assigned Dr. Scott Reed as the catalyst/coach for the Juntos Program during their two-year partnership with the Extension Foundation. NTAE is a grant from USDA-NIFA in partnership with Oklahoma State University. Since 2019, the Extension Foundation has served 72 competitively selected Extension programs aligned with USDA and Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) strategic goals/priority program areas. Programs receive funding and support from the Extension Foundation for one full year.

Over the course of the two years that the Juntos Program received services from the Extension Foundation the project leader – Diana Urieta, Senior Director and Extension Specialist of Juntos, North Carolina State University –  and her team were coached to identify new possibilities and strengthen their planned impact. The Juntos Program received additional support to create materials and experiences that engage Extension resources to speed development and generate a change where it is desired. The NTAE Program provided the Juntos Program a robust and productive interaction with a group of catalysts and key informants in a mentoring role to help grow professionally over the course of the partnership. 

The Extension Foundation is excited for the continued success of the Juntos Program. According to Patrick Smith, North Carolina State University, “NC State’s Juntos program has received a $7.8 million grant to improve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) participation, persistence and career readiness among Hispanic and Latino youth in the states of North Carolina and Washington. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Youth Innovators Empowering Agriculture Across America program.” 

On the topic of working with the Extension Foundation through NTAE, Diana Urieta shared that “carrying the weight of this project’s vision casting and submission process was no walk in the park. I am incredibly grateful to have had my catalyst and mentor, Dr. Scott Reed and the NTAE team supporting me from beginning to end. From encouraging me to publish an efieldbook and podcasts on the Juntos story, building my small staff’s leadership potential, taking my management plan and creating images that produced vision, to believing this proposal was worth funding. Having the NTAE team helped strengthen the bridge that continues to serve hundreds and thousands of Juntos students and their families around our nation through Extension.”  

Read the full story from North Carolina State University here. 

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EXCITE Launches Implementation Phase for 33 Immunization Education Projects/37 Land-grant Universities

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Cooperative Extension has been given the opportunity to continue immunization education work through the Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE). The Extension Foundation, in cooperation with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), through an Interagency Agreement with the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are funding the Cooperative Extension System to increase vaccine confidence among rural and other underserved communities.  Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement

This new funded effort builds on the success of two prior projects since 2021 including the EXCITE Vaccinate with Confidence Communication Campaign, and competitively-selected EXCITE Pilot Projects. For the new Implementation Phase, 33 projects from 37 institutions have been awarded, including five institutions that are new to EXCITE. These projects represent all six regions of LGUs. EXCITE serves all Land-grant Universities (LGUs) and all were invited to apply. 

The Implementation Phase expands the project scope to include all adult immunizations and COVID-19. The overarching goals of the new phase of EXCITE is to enhance the accessibility and acceptability of local adult immunization opportunities for rural populations through strategic partnerships, while also instilling greater confidence in LGUs to provide effective COVID-19 immunization education. The CDC has identified two priorities for the EXCITE projects in this Implementation Phase. The projects must serve a rural and medically underserved population, and they must have a public health partnership.

The Implementation Phase is an 18-month educational campaign, characterized by community engagement and close collaboration with public health partners. To support the participating teams, a mentoring/coaching model will be implemented, providing valuable guidance and assistance throughout the project. Furthermore, quarterly professional development workshops will be conducted to foster continuous  learning and sharing among the teams.

The objectives of the new Implementation Phase of EXCITE as are follows:

  1. Increasing partnerships with local departments of public health with special emphasis placed on those at the local level.
  2. Increasing positive perception of public health partners and vaccine providers of the value of collaboration with Extension
  3. Changing attitudes and beliefs within LGU’s about adult immunization will lead the organization to become an asset model focused on building early adoption and innovation leaders in adult immunization education
  4. Assessing best practices for adult immunization in rural communities through National Convening and three selected pilot projects

Below is a list of institutions receiving funding for the Implementation Phase:

