# Presentation: 224432

## Programs of Distinction

**Overview of the**

- Submission Process
- Winter, 2007

## Overview of Programs of Distinction
Benefits
Submission Process
Scoring Process
Helpful Suggestions
Questions and Answers

- Benefits
- Submission Process
- Scoring Process
- Helpful Suggestions
- Questions and Answers

**What will we discuss?**

## Programs of Distinction are:

**Programs of Distinction are:**

- Peer-reviewed program descriptions that reflect the high quality of Extension youth development programs around the country

## Definition of a Program:

“An organized, purposeful set of activities designed to achieve positive youth development outcomes.” 

**Definition of a Program:**
**“****An organized, purposeful set of activities designed to achieve positive youth development outcomes.”**

**Notes:**
Ask participants to write their personal definition of a program. You need to know what a program is first before you can determine which ones are the best. Definitions vary, but this is the one we will use for this process.

## Programs of Distinction Must:

- Exhibit strong program development characteristics
- Contribute to the body of knowledge about youth development
- Convey new ideas, materials, or innovative methods
- Demonstrate evidence of effectiveness

**Notes:**
For next slide: What do you perceive as the benefits of POD for 4-H professionals?

## Why Programs of Distinction?

- Designed to help Extension Professionals:

- Communicate the high quality of youth development programs
- Assist others in improving their practices in positive youth development
- Better understand and promote the nature of scholarship in their work
- Submit program outcomes through peer-evaluated format
- Tell the story of 4-H and other Extension youth development programs

**Why Programs of Distinction?**

**Notes:**
N4-HHQ is working with CSREES and National 4-H Council to market these programs.
This is becoming a place people are coming to for information about what is working in 4-H.

## National recognition
Eligibility for seminar presentation at NAE4-HA
Eligibility for the Annie E. Casey Foundation 4-H Families Count Family Strengthening Awards
Eligibility for the Jim Duncan Program of Distinction Award through NAE4-HA
Detailed feedback provided by peers
Opportunity for program improvement and enhancement of written communication skills
Wonderful addition to professional file or resume
Ability to generate reports for local 
	and state funders and policy makers

- National recognition
- Eligibility for seminar presentation at NAE4-HA
- Eligibility for the Annie E. Casey Foundation 4-H Families Count Family Strengthening Awards
- Eligibility for the Jim Duncan Program of Distinction Award through NAE4-HA
- Detailed feedback provided by peers
- Opportunity for program improvement and enhancement of written communication skills
- Wonderful addition to professional file or resume
- Ability to generate reports for local
- 	and state funders and policy makers

**Benefits to Submitters**

## Step 1: Download submission form and guidelines from the National 4-H Headquarters site:

http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/about/pod.htm 

Programs of Distinction database 
Tips from Peer Reviewers
Link to Annie E. Casey 4-H Families Count Family Strengthening Awards

- _[http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/about/pod.htm](http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/about/pod.htm)_
- Programs of Distinction database
- Tips from Peer Reviewers
- Link to Annie E. Casey 4-H Families Count Family Strengthening Awards

**Overview of Submission Process:**

## Step 2: Submit manuscript directly to National 4-H Headquarters

Manuscripts are accepted on a continuous basis
All manuscripts submitted electronically using the Programs of Distinction submission form available online. 

- Manuscripts are accepted on a continuous basis
- All manuscripts submitted electronically using the Programs of Distinction submission form available online.

## Step 3: Submitters receive a “receipt” e-mail acknowledging that the manuscript was received (state leader will be copied)

Step 4: Identifying information (e.g., city, state, names, websites) is removed from the manuscript in order to ensure a blind review

- Step 4: Identifying information (e.g., city, state, names, websites) is removed from the manuscript in order to ensure a blind review

**Notes:**
Names and other identifying information are deleted or replaced with an “XX” in the manuscript.

State leader will be copied on receipt email, but submitter is responsible for communicating status to their state leader and/or supervisor. One way to keep open communication is to list your state leader’s contact information on the submission form as someone you want to be notified about the status of your application.

## Step 5: The “blind” manuscript is sent to three reviewers with experience in the selected category(ies)

Step 6: Reviewers are asked to complete their reviews within two weeks

- Step 6: Reviewers are asked to complete their reviews within _two weeks_

**Notes:**
Names and other identifying information are deleted or replaced with an “XX” in the manuscript.

State leader will be copied on receipt email, but submitter is responsible for communicating status to their state leader and/or supervisor. One way to keep open communication is to list your state leader’s contact information on the submission form as someone you want to be notified about the status of your application.

