4H Club Study

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4-H Club Study

• Does participation make a difference in the lives
  of youth?

Cathann A. Kress, Ph.D. Black Hills Seminars
2001 Rapid City, South Dakota
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What difference does 4-H Club participation make?

• Two year study
• To what extent and in what ways do
• 4-H Clubs influence and contribute to the
  context for positive youth development?

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Youth Development defined

• In this study, youth development was understood
  as a process of growing up and developing ones
  capacities in positive ways
• -Walker Dunham, 1994

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• Is success related to active participation and
  involvement in public demonstrations, community
  service projects, and events?
• Is success due to the relationships developed and
  the long-term membership?

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Study Design

• Focus Groups
• Profile of 4-H Clubs
• Electronic Survey of 4-H Staff
• 4-H Members Only Survey
• Secondary Analysis of Search Institute Profiles

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Study Design
Compared with
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Findings Focus Groups

• Participants were 4-H members, program leaders,
  volunteers, and parents of 4-H members.
• Themes
• Emphasis in 4-H is on life skills
• Key elements include relationships with other
  adults, active participation in program efforts,
  and community service.
• Success of 4-H is attributed to dedication of
  leaders who are youth-centered

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Findings 4-H Club Profiles

• 4-H Club Profiles
• Nearly half (27 counties) have 26-50 active
  clubs.
• Over half (31 counties) have a total club
  enrollment between 251-550 members.

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Findings Staff Electronic Survey

• 4-H as a transformative experience
• Story themes
• Acceptance and belonging
• Safe place to take risks and increase
  self-esteem how life skills learned gave 4-H
  members a leg up
• How 4-H members channeled negative attitudes into
  positive action and transferred leadership skills
  to other settings
• learning the value of helping others and the
  meaning of service.

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Findings- Members Only Survey

• 4-H Club youth in New York scored higher than
  both the Search Institutes youth with club
  participation and without club participation on
  all developmental assets tested.
• The type of club was not important.
• There was a difference for youth who remain in
  4-H for one year or more.

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Findings- Members Only Survey

• What do you feel you have gained?
• 4-H changes lives
• Fun Friendships
• Teamwork
• Opportunities for Leadership
• Multiple Skills
• The Value of Community Service

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• 4-H experiences become TRANSFORMATIONAL when we
  provide opportunities for young people to
• Belong
• Master Skills
• Lead
• Learn the meaning of service

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• I feel that the experience Ive gained from being
  a 4-H member puts me a notch above the rest.

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• Without 4-H I dont know where I would be right
  now. I have benefited greatly from this program.
  It helped me grow from a shy girl into a
  productive young woman. I have learned how to be
  a leader and take on challenging tasks.

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Results?

• The results show that the process of youth
  development is positively influenced in multiple
  ways by 4-H Club membership.
• When membership includes some key essential
  elements

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Places where youth belong
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Opportunities to influence events and other
people
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Opportunities to learn skills
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Meaningful ways to contribute
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4-H makes life better for youth.