Aaniiih Nakoda College
Auburn University
Blackfeet Community College
Central State University
Clemson University
Cornell University
Florida A&M University & University of Florida
Institute of American Indian Arts
Lincoln University
Mississippi State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina A&T State University
Ohio State University & Texas A&M University
Pennsylvania State University
Purdue University
Southern University
Tennessee State University
Tuskegee University
United Tribes Technical College
University of Arkansas
University of California System
University of Delaware
University of Georgia
University of Idaho
University of Illinois
University of Kentucky
University of Maryland
University of Minnesota
University of the District of Columbia
Utah State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & Virginia State University
West Virginia State University & West Virginia University

ABOUT EXCITE

Extension Collaboration on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE) is a nationwide local response by U.S. Cooperative Extension made possible through an interagency agreement between United States Department of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a cooperative agreement with the Extension Foundation in partnership with the ECOP Health Program Action Team. 

Extension Foundation Role

On behalf of the Cooperative Extension System, the Extension Foundation serves as Principal Investigator, provides grants administration, fiscal, operational, and technological services, system-wide communication, innovation processes, wrap-around services for projects, data collection and dashboards, and partnership development for the EXCITE Program.

 

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USDA Announces Funding for 33 Institutions for $262.5M Investment through NEXTGEN Opportunity

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The Extension Foundation (EXF) was awarded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) in the Fall of 2022 to serve as the Technical Service Provider for the NEXTGEN Funding Opportunity. 

According to USDA-NIFA, “…the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) ‘From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals Program’ (NextGen) will enable eligible institutions, from New York to the Northern Mariana Islands, to build and sustain the next generation of food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences workforce. This includes efforts to strengthen USDA’s workforce through enhanced educational support, experiential learning and exposure to early career opportunities. Eligible institutions include: 1890 Land-grant Universities, 1994 Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSI), Alaska Native-serving and Native Hawaiian-serving Institutions and institutions of higher education located in the insular areas, as well as their partners. The $262.5 million investment will provide training and support to more than 20,000 future food and agricultural leaders through 33 project partners.”

All eligible institutions were able to utilize EXF services at no cost to help expand their capacity through proposal copy and editing, identifying partners, and strengthening their overall proposals and applications. 

Participants shared that:

  • EXF resources helped strengthen the proposal,

    Molly Immendorf, Beverly Coberly, and Dawn Mellion

    Pictured left to right: Molly Immendorf, Design Strategist, Beverly Coberly, Interim CEO, and Dawn Mellion, NEXTGEN Technical Advising Services Program Director

  • EXF resources helped clients cross the finish line,
  • EXF offered unique/boutique services,
  • EXF offered services based on client needs,
  • EXF resources were flexible,
  • EXF was a good partner to both the client institutions and USDA-NIFA, and 
  • Recommendations for future similar offerings.

The response to the EXF technical assistance opportunity was positively overwhelming and a success. EXF served 252 eligible institutions and partners in approximately 12 weeks. Over 90% of respondents of the post support survey would use the NEXTGEN Technical Services again and over 92% would recommend these services to other institutions. Of the 33 awarded institutions, the Extension Foundation provided services to 27. The Extension Foundation will continue to provide services to all awarded institutions during the planning and implementation of their proposals. 

A listing of institutions awarded for this funding opportunity is available here, and the full release from USDA-NIFA is available here. 

About the Extension Foundation

Our mission is to help Cooperative Extension generate a more visible, measurable, local impact.

We achieve this through our nationally funded programs made possible by member dollars and cooperative agreements with federal agencies, and through partnering on state, regional, and national initiatives with Cooperative Extension and the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP). We serve all Land Grant Universities, regardless of membership status.

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Extension Foundation Position Announcement: Chief Executive Officer

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Extension Foundation Chief Executive Officer Position Description

Title:   Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Time:  Full-time

Overall Role:  Executive leader and manager of the Extension Foundation and Executive Officer of the Extension Foundation Board of Directors

Salary:  Commensurate with education and experience

The Extension Foundation (EXF) is a member-based, nonprofit 501(c)3, created to support Cooperative Extension and its strategic partners. The primary purpose of the EXF is to generate value for its members and partners by creating innovative and effective Extension educational solutions and supporting Cooperative Extension Service (CES) professionals to have a more significant impact in the communities in which they work. extension.org and extension.org/about/ provide more information on EXF.

