Families, Youth & Communities

Overview

Strong families, youth, and communities are important to a prosperous and productive American society. In cooperation with public and private sector partners and the Land-Grant University System, CSREES:

• Offers integrated research, education, and extension perspectives.
• Provides national leadership for programs addressing critical issues relating to families, youth, and communities.
• Conducts programs primarily in partnership with land-grant university scientists and cooperative extension faculty.

CSREES programs help families meet their basic needs, provide a safe and healthy home environment, and make wise choices that are integral to a successful and productive life. Families learn how to handle quality of life issues. These issues include:

• Improving parenting skills.
• Maximizing elderly family members' independence.
• Managing resources.
• Caring for children and dependent elderly.

Through CSREES programs, families learn the skills to nurture, support, and guide their members through life with respect and dignity and to understand the advantages of community involvement.

CSREES youth programs are designed to involve youth in healthy learning experiences in schools, after-school programs, and a variety of community-based programs. Issues include:

• Personal development.
• Problem solving and decisionmaking.
• Health and safety.
• Communication skills.
• Careers.
• Dealing with change.
• Teamwork.
• Community identity and outreach.
• Global understanding.

Volunteerism is the foundation for many successful CSREES community-based extension programs. Trained volunteers create a higher quality and more effective programs. Even more importantly, they bring with their work the crucial value of diversity. These volunteers espouse the philosophy that everyone should have the opportunity to make a difference.

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