Our Goals

In an effort to enhance positive outcomes for Georgia's children, youth, and families, the University of Georgia's New Communities Initiative strives to strengthen Extension's capacity for reaching at-risk audiences through traditional and innovative programming. The primary aim is to prepare Extension educators to recognize the distinct needs of individuals in high-risk circumstances and to develop research-based educational programming for at-risk audiences. A secondary aim is to multiply and sustain the impact of this initiative by collaborating locally and statewide to train community leaders, youth workers, and other family support workers in the concepts of risk, resiliency, and protective factors.

Educational Strategies

Our educational strategies include:

educating Extension professionals, youth workers and others working with children and youth on the basic principles of resiliency and ways of strengthening developmental assets
engaging youth in active learning experiences - including a range of programming elements; arts, service learning, citizenship, language enrichment and physical development through both project and experiential based learning
encouraging family involvement in the development of community based Extension programming on issues impacting families; housing, financial literacy, health and nutrition, child and family development and community leadership
assisting parents in the development of a systematic family-plan to improve communications between school and family
supporting local collaboration between Extension, health and educational services as part of a comprehensive delivery system that supports strong and healthy families and student academic success
encouraging linkage between Extension and other cultural and educational institutions to create enriched learning environments for youth