The EXF is a virtual space where change is invigorating, and people are enthusiastic about opportunities to create and contribute. The EXF works with CES to support learning that fosters growth, leadership, competencies, entrepreneurship, and innovation. CES is a nationwide network available to all land-grant universities and colleges across the U.S. and its territories.

Position Overview:

The Extension Foundation Board of Directors seeks an exceptional entrepreneurial leader from educational institutions, government agencies, businesses and non-profits, and industry to serve as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO will set the pace and structure for a thriving 21st-century organization invested in ensuring CES has a broad range of engaged learners.  The CEO works closely with the Board of Directors to create a vision and align systems to accomplish its goals.

The successful candidate will understand the CES, how it functions within the land-grant system, and how it works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). The candidate should have expertise in working with higher education institutions and nonprofit executive leadership, building partnerships for funding distribution, leading and managing staff and contractors, and developing and managing resources. As a hub for CES innovation and entrepreneurship, the EXF Board of Directors and the CEO develop and implement strategies to achieve goals set by the CES. The CEO must stay current on emerging technologies, partnerships, funding opportunities, and professional development that apply to CES educational programming, and be committed to achieving the diversity goals of the system. The CEO will communicate to, set direction for, and motivate action among Extension Foundation staff.

The CEO and the Chief Operations Officer (COO) make up the Extension Foundation Executive Team. The CEO will have a systems approach for finances, grants management, personnel, and program development/management.

The CEO is responsible for:

  • Creating an understanding, actively participating, invoking entrepreneurship, and efficiently executing the vision of innovation among the EXF members and staff.
  • Presenting a shared vision of the EXF and CES’s innovations, successes, and opportunities by bridging the traditional CES programming model to a future vision.
  • Attracting, recruiting, and retaining member institutions and strategic partnerships.
  • Providing effective leadership that rewards and reinforces behaviors that lead to innovation, partnerships, and funding for CES.
  • Leading with a proactive and high-performance orientation for cultivating an environment where people are enthusiastic about the opportunities to contribute.
  • Building interdependent (self-directed) teams and relationships across the CES and strategic partners to achieve a high level of cooperation.
  • Securing funding to ensure long-term financial stability.
  • Providing oversight for data security for all aspects of the EXF
  • Establishing an environment that successfully secures investments geared toward long-term stability, sharing the EXF’s vision, and developing additional partners and stakeholders.
  • Connecting and networking with people in higher education, nonprofits, federal agencies, and industry to create and maintain

Transparency, Accountability, and Responsibility

  • Ensuring that all legal and regulatory documents are filed and monitoring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
  • Working closely with EXF Board of Directors to determine direction, establish priorities,monitor development and sustainability, and communicate with members, partners, and staff.
  • Holding staff accountable and responsible for achieving strategic priorities.
  • Providing general oversight of EXF activities and working closely with the EXF staff to keep pace with changing programming opportunities.
  • Guiding the EXF Board, leadership, and staff, to ensure program quality and organizational stability through standards and controls, systems and procedures, and regular reviews.
  • Communicating fiscal, programmatic, and strategic goals and seeking input from staff and contractors about challenges and opportunities.

Governance

  • Creating a board development plan to assist EXF Board of Directors in articulating and engaging in their fiduciary duties as a board member.
  • Strategizing with the EXF Board of Directors to identify, recruit, and engage partners within and outside
  • With the EXF Board of Directors, developing an evaluation and marketing strategy demonstrating EXF’s value to members.
  • Developing a robust and meaningful relationship with the EXF Board Chair.

Finances

  • Providing oversight for financial systems working with the Comptroller to ensure financial efficiencies and integrity for
  • Advocating for programs and services that are produced cost-effectively,

employing the economy while maintaining a high level of quality.

