The purpose of the study was to (1) identify major historical antecedents of urban 4-H and youth programs by the Cooperative Extension Service, (2) describe the evolution of urban 4-H and youth programs in Indiana, (3) illustrate the emergence of 4--H and youth programs in Indiana cities from 1968-1977, (4) investigate and clarify the perceived contemporary role of Extension Agents-Youth, and (5) identify leadership training needs as well as provide information to staff of Cooperative Extension that should assist in training agents corking in urban regions.The population for the study included all Extension AgentsYouth, Extension Boards, and Administrators from Lake, Marion and Vigo Counties that are currently active. The population also included the administrative staff of the Cooperative Extension Service from the State Office. The above counties were selected because of their highly urbanized populations and the program efforts that were initiated in the three counties.For the purpose of this study, the Director of Cooperative Extension Service in Indiana, Dr. Howard Diesslin, provided the approval to work with the three county staffs and administration. An additional Extension Staff was utilized fran Madison County to field test the questionnaire for clarity and relevance.The director of the Indiana Cooperative Extension Service granted approval for the questionnaire to be mailed under Extension mailing priviliges. The Associate Director, Dr. Paul Crooks, scrutinized the language of the instrument to determine whether the franking privilege available to Cooperative Extension Service could be used. Fifteen doctoral candidates and one professor of Educational Administration further critiqued the instrument for clarity, language and style.The questionnaire was mailed or handed to 75 Extension persons from Lake, Marion and Vigo Counties. Fifty-seven questionnaires were returned and 56 were usable. The data obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed, summarized and presented in narrative form. A frequency distribution was utilized for reporting numbers and percentages for each item in the sections relating to program, program responsibility, skills and training.The findings and conclusions of the study support the following recommendations:1. The Extension Service should improve communications with urban audiences through the efforts of Extension professionals, including youth agents, by effective means such as public meetings, media and wholesome programs.2. Program responsibilities should be clarified to increase effectiveness and accountability of Extension Agents-Youth.3. Goals and purposes of programs should receive a high level of agreement among regional staff.4. Professional Extension Agents-Youth employed to work in urban regions should have strong educational preparation in behavioral and social sciences.5. Agents working in urban regions should become familiar and work with other agencies to enhance efforts for meeting the needs of all people of the region.6. Agents in urban regions should have some knowledge in agriculture and related fields.7. A study should be made to determine whether training needsof personnel are being met. If not, immediate efforts should be directed toward such a goal.8. A follow-up study should be conducted to determine the kinds of training opportunities being pursued by the national staff and the state staff.9. A follow-up study should be conducted to compare attitudes of Extension personnel from different urban regions.10. Methods and techniques need to be developed to improve communications between administrators, Extension agents and board members.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/176171 |
| Date | 03 June 2011 |
| Creators | Finnell, Joseph H. |
| Contributors | Wagner, Ivan D. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | vi, 90 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
| Coverage | n-us-in |
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