Some participants, already motivated to change or improve practices, may take action after a program and make a behavior change. Others may be motivated during a single carefully planned presentation to move toward adopting a new practice. The Extension educator may provide additional information and support to assist these individuals adopt best practices. Unless we follow up with program participants to determine behavioral change, we cannot show that our programs are successful.
Legislators agree that impact means behavior change.
The Government Reporting Act requires that each Extension professional document numbers of program participants who have changed their practices. These numbers must be recorded in our yearly report of results. The requirements of the act should be welcomed by Extension professionals. We are challenged to make time in our schedules to document program impact in terms of numbers of clients moving toward adopting practice change. We have the opportunity to justify reducing the numbers of programs we present in order to prove that those we do undertake are effective.