This capacity-building is accomplished through staff and volunteer training, program assistance, support and coordination across Michigan. This is accomplished through MSU Extension programming and a variety of partnerships. Though all 83 Michigan counties have the opportunity to participate in the staff and volunteer development of this project, these 12 at-risk sites have been specifically targeted and provided with additional support and technical assistance. The model works from an ecological approach, ensuring that programming focuses on children as individuals, within families and within communities.
All sites focus on asset-building .
Even though the 12 sites have different programmatic themes such as youth violence prevention, workforce preparation, wrap-around prevention, science and technology, and parenting education, each has the common goal of recognizing and building upon assets in children, youth, families and communities. Eight sites were involved in the Michigan 4-H Youth Violence Prevention Project. One consistent training assessment was used at six of the trainings and 78 participants completed part of all of the assessment tool. 89 percent strongly agreed or agreed that they learned something new from the workshops. 90 percent strongly agreed or agreed that the workshop content was clear and complete.