Respondents suggested Extension needs incentives, educational opportunities, and a career ladder. The organization must identify what it wants, increase salaries, improve working conditions, and advertise. Extension must also work more closely with leadership groups that represent minorities and women to help identify prospective recruits, and the organization must make people of diverse cultures feel they're welcome and part of the system. The organization must appreciate and accept workers with families. Extension doesn't practice what it preaches about family and community values, respondents said.
Extension needs to provide child care on university campuses and in counties.
However, liability problems may discourage local governments. Extension should set a good example by having a competent and diverse workforce. The organization also should provide administrators with workshops on cultural diversity. All respondents acknowledged that, to be competitive, Extension must provide staff with opportunity, encouragement, and training. However, many conceded insufficient leadership and resources have been allocated to this area.