Serving Different Communities through Extension Services The Problem: It is difficult to identify the needs of different clients and hard to modify the template to serve their needs. This is due to a lot of variation among the clients, in terms of level of education, customizing services for a locality, and grouping extension agents who deliver different forms/kinds of services. Different communities are more or less open to different aspects of your message. This is a special problem when your target audience is culturally different from you as provider of services.

#1 - Changing Client Behaviors Overcoming Resistance Reducing Fail Rates Creating Advocates through experience

#1a - How to Identify Clients May already know who clients are But they may be slow to step up Identified by Extension Agents Find individuals who already have a desire to do something Show them how to do it Criteria Assessment of needs Recruiting Policies How are classes taught Improving what is already being done Fulfills requirements of other initiatives mandated Results – Targeted Recommendations Suggested

#2 - Defining Volunteers Extension Agents Target Audiences Teachers, Counselors, Administrators Teams of Faculty and Staff Master Teachers CTE Professionals

#2a - Keeping Volunteers Careful about Burn-out Align what is asked with their work Offer opportunity to step back Provide documentation, resources, etc Scaffold what they are doing

#2b - Value-Added to Volunteers Resume Building Presenting at a National Conference Professional Affiliation Publishing an Article Credibility – participating in project Award – recognition Recognition for National Impact Increased potential to Impact high number of students Goal to matriculate into STEM Major Career Choice impacted

#3 - Professional Development Impact Faculty Feedback Changes their behavior: Willingness to make small changes Encourage Support Personalizes Students’ expression of feeling behavior change made a difference Quotes Video Testimonials Unexpected Benefits Collateral Impact Mother going back to school because of a presentation

#3a - Faculty Participation Motivation Reward System Change Within Community Create “Diversity Committee” Part of Existing Committee Individual Behavior Change Student Engagement Center for Excellence in Undergrad Teaching Nominated to participate Sanction/Awareness/Support Public Relations Feedback - Recognition Faculty Evaluations Leadership (Dean)

#4 - Formal Communication Plan Marketing - Showcasing Results Bring positive attention to school board, teacher, school Identify local outlets for Public Relations Online Newsletter Local News – Recognition Plant seed of importance: Who are local editors charge of public relations Representative

#4a - Branding of Services and Products Work of clients shows up in products Resources for use in the field Training Workshops

#5 - Customizing Services and Materials Group Communities into categories to offer services Gain understanding of what works in a situation Make Recommendations based on that understanding How to build coalitions Research team with primary agents to get them on board Workforce and Economic Development to discuss comfortably – Stealth (avoid code words, e.g. Gender, Mentor) Quality of “training translation” to client

#5a - Scaling and Sustaining Creating resources for others to utilize Use of technology to delivery Client does the scaling (toward tipping point) Amount of documentation for intuitive projects: Workshop Booklets Portal Gaining buy-in (tried and proven knowledge base) Making accessible and useable for the community Process of creating a Different View Developing/customizing materials

# 6 - Developing Advocates How service is impacting a community How to contribute to developing the workforce Create a Sharing Community take client out of isolation Acting as honest broker for various stakeholders