  • Overseeing fiscal activities and providing leadership in resource development.
  • Assuring effective revenue development that is aligned with existing and emerging needs.
  • Leveraging the skills and talents of staff to promote effective leadership for the fiscal management of multiple grants and proposals.

Program Development

  • Generating a high level of EXF member engagement.
  • Communicating to EXF members, partners, and prospective partners, identifying and improving services.
  • Facilitating current and emerging program development priorities with EXF Board of Directors, Executive Team, members, partners, EXF staff, and audiences.
  • Working with the Extension Committee on Policy (ECOP) to align with their program priorities to seek additional program partnerships and program funding.
  • Providing leadership for developing multiple grant proposals, program development within awarded grants, and evaluation and reporting of results and impacts of grants.

Qualifications: 

  • Minimum of terminal degree or equivalent experience (Executive Leadership, etc.).
  • Documented experience leading change and innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, generating profits and value in higher education, nonprofit, or government leadership.
  • Experience working with Cooperative Extension (within the organization or closely aligned agencies/partners).
  • Demonstrated ability to lead change management processes for the creation and sunsetting of work products, policies, and procedures.
  • Evidence of successfully implementing new business models.
  • Proven ability to lead a financially sustainable organization having multiple funding streams.
  • Proven ability to develop and maintain fiscal and organizational transparency, accountability, and responsibility.
  • Demonstrated successful experiences and commitment to the recruitment, retention, and development of a diverse staff, promotion of a positive workplace environment, and serving the needs of diverse audiences.
  • Experience leading an agile organization in a virtual environment.
  • Proven systems thinker with an abundance mindset.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in management and administration.
  • Evidence of history of integrity and behavior that develops people and
  • Ability to influence and enable others while managing continuity, change, and growth.

 

The closing date for the position is 5 p.m. Pacific Time, July 28th, 2023, or until a suitable candidate is found.

To apply for this position, please submit your application here:  https://registry.extension.org/231358529407157

To nominate a potentially qualified candidate, provide contact information to Fred Schlutt (fredschlutt@extension.org), Chair of the Search Committee.

Direct any questions to Fred Schlutt (fredschlutt@extension.org), Chair of the Search Committee.

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Extension Foundation National Professional Development Needs Assessment

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The Extension Foundation invites Cooperative Extension to participate in a survey to identify professional development needs for Cooperative Extension professionals at 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-grant universities in the US and US territories.

We estimate the survey will take roughly 10 minutes to complete. Findings from this survey will be used to determine future direction for the Extension Foundation as well as being shared widely across all Cooperative Extension organizations.

Please use this link to access the survey: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/AVkR8ZyDIj

We look forward to your response. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We ask that you please complete the survey by May 22, 2023.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Karen Vines
Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist for Continuing Professional Education
Virginia Tech & Virginia Cooperative Extension

Aaron Weibe
Communications & Engagement Manager
Extension Foundation

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New! Extension Foundation Seeks EXCITE Program Coach

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The Extension Collaboration on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE) seeks to add 1-2 program coaches for the adult immunization education program from June 1, 2023 through November 30, 2024.

Applicants should have knowledge of public health and have some experience relative to Cooperative Extension based at Land Grant Universities.  This position will be part of the EXCITE program team and will serve as an online coach for 5-7 Land Grant University EXCITE teams selected for the adult immunization project.

Responsibilities will include:

  • Coaching 5-7 institutional teams through the proposed grant work plan through 2 meetings per month.
  • Meeting with all coaches to identify needed resources and professional development for the institutional teams.
  • Reviewing team programmatic and financial reports and providing guidance to the team based on these reports.
  • Meeting with supervisor to provide input and request assistance as needed.
  • Plan and provide direct learning opportunities for teams in national professional development sessions.

The position is for 30 hours per month or approximately 8 hours per week. Not all weeks will be equal; the individual will work with teams to define meeting times. We are seeking two coaches at 25% level of effort or one coach at 50% level of effort. If an interested candidate is in a current Extension position, this would be a buyout of 25% or 50% of time.  If the applicant is not a current Extension employee, this position will be a contractual agreement for 30 hours per month with salary to commensurate with experience.

