Webster County Extension
108 South 8th Street
Fort Dodge, IA 50501-4680
Phone: 515-576-2119
FAX: 515-576-6447
URL: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/webster

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 2, 2006

Contacts:  Jim Patton, Webster Co. Extension Education Director, 515-576-2119, jlpatton@iastate.edu

National Award for the Strengthening Families Program

An Iowa State University Extension program was one of five nation-wide programs earning the Family Strengthening Award, and being recognized by the National 4-H Headquarters, the United States Department of Agriculture and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14 (SFP 10-14) and PROSPER (PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience) now are part of the National 4-H Programs of Distinction database. “Programs of Distinction” is a searchable Web-based database containing descriptions of high quality youth and family development programs in communities across the United States.

Families field specialist, Paulelda Gilbert, who has been implementing the Strengthening Families Program in Fort Dodge, represented ISU Extension at the 4-H Family Strengthening Distinguished Lecture funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26. At that time ISU Extension was recognized for its Strengthening Families program.

The Strengthening Families Program in Fort Dodge has been carried out by the Fort Dodge PROSPER Partnership Team.  It has been one of the most successful in Iowa, reaching over 300 families with the 7 week program over the last 4 years.  Plans are being made to offer the Strengthening Families Program in Fort Dodge during the 2006-2007 school year.  For more information and to register for the program call 515-576-2119.

Photo:  Paulelda Gilbert with Miriam Shark, representing the Annie E. Casey Foundation, at the Washington DC Awards Event.