Adult Volunteer Leader Development

The Home Economist saw a need to reach those who wanted to find out about additional programs offered in Bernalillo County. A Home Ec. contact list has been established and the Home Economist sends out email blasts every month or six weeks to tell about upcoming programs and to share Home Ec related information. These email blasts are also used as a volunteer recruitment tool and have generated many new volunteers for the Home Economic programs. At the time of writing this report some 112 people have requested to be on the Home Ec. email blast.

There are 190 4-H adult volunteer leaders that have completed the application and screening process before being enrolled as a New Mexico 4-H Leader in San Juan County. With just over 650 4-H members enrolled, recruiting and maintaining volunteer leaders is directly related to the success of the San Juan County 4-H Program.

One hundred percent of new organizational club leaders were offered an orientation and initial education lesson. 50% of 4-H adult volunteers participated in a least one leader education program during the 4-H year.
Twenty eight leaders attended the October Leaders’ Meeting. At the leaders meeting the agent was responsible for assisting in the distribution of new enrollments as well as other necessary information needed for a successful 4-H year.
Twenty seven leaders attended the January Leaders’ Meeting. Mindy Turner, State 4-H Specialist, was invited to present “Taming the Wild Cloverbud” and “How to Make Your Club Better and Keep Yourself Sane”. The program was very well received.
Fifteen leaders attended the April Leaders’ Meeting. The agent was responsible for providing information for the April 15th 4-H deadline and making sure leaders’ knew what was due and that they received the correct forms. Money management, fundraising activities and EIN numbers were also covered.
Throughout the 4-H year the agent provides any information requested or desired by the adult volunteer leaders. The agent also works closely with the leaders to schedule practices and secure facilities for numerous 4-H activities. Keeping the adult volunteer leaders satisfied and involved is key to the sustainability of the San Juan County 4-H Program.

Kathryn Babcock has signed on to support Adult Volunteer Leader Development within San Juan County.

10 new adult volunteer leaders completed the screening process and enrolled as leaders in San Miguel County. 38 adult volunteer leaders reenrolled for a total enrollment of 48 Adult volunteer leaders in San Miguel county.

An ongoing effort of the Home Economist is to train staff who work in Afterschool field and to encourage state licensure by provided high quality training for this large group of people in Bernalillo County. For the 4th summer in a row the Home Economist has was a part of the city of Albuquerque Community Center Summer staff training. In June over 180 summer staff was trained on positive discipline techniques with large groups of children. Thousands of children participate in the 28 Albuquerque Community Centers during the summer and afterschool programs. In December of 2008 training was offered at the NM Forum for Youth and Community’s annual summit. This was a panel who discussed ways to help afterschool programs get through the state licensing process. A plan was presented and approved by the Child Youth and Family Department allowing the process to be more possible for afterschool programs to attain. In addition to this effort the Home Economist did her master’s creative component on curriculum for Afterschool providers. The parts of the training are; age appropriate practices, behavior management and positive youth development. This training is available upon request.