## Step 7: Submitters receive reviewer comments and notification of the status of their submission within four weeks from the date the manuscript was received

- Step 7: Submitters receive reviewer comments and notification of the status of their submission within _four weeks_ from the date the manuscript was received

**Notes:**
Names and other identifying information are deleted or replaced with an “XX” in the manuscript.

State leader will be copied on receipt email, but submitter is responsible for communicating status to their state leader and/or supervisor. One way to keep open communication is to list your state leader’s contact information on the submission form as someone you want to be notified about the status of your application.

## Submission Flowchart:

**Submitter emails manuscript to National 4-H Headquarters**

**Headquarters creates “blind” version and sends to 3 reviewers**

**Reviewers have 2 weeks to return review to Headquarters**

**Designation**
**as a Program of Distinction**

**Returned to submitter for edits or a re-submission**

**Submission is rejected as a Program of Distinction**

## 			
			75 program content points
		  + 25 readability points
		  ------------------------------------------------------------
		  = 100 possible points

- 			75 program content points
- 		  + 25 readability points
**	****	****  ****------------------------------------------------------------**
- 		  = 100 possible points

**Scoring Process:**

## Scoring rubric lists each objective – matches with submission form
1-5 Criteria rating scale with descriptions
Comments help submitters know how to revise their manuscripts

- 1-5 Criteria rating scale with descriptions
- Comments help submitters know how to revise their manuscripts

## Publish as a designated POD
Publish as a designated POD with minor revisions
Ask submitter to revise and resubmit – needs major revisions
Reject as POD

- Publish as a designated POD with minor revisions
- Ask submitter to revise and resubmit – needs major revisions
- Reject as POD

- Final Recommendations:

**Notes:**
Reject doesn’t mean that they can’t ever resubmit the program in the future. Example: some programs may be in an early developmental stage and may need another year.

## Slide 17

| Scores | At least 2 publish | At least 2 minor or publish | At least 2 major | At least 2 major or reject |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2 or more ≥ 90 | CSREES makes grammatical edits - publish | CSREES works with submitter to make minor revisions - publish | N/A | N/A |
| 2 or more ≥ 80 | CSREES works with submitter to make minor revisions - publish | Submitter makes suggested revisions and returns to one peer reviewer  | no pass - CSREES communicates needed changes to submitter - resubmit | no pass - CSREES communicates needed changes to submitter - resubmit |
| 2 or more ≥ 70 | N/A | N/A | no pass - CSREES communicates needed changes to submitter - resubmit | no pass - CSREES communicates needed changes to submitter - resubmit |
| 2 or more ≤ 70 | N/A | N/A | no pass - CSREES communicates needed changes to submitter - resubmit | reject with offer to send comments |

## Reviewers are looking for something original
Example: serves a unique audience
Find something unique about your program
Share your draft with colleagues first for a fresh pair of eyes and a careful edit
Keep your state leader in the loop!
Please keep open communication with us! 
Look at POD’s already on the website.

- Example: serves a unique audience
- Find something unique about your program
- Share your draft with colleagues first for a fresh pair of eyes and a careful edit
- Keep your state leader in the loop!
- Please keep open communication with us!
- Look at POD’s already on the website.

**Helpful Suggestions:**

**Notes:**
In order to keep the process moving smoothly, it is important to turn in your reviews by the deadline.  We have told the general public that the process takes a month from start to finish. This is especially important for the Annie E. Casey Foundation Family Strengthening Awards.

Deadline—April 15—After that date, we can’t guarantee that program will be reviewed in time for Annie E. Casey Awards consideration—June 1 deadline....

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We will be happy to work with you. We want this to be a fair and valuable learning experience for everyone.

We’ve modified the template for submissions this year, so some of the first POD’s are not in the new format.

## Suzanne Le Menestrel
slemenestrel@csrees.usda.gov
202-720-2297

General Programs of Distinction E-Mail:
POD@csrees.usda.gov

**Suzanne Le Menestrel**
- _[slemenestrel@csrees.usda.gov](mailto:slemenestrel@csrees.usda.gov)_
- 202-720-2297
- General Programs of Distinction E-Mail:
- _[POD@csrees.usda.gov](mailto:POD@csrees.usda.gov)_