Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.

Youth Development (Bernalillo County)

Plan Goal

4-H members will enhance their personal growth, through the development of leadership, citizenship and life skills, and experience the satisfaction of making a difference in their own lives, their families, their schools, and their communities.

Situation Statement

Current 4-H programming reaches 20% of youth under 18 in New Mexico. The New Mexico 4-H Youth Development Program is committed to delivering research based educational curriculum and related learning experiences for youth in club, school enrichment, and special interest. 4-H is challenged to help youth gain knowledge and skills in consumerism, nutrition, personal development, animal science, plant science, natural sciences, engineering, and creative arts. Educational activities facilitate the development of life skills, citizenship and leadership, preparing youth for the independence and responsibilities of adulthood.

4-H strives to meet the specific needs of youth that is critical to survival and healthy development including a sense of safety, belonging, membership, self-worth, an ability to contribute, independence and control over one’s life, positive relationships and competence. In addition 4-H assists in helping youth accomplish critical tasks that allow them to become productive and responsible adults. These tasks youth must accomplish are cognitive development, social development, physical development, emotional development, and moral development.

Bernalillo County is considered an urban county with a residency of about 95 % urban and 5% rural. This density of population increases the risk factors within the lives of youth, as they are exposed to more frequency in violence, crime, poverty, gangs, drugs, and other negative risk factors. In order to prepare all our youth to become knowledgeable, productive citizens, they must possess basic life skills. There are approximately 420 youth enrolled in the Bernalillo County 4-H program. Youth today have many needs that must be met in order to enable them to become successful adults. The Bernalillo County 4-H program provides youth with opportunities to participate in activities and provides leadership experiences in planning and directing their own activities.

Target Audience and Actions

Youth ages 5-19 are targeted to learn life, leadership, and citizenship skills through: project work, special interest groups, school enrichment, competitive events, Fairs, clinics, workshops, record books, camps, community service, public speaking, elected/appointed offices, etc.

Youth and families in Bernalillo County come from a variety of cultural backgrounds, ages, both genders, socioeconomic backgrounds, and life experiences. The 4-H Youth Development Program in Bernalillo County encourages youth to enhance their personal growth and offers them the opportunity to experience the satisfaction of making a difference in their own lives, their families, their schools, and their communities.

Programs, activities, and events will be organized in each of the program years for 4-H members in Bernalillo County to participate in including: County Contests, This is 4-H, 4-H County Fair, Achievement Night, International Night, Record Books, and others.

Bernalillo County 4-H members will be encouraged to actively participate in County Contest, District Contest, State Conference, Senior Leadership Retreat, Teen-Get-Away, and Novice Camp.

Council Officers will plan, organize, and conduct programs throughout the year as while as assist with public relations events to expand their leadership experiences and inform the community of the 4-H program

Short-Term Objectives

4-H youth will develop valuable life skills including responsibilities, self-esteem, confidence, interpersonal relationship skills, problem solving skills, goal setting skills, and communication skills.

40% of 4-H youth will obtain practical knowledge they can apply to their every day lives through Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H curriculum.

4-H youth will expand their leadership potential and develop skills for life.

60% of 4-H youth will learn subject matter concepts through hands-on experiences.

50% of 4-H Youth will participate in 4-H events that develop cognitive skills, teamwork, leadership, and citizenship potential.

75 % of 4-H Youth will gain public speaking skills through speaking at club, school enrichment, and special interest events strengthening communication and organization abilities as well as self concept.

Medium-Term Objectives

4-H youth will acquire adequate attitudes, behaviors, and skills and a desire to be ethical and to be involved in efforts that contribute to the common good.

60% 4-H youth will learn subject matter concepts through hands-on experiences.

50% 4-H youth will gain personal growth and leadership development through 4-H leadership activities.

4-H youth will develop skills through an increased participation in events including: club activities, county wide activities, county contest, district contest, teen-get-away, senior leadership retreat, novice camp, and state conference.

4-H youth will establish partnerships with local administrators and community leaders, effectively managing programs and facilitating change through youth/adult partnerships.

Agents and staff will increase professional skills related to life skills and youth development be receiving quality training through theory, contest training, subject training, policy training, and evaluation.

Long-Term Objectives

4-H youth will demonstrate leadership and life skills in collegiate and post-secondary careers, events, and opportunities.

4-H youth will obtain an understanding and appreciation for national community, racial, ethnic, or cultural group diversity, history, and values.

Youth will participate in state and national 4-H events that develop cognitive skills, teamwork and citizenship potential, applying leadership and life skills learned at club special interest, school enrichment, county, district, and state activities
Agents and staff will increase professional skills related to life skills and youth development be receiving quality training through theory, contest training, subject training, policy training, and evaluation.

4-H youth will establish partnerships with local administrators and community leaders, effectively managing programs and facilitating change through youth/adult partnerships.

Evaluation Plan

Number of 4-H youth in Bernalillo County participating in County, District and State events

Number of youth participating in special interest, community and special interest programs in Bernalillo County

Number of youth serving as 4-H County council Officers.

Number of 4-H youth in Bernalillo County serving as State 4-H Officers, Ambassadors, or Diplomats.

Program evaluation will be created and implemented to determine knowledge gained, attitudes changed, skills learned, or practices adopted of 4-H members attending the “This is 4-H” program training.

Record books submitted by 4-H youth will provide tools for evaluating the long term effects of programming on life skills, public speaking, leadership, and citizenship, as well as future and career plans of 4-H members.

Event and workshop evaluations will be conducted to measure effectiveness of program and skills learned

Annual 4-H Enrollment report will include member enrollment