Welcome to the Department
of Youth Development
The mission of the Department of Youth Development is to practice and advance the academic discipline of youth development.
Highlights
Upcoming Meetings
- Day of Learning WisLine Web or Pyle Center- Thursday, December 4, 2008; 9:30 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
- Department Meeting - Pyle Center, Madison or WisLine - Thursday, December 4, 2008; 2-3:30 p.m.
- Reports for December 2008 meeting - Faculty Senate and Systemwide Extension Council
- TFR Reviews - April 21 & 23, 2009
2008 Faculty Promotions:
- Professor Donna Duerst (Effective July 1, 2008)
- Associate Professor Jessica Jens (Effective July 1, 2008)
- Assistant Professor Judy Kennedy (Effective June 1, 2008)
- Assistant Professor Colleen Pulvermacher (Effective June 1, 2008)
- Assistant Professor Chris Viau (Effective November 1, 2008)
New Faculty 2008:
- Instructor Kathy Arndt (Effective February 18, 2008)
- Instructor Monica Lobenstein (Effective March 24, 2008)
- Instructor Sara Medick (Effective May 27, 2008)
- Instructor Jessica Potterton (Effective July 1, 2008)
- Assistant Professor Gail Kraus (Effective October 1, 2008)
- Assistant Professor Michelle Grimm (Effective November 1, 2008)
Abstracts From Recent Faculty Publications:
by Charles A. Prissel, Associate Professor
ABSTRACT: “Tobacco contains chemicals that damage the adolescent brain,” states Dr. David Walsh of the University of Minnesota. He reports that studies have shown that nicotine affects the adolescent brain differently than adults; teens are more likely to get addicted to nicotine quicker. In addition, research shows that adolescents are more likely to use tobacco as a springboard to other more powerful drugs; making teen smokers at higher risk for substance abuse (Slotkin, T. 2002).
Community coalitions built around tobacco prevention and education can be effective in reducing youth access to tobacco, educating the public about the harmful effects of tobacco use, and in creating community policies around tobacco control. Youth members on community coalitions can contribute valuable perspectives and play important roles in coalition efforts.
Tobacco access by youth is still a societal issue; although states have laws banning sales of tobacco products to minors, sales are still occurring. Youth partners can play a vital role in reducing tobacco sales to minors and keeping businesses compliant with current laws.
Teens can be effective role models in the schools and communities through peer tobacco mentor groups, helping to educate peers and the public about tobacco and promoting a tobacco free healthy lifestyle.
This paper highlights adult and youth partnerships around tobacco prevention and community coalition building with youth partners. The paper demonstrates that youth and adult partners working together on tobacco issues can reduce the sales of tobacco products to minors, keep business compliant with current laws about tobacco sales, influence policy around tobacco use, and educate schools and communities about healthy tobacco free lifestyles. It documents this effectiveness for 4H faculty and staff, and other youth serving professionals who program in preventative education around tobacco issues in partnering with youth. View paper
by Demetrius Brown, Assistant Professor
ABSTRACT: The African Diaspora Leadership Development program’s aim is to prepare high school students to acquire a global understanding about world politics as it relates to Africa and gain insight in resolving problems faced by many African people around the globe. It is a culturally tailored program designed to increase the pool of cultural competency among disadvantaged students in public education in order to help them succeed academically, and socially. The program fosters greater awareness of a cultural lifestyle in order to increase student’s self-knowledge, confidence and esteem. The purpose is to provide a synthesis for maximizing positive behaviors and offer opportunities to make informed conscious decisions about the construction of one’s realities and experiences. The program engages students in a process of transcending thoughts, emotions and actions so that transformation takes place and a commitment to educational enrichment becomes a reality. View paper
by Sue Curtis, Professor; Pamela Hobson, Professor; Tom Schmitz, Professor
ABSTRACT:
In September 2005, over 3700 students in grades seven through twelve in fifteen school districts in the Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) #3 District participated in the UW-Extension Southwest Wisconsin Youth Survey (SWYS). The 160-question survey assessed teen perceptions of the community and school; teen aspirations, concerns and attitudes about various aspects of their lives; teen mental and physical health; and the frequency with which teens reported engaging in dangerous and/or desirable behaviors. The data, along with the data from the prior two surveys (1997, 2001), showed the percentage of teens reporting frequent sexual harassment by an adult at school shows a marked increase. UW-Extension partnered with UW-Platteville and one area school district to determine what was behind this increase and to develop recommendations for addressing the issue. This paper examines the process and results of this UW-Extension effort and the implications for youth development education. View paper
" by Donna Duerst, Associate Professor
ABSTRACT: The Rock County 4-H Disaster Relief Committee raised $1,550 to aid tsunami victims in Sri Lanka and then turned its attention to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Thirty-one 4-H youth participated in a service learning trip to the South with the objectives of working together to help hurricane victims, learning about new cultures and achieving personal growth. During three days of service projects in Louisiana and Mississippi, the youth reflected on their experiences in terms of the objectives. Their written reflections and other evaluative measures revealed they learned about southern culture, gained a greater appreciation for their lives, gained self confidence and developed a desire to help others more often. The trip was a valuable developmental experience for the youth, and information from the trip could be utilized to create similar experiences based on service learning. This paper provides an overview of the trip and describes the evaluation methods used to measure learning and assess personal growth. View paper.
by Kim Reaman, Associate Professor
ABSTRACT: The community 4-H club program is an arena that consistently provides an array of opportunities to engage in transformational education with youth and adults.It also requires a variety of managerial tasks that are a necessary component of a reputable, well-organized program. These two dimensions of the work increasingly compete for the faculty member’s time and energy on a regular basis. A willingness to consider and pursue alternative strategies to shift appropriate managerial duties away from the professional staff will have a direct positive impact on transformational education in the field of youth development. View paper.
Other Publications
A Suggested Approach for Probationary Faculty
As a result of the Department of Youth Development Planning Process, a draft document entitled A Suggested Approach for Successful Probationary Faculty Members Within the Department of Youth Development has been created. The document stresses understanding scholarship in the context of UW-Extension, taking a serious approach to the work, reflecting on your work and scholarly growth, time management and achieving tenure as one step in the long term commitment and contributions that Faculty make to the profession. The document expands on these keys to long term success and offers a variety of links for probationary Faculty.
Helpful Links for Faculty Members
Youth development draws from a multi-disciplinary research and knowledge base that includes communications, educational program design, youth development, youth program management and volunteerism.
The diversified research and knowledge base provides a foundation to support development of educational prevention programs that address the needs of youth from various racial, ethnic, ability and economic groups. Youth-centered educational programs are implemented by department members in direct contact with youth and by adult and youth volunteers trained to work with youth.
The membership of the Department of Youth Development shall be UW-Extension faculty who profess expertise in the interdisciplinary research and knowledge base of youth development.
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