council survey results

Extension Council Youth Leaders Project: 

Extension Council Youth Leaders Project County Extension Council Survey Results January 17, 2006 University of Missouri-Columbia Steve Henness andamp; Melissa Scheer 4-H Center for Youth Development

Survey definitions: 

Survey definitions Youth = young people ages 15-17 who are not eligible for voting Young adults = young people ages 18-25 who are eligible for voting/election to the county extension council

Survey sections: 

Survey sections Council practices Council rules andamp; procedures Council outreach Council interest (in ECYL) Council opportunities andamp; concerns

Council practices: youth: 

Council practices: youth

Slide5: 

Youth Involvement 8% No Youth Involvement 36% Did Not Report 56% N=114 counties Youth Involvement in Extension Councils

What roles do youth play?(N=50 counties): 

What roles do youth play? (N=50 counties) Youth have an undefined role – 54% Youth are occasional guests only – 15% Youth are advisors to the council as needed – 10% Youth are reporters on projects or programs only – 8% Youth are regular attendees at meetings only – 2%

Slide7: 

'The council has identified the need for input from younger citizens and has actively recruited youth to participate on the council. This participation will begin with the new council.'

Slide8: 

'The youth serve as non-voting representatives of the 4-H program and are appointed by the County 4-H Council to represent them.'

Slide9: 

'When the idea of the survey was discussed it was also decided to allow a non-voting representative of 4-H to be on the Extension Council.'

How are youth selected?(N=35 counties): 

How are youth selected? (N=35 counties) Youth are not selected - 43% Youth are selected by 4-H staff – 31% Youth are selected by extension council – 20% Youth are selected by other Extension faculty – 17%

What criteria are used to select youth?(N=35 counties): 

What criteria are used to select youth? (N=35 counties) County resident; geographic Active in their communities; good citizen; civic minded Active in their schools; good student Interested in leadership roles; leadership potential Able to communicate well in a group of adults Level of interest in extension; involvement in extension activities 4-H member in county; generally active in 4-H and possibly FFA

What level of impact do youth have?(N=50 counties): 

What level of impact do youth have? (N=50 counties) No impact on council decisions – 50% Small impact on council decisions – 20% Medium impact on council decisions – 6% Large impact on council decisions – 4%

Council outreach: youth: 

Council outreach: youth

Slide14: 

Does the extension council provide orientation or other forms of specialized support to youth who attend council meetings? No – 96% Yes – 2%

Councils Seeking Increased Youth Participation(N=114 counties): 

Councils Seeking Increased Youth Participation (N=114 counties)

Council practices: young adults: 

Council practices: young adults

Slide17: 

N=114 counties Young Adult Involvement on Extension Councils Did not respond 56% No young adults on council 31% Young adults on council 13%

What level of impact do young adults have?(N=50 counties): 

What level of impact do young adults have? (N=50 counties) No impact on council decisions – 46% Large impact on council decisions – 20% Medium impact on council decisions – 12%

Council outreach: young adults: 

Council outreach: young adults

Slide20: 

Does the extension council provide orientation or other forms of specialized support to young adults who are elected as council members? No – 61% Yes – 37%

Councils Seeking Increased Young Adult Participation(N=114 counties): 

Councils Seeking Increased Young Adult Participation (N=114 counties) No question response 1% No 3% Yes 40% No survey response 56%

Council interest(in ECYL): 

Council interest (in ECYL)

Councils Interested in Participating in a Statewide Program to Increase Youth/Young Adult Participation(N=114 counties): 

Councils Interested in Participating in a Statewide Program to Increase Youth/Young Adult Participation (N=114 counties) No question response 3% No 8% Yes 32% No survey response 57%

Slide24: 

Would the majority of extension council members be willing to be matched with a young person (ages 15-17) wishing to shadow the extension council? Yes – 64% No – 33%

Slide25: 

Would the majority of extension council members be willing to be matched with a young adult (ages 18-25) wishing to serve on the extension council? Yes – 74% No – 26%

How Much Time are Councils Willing/Able to Spend?: 

How Much Time are Councils Willing/Able to Spend? None – 2% A little – 34% Some – 60% A lot – 2%

How Big a Priority is this for Councils?: 

How Big a Priority is this for Councils? Not a priority – 14% Low priority – 34% High priority – 46% Top priority – 4%

Top Training/Support Issues for Councils to Implement Youth/Young Adult Involvement: 

Top Training/Support Issues for Councils to Implement Youth/Young Adult Involvement Logistical issues (time and distance for training; coordination of schedules) What Extension is; how it is funded; programs; importance to the county; fiscal/volunteer constraints; why more volunteers of all ages are needed Recruitment of youth and young adults Meaningful involvement; assimilation into council Leadership; public speaking Role of a good mentor Council expectations and how to achieve them Materials to supplement current training

Council opportunities and concerns: 

Council opportunities and concerns

Concerns for Councils: 

Concerns for Councils Councils have limited time to invest in and implement project Finding youth; competing with school and other youth activities; other demands on their time Accessibility to meetings; transportation; meeting time Keeping youth; making it meaningful; holding their interest; meetings perceived as too long and boring Consistent involvement; commitment of youth; lack of experience Youth without voting privileges; non-voting roles may seem de-motivating to youth Most young adults away in college; busy with families CPDs end up doing extra work; more staff time Unaware of what project will entail

Opportunities for Councils: 

Opportunities for Councils Youth can be source of new ideas; freshness of ideas Youth bring different perspective on issues, community needs, ways to respond; how to keep the community together; developing the plan of work Youth can help determine better ways of presenting programs to that age group Youth are resources rather than a programming audience Councils staying connected with older youth New way to market Extension; youth recruiting other program participants Creating a youth fair board Helping build leadership in the county; future growth and leadership of Extension