Serving Georgia A Guide to the New UGA Extension Program Delivery Model
Where we are A 23% budget reduction since total state-funded agents – 113 Ag agents – 36 Family Consumer Science agents – 90 4-H Agents Minus 88 agents, 19 specialists Many specialists now teach part-time Minus 7 administrative positions
How did we map our course? Extension Review of County Operations Steering committee Stakeholder surveys, listening sessions Deliberations New structure design Staffing patterns developed
New structure features Tier system of delivery Area special agents Maximizing resources Streamlining administration
Service tiers Tier 1 - basic 4-H program delivered through school systems. No physical Extension office. Tier 2 – office with one employee; basic service for lab tests, information on available training; access to publications, online resources; core 4-H programs. Tier 3 – adds to service available a Tier 2, a shared agent with a neighboring county.
Service tiers Tier 4 – adds to Tier 3 service, a full-time, county-based agent. Tier 5 – adds to Tier 4, two or more agents with one serving as county coordinator. Tier 6 – adds to Tier 5, a full-time coordinator with multiple agents funded through various sources. Has programming in all three program areas.
Tier assignment sample criteria Farm-gate value of agriculture Population of school-aged children Access to other services Local funding and support
YOUR COUNTY ASSIGNED TIER SERVICE OFFERED HOW TO ACCESS LOCATION, STAFF CHANGES
Special agents, programs Commodity agents – Blueberries – Vidalia onions – Peaches Program agents – Nutrition – Energy – Radon – Weatherization
Available to everyone Online resources – Educational programs – Publications – Fact sheets – eXtension