This participatory approach to a capacity assessment resulted in a synergistic effort that provided a more accurate picture of community issues and concerns. Fetsch, Robert J. Within Cooperative Extension Consumer and Family Education Family Living programs, there has been no way to accurately assess parenting and child development program impacts and aggregate and compare results for local, state, and national stakeholders. Family living agents and specialists can now compare their local and state program impact results with norms from almost 1,000 family living program respondents. Radhakrishna, Rama B. Snider, B. Alan Tobacco use among teenagers is rising. A survey was conducted to assess the extent of tobacco use among 13,196 7th, 9th and 12th graders in six Pennsylvania counties.
Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to dislike school and expect a lower grade point average.
In addition, smokers are more likely than non-smokers to agree that it is OK to sell tobacco to minors and don't mind being around people who smoke. Extension professions should develop educational programs relative to youth tobacco use. Potential exists for Extension professionals to work with teachers, families, schools, and other agencies at the local level to address youth tobacco use issues. Agents enrolled received a current reference text and two mailings of case studies or assignments designed to enhance knowledge of and use of the reference. The self-study approach was evaluated as an effective format in terms of agent training and resource allocation.