Interested applicants should upload a letter below stating interest in the position and your experience/working relationship with Cooperative Extension.  A resume highlighting related educational programming and coaching skills, as well as knowledge of public health, should be uploaded below.  The first review of applications will begin May 8, 2023.  This position will remain open until acceptable candidates are identified.

Apply Here

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Building Resilient Families: How New Technologies for Ag Extension is Serving the Heart & Hope Program from the University of Nevada, Reno

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New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) is a grant from USDA-NIFA in partnership with Oklahoma State University and is currently in its fourth year. Since 2019, the Extension Foundation has served 72 leaders and programs from across Cooperative Extension to help strengthen their programs and make a greater local impact in the communities they serve. 

Programs that applied for NTAE each year were competitively selected and aligned with USDA and Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) strategic goals/priority program areas. Programs receive funding and support from the Extension Foundation for one full year. Over the course of one year, the program leader and team are coached to identify new possibilities and strengthen their planned impact. Each team receives additional support to create materials and experiences that engage Extension resources to speed development and generate a change where it is desired. Awardees can expect robust and productive interaction with a group of catalysts and key informants from the Extension Foundation in a mentoring role to help teams grow professionally over the course of a one-year partnership.

One of the forty teams selected for Year 4 of the NTAE award is the Heart & Hope program from the University of Nevada, Reno. Their  faculty developed the Heart & Hope program to increase the protective factors that create healthy home environments in order to break the cycle of domestic violence. This research-based program provides survivors with resources and skills to strengthen their relationships and have hope for the future. Since 2015, Heart & Hope has served 46 families in Elko, including 54 adults and 110 children.

The Heart & Hope program received a $10,000 fellowship and is currently receiving a year of services from the Extension Foundation to help accelerate and continue to scale their program while building upon their current success. Dr. Dyremple Marsh and Dr. Chuck Hibberd are serving as Extension Foundation Catalysts for this program. Extension Foundation Catalysts are retired Extension Administrators and Directors that provide practical mentorship and support to programs being served through NTAE, and work to keep the teams focused on their short-term and long-term goals while leveraging other resources from within the Foundation. 

Dr. Dyremple Marsh shared, “The Heart and Hope NTAE Team consistently comes prepared with the goal of making significant achievements in the project. Their success to date is a testament of their hard work. The Cooperative Extension Community has a lot to learn from this team when dealing with very challenging community problems.”

The long-term goals for Heart & Hope are to develop a hybrid train-the-trainer model and expand nationwide, breaking the cycle of domestic violence in as many communities as possible. The program will expand to Las Vegas, Nevada’s largest urban center, to discover how the program benefits diverse groups such as low-income, minority, and LGBTQ families. Staff plan to train 10 staff and serve 30 adults and 50 children living in Las Vegas in the first year. By gaining experience serving diverse groups, staff will be prepared to scale the program nationally and obtain listings on evidenced-based program registries.

When asked about her experience working with the Extension Foundation through NTAE, Julie Woodbury, Heart & Hope Program Coordinator, University of Nevada, Reno, said, “as a NTAE grant recipient, each conversation with a catalyst or key informant opens up our eyes to new ways to promote and deliver the program – the case statement; well-designed, eye-catching print/digital promotional material; video clips highlighting program content; a listserv to communicate regularly with partners and families; online registration forms; a dashboard to access program content. It is truly transformational.”

To learn more about the Heart & Hope program from the University of Nevada, Reno, please visit https://extension.unr.edu/program.aspx?ID=17.

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Our mission is to empower a national network of community-based educators, volunteers, and partners to turn knowledge into real-world solutions for stronger communities and people.

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The Extension Foundation is a nonprofit established in 2006 by Extension Directors and Administrators nationwide. Extension Foundation is embedded in the U.S. Cooperative Extension System and serves on Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP).

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This website is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension (funding opportunity no. USDA-NIFA-OP-010186), grant no. 2023-41595-41325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation.

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