Extension professionals in youth development, family development, and community development also link to networks of collaborating agencies which expand the capacity to meet family and community needs. Effective programs are easy for youth and family members to use. Committed staff and local volunteers work directly with youth and families in their communities, providing consistency and continuity for families. Professionals in these programs are people who care about and respect youth and families. They exercise discretion about meeting individual needs and allow families and youth to decide how they will participate.
Family members can receive educational programs in the same facilities.
Child care and parent activities can be combined with youth development activities. Joint educational needs of family members can be met concurrently and consistently. Bolster Resiliency Effective programs recognize that many children and youth in adverse situations do survive and grow up to be competent, contributing youth and adults because of an individual sense of hope and confidence in their ability to cope. Research studies attribute the success of these resilient children to individual characteristics and family and community support systems which build their competencies. Successful resilient children established close bonds in the first years of their lives with either a parent, a grandparent, aunt, or uncle.