The Ohio CYFAR project seeks to determine effective methods for empowering at-risk youth and families in Ohio through the provision of community-based Extension programs. The project has two site locations: Adventure Central in Dayton and University District in Columbus. State-level project staff help plan, implement, and evaluate activities at these sites and then disseminate information about reaching at-risk audiences to Extension professionals throughout Ohio.
Through an annual Congressional appropriation for the National Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Program, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, allocates funding to land-grant university extension services for community-based programs for at-risk children and their families. Since 1991, CYFAR has supported programs in more than 600 communities in all states and territories. Ohio State University Extension receives approximately $134,000 each year. CYFAR funding is renewable for up to five years, and OSU is currently receiving in its fourth year of funding.
Adventure Central
Location
This after school center in Dayton, Ohio, is a cooperative venture between Ohio State
University Extension - 4-H Youth Development and Five Rivers MetroParks.
Goal
The CYFAR project goal at Adventure Central is to increase parent involvement in their child's
learning.
Evaluation
CYFAR Project staff have developed survey and focus group interview evaluation tools
that assess family involvement.
Activities
Activities include 4-H science and nature activities, Youth Board, workforce development,
school liason, family events, and travel opportunities.
University District
Location
The University District neighborhood lies just east of the OSU main campus in Columbus, Ohio. Some
areas of the University District have high rates of single parent households and families living
below the poverty level.
Goal
The CYFAR project goal in the University District is to provide at-risk youth structured
and supervised 4-H Afterschool activities that emphasize improving academic performace
and promote healthy lifestyle decisions and behaviors.
Activities
Activities for youth have included 4-H clubs at elementary schools, OSU computer center,
Girls in Technology Club, family events, and teen leadership training and workforce development.
Military Partnerships for Youth and Families
Through the CYFAR Program, Land Grant universities such as OSU have partnered with the US Army and the US Air Force since 1995 to develop resources to benefit military youth and families.
Projects include Operation: Military Kids, Speak Out for Military Kids, and military 4-H club grants to establish clubs on bases and installations.
