ExTEND-ing public value in Georgia
Across the country, Cooperative Extension organizations are adopting a variety of strategies for training their staff in the public value approach. University of Missouri appointed an “MU Extension Public Value Education Team,” who subsequently offered “Building Extension’s Public Value” training to all of MU Extension. Some states introduced the training to a particular program area (Family and Consumer Sciences in North Carolina, and Community Resource Development in New York and Pennsylvania). Nevada, in contrast, introduced it in selected regions.
Build muscles, bones, and public value!
University of Missouri Extension’s Stay Strong, Stay Healthy program (SSSH) is a strength training program that leads older adults to feel more active, flexible, and energetic. The SSSH team has created a public value message that they use to generate awareness and support for the program. Here is the message, complete with an estimate of health-related cost savings, excerpted from the program website:
Should sponsors benefit from Extension programs?
Many Extension programs receive sponsorships from third parties: individuals, businesses, or organizations that wish to ensure that a program takes place. The program’s sustainability sometimes hinges on the sponsor’s financial support, and sponsors have an interest in the program’s outcomes. University of Minnesota Extension’s Farm Transfer and Estate Planning program is an example.
Evidence Based Living Blog from Cornell
Looking for ways to support your public value message? Spend some time exploring the Evidence Based Living Blog, written by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Karl Pillemer, Associate Dean for Extension and Outreach, and Rhoda Meador, Associate Director of Outreach and Extension in the College of Human Ecology as well as the Associate Director of the Bronfenbrenner Life Course Center.
Fall program conference input
I am on the planning committee for the University of Minnesota Extension Fall Program Conference. For any readers from University of Minnesota Extension, please share your ideas or preferences for this year’s conference. Would you be interested in any public value trainings? What other kinds of offerings would be useful? Feel free to share in the comments or in an email to me. Thank you!