Jefferson Parish Profile

Jefferson Parish Profile
2013
Jefferson Parish
Extension Office
Address:
1221 Elmwood Park Blvd
Suite 300
Jefferson, LA 70121
Program Highlights
Agriculture & Natural Resources -
• Horticulture
The interest in growing fresh vegetables has resulted in a
continuous demand for programs on home vegetable gardening,
home fruit production, school and community vegetable gardening.
Teachers, students and homeowners participate in a series of
classroom lessons, workshops at the Audubon Zoo Auditorium,
libraries in Jefferson Parish and visits to the LaSalle Park for handson
training. These activities work to increase personal health, reduce
child and adult obesity, increase knowledge and demonstrate the
ability to grow fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Fisheries/Coastal Restoration
The LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant
Program is actively engaged with the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill response, recovery and mitigation
programs. The agent is also active with La. Crab
Task Force, Lake Pontchartrain Restoration Program,
Vietnamese Fishery Center, Urban fishery/aquatic
systems advisor, the LRA fishery assistance program,
and many other programs.
Family, Nutrition & Health -
• EFNEP: The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Team includes 2
Area Agents working in general nutrition and EFNEP and 3 nutrition paraprofessionals. The
team taught 3,550 youth in grades 3-12 and over 50 families using the Smart Choices, Smart
Bodies and Smart Gardens curricula. Impacts on childhood obesity includes students reporting
eating vegetables, choosing healthy snacks and engaging in physical
activity.
• 4-H Youth Development
Jefferson Parish 4-H Clubs is a community of young people learning
leadership, citizenship, and life skill.
Belonging- Youth need to know they are created about and feel a
sense of connection.
Independence- Youth need to know they are able to influence
people and events through decision-making and action.
Generosity- Youth need to know their lives have meaning and
purpose.
Mastery- Youth need to know they are capable, through
experiences, to succeed at solving problems, meeting challenges
and developing self-confidence.
Phone: 504-736-6519
Fax: 504-736-6527
Email:
jefferson@agcenter.lsu.edu
Web site:
LSUAgCenter.com/Jefferson
Hours: 8:00a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Alexis Navarro
Parish Chair
anavarro@agcenter.lsu.edu
Michael Mosley
Administrative Coordinator
mmosley@agcenter.lsu.edu
Helena Johnson
Program Specialist
heljohnson@agcenter.lsu.edu
Giselle Ishman
Administrative Coordinator
gishman@agcenter.lsu.edu
Programs:
4-H, Youth & Family
Development
Citizenship/Leadership
Science, Engineering &
Technology
Healthy Living
Expanded Food & Nutrition
Education Program (EFNEP)
Agriculture & Natural
Resources (ANR)
Fisheries/Coastal Issues
Environment/Watersheds
Horticulture/Lawns and
Gardens

Report to Jefferson Parish Stakeholders
Who we reach:
5,549 - Youth (includes 517 4-H
members & 23 school 4-H clubs)
17,740 - Adults
7,715 Ag & Natural Resources
10,025 Nutrition & Family
Development
How we reach them:
4-H clubs / camp
School
Enrichment
Field days
Newsletters
Publications
Demonstrations
Workshops
Web sites
Expos
Expanding our efforts:
1075 Volunteers -
4-H (494)
Master Gardeners (145)
Family & Community (102)
Local Issues & Plans for this year.
Parish Facts
LSU AgCenter County Agents provide
research-based information on plant, aquaculture,
wildlife and animal enterprises to
Jefferson Parish clientele. The 2012 total
dollar amount from these commodities were:
— Plant enterprises - $28,702,171
— Fisheries and wildlife - $26,280,977
— Animal enterprises - $16,265,881
Data from the 2010 Louisiana Ag Summary
Web site: LSUAgCenter.com/agsummary
Population - 432,552
Land area (square miles) - 295.63
Persons under 18 years old - 22.5%
Persons 65 years old and over - 13.6%
Median household income - $48,175
Persons below poverty - 14.2%
1. Promoting awareness and benefits of agriculture in our urban setting:
Training parish residents on Best Management Practices for home vegetable gardens,
school and community gardens and flower gardens through site visits, County Agent
days, club and group meetings.
Conduct the annual Louisiana Master Gardener program training.
2. Strengthening families and communities:
Provide series of lessons on topics of nutrition,
health and family issues related to Jefferson
Parish residents of all ages.
Implement Smart Portions Program to educate
participants about nutrition, physical activity and
eating habits for better health. Choosing
recommended servings of foods from MYPLATE
for Americans is emphasized.
4. Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H
youth development:
Youth will participate in service learning projects
throughout the year, including collecting gently
used clothes and redistributing them to needy
families.
A parish-wide community service learning
program called “Geauxing Green” is underway,
featuring poster and bookmark contests along
with demonstrations performed by the students
as part of their school programs.
2013
*Local Funding:
Jefferson Parish Council
Jefferson Parish School Board