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Identifying
Priorities
for Iowa's Future
November 2003
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Family and Community Systems
$9,441,000 in FY02 expenditures
The Questions
Experiment Station researchers work in areas that are both practical and fundamental, short-term and far-reaching. What key questions are researchers addressing for Iowans?
Economic Hardship--$9,203,000
- How can community factors such as social participation, social networks, leadership and population movement and public be measured over time and how do they contribute to community viability, economic vitality and sustainability? $325,000
- How can overall community structure be strengthened? $49,000
- How does rural economic hardship contribute to the need for off-farm employment, increasing employment options and competition for new skills in the local labor market? $2,649,000
- How does the rural economic hardship experienced by many youth affect their life chances and opportunities? $883,000
- How is rural economic hardship reflected in the need for communities to explore new ways of community service delivery in response to population changes and composition? $2,207,000
- How does rural economic hardship nurture collaboration in both the public and private sectors? $883,000
- What is the link between local leadership development and community development strategies? $2,207,000
Local Food Systems--$238,000
- What are the opportunities and barriers to developing viable, nutritious local food systems? $238,000
Selected Impacts and Extension
Research results often improve understanding, help solve practical problems and build to greater discoveries. Here are selected examples of Experiment Station research results and Extension and outreach activities that have impacted Iowans.
- ISU Extension provided programs, community development and organizational support in 87 of the states 99 counties and in 78 cities. Extension trained 7,600 citizen and community leaders, 2,250 government officials and 325 business entrepreneurs. Also, 455 organizations were assisted and strengthened.
- Survey data from 99 Iowa communities are used to explore how communities respond to economic shocks such as plant closings.
- Research shows that participation in local community development strengthens local communities.
Research shows structured out-of-school experiences contribute to positive youth development and reduce risky behavior.
- Research confirms that community development and leadership programs based on local participation strengthen communities.
- Social, economic and labor force statistics have helped rural communities make strategic decisions concerning economic development incentives, investments in infrastructure and more effective management of local government resources.
- The development of community housing strategies has helped provide quality housing for a changing labor force.
- Research found that the health of rural populations is linked to consumption patterns and availability of local foods. ISU Families Extension works in rural communities to increase awareness of these issues.
- Studies show community-supported agriculture offers an option for farm families to improve their incomes and assist in local development.
- After three bond issues to improve the courthouse failed, ISU Extension worked with a county board of supervisors on a series of public input and citizen survey activities. As a result, the board put another bond issue before the public in 2003. The $14.9 million project passed with a 65 percent majority.
- With the help of ISU Extension, communities are offering leadership academies to find new leaders. Participants have run for city council and school board positions, have been appointed to the planning and zoning commission and participated in a citywide planning initiative.
- Eight communities and 500 new residents have participated in Community Voices, ISU Extension’s leadership program that brings together community leaders and new immigrants, especially those for whom English is a second language.
- After one year of operation, ISU’s Community Vitality Center is expanding upon its initiatives for community-based entrepreneurialism and community foundations. Policy discussions were completed in 10 communities and five demonstration projects are in process.
- More than 2,500 parents improved their parenting skills by participating in research-based educational workshops offered by ISU Families Extension.
- More than 200 professionals and volunteers who work with teens increased their understanding of healthy teen development through an ISU Families Extension national satellite series.
Partners
Many individuals and groups support Experiment Station research and education in ways that go beyond dollars. Here are a few examples.
- The Community Voices program organizes meetings to enhance the civic understanding and leadership skills of minorities and newly arrived immigrants to Iowa. Businesses have donated about $10,000 worth of food and beverages, hired Spanish-speaking interpreters and provided other support services for the meetings.
- The National Endowment for Financial Education provides the High School Financial Planning Program curriculum materials at no cost to Iowa schools to promote financial literacy for youth.
- The Consumer Federation of America provides publicity materials, a quarterly newsletter and enrollment management services for Iowans in the America Saves program, a national effort with Extension to provide financial literacy education.
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