The Extension Express - Cooperative Extension System - University ...

4 The Extension Express
Sustainable Families
Fairfield County Extension Center
German Cutz and Ede Valiquette worked on a 4-H gardening program in Bridgeport. It was part of a
Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) grant. The goal was to recruit and engage twenty five
teens who will be participating in this program.
German and Ede also ran a series of Family Nights at the New Hope Baptist Church in Danbury. Once a
month for three months, parents and children got together to have fun. Both the church and Extension
organized these events to promote recreation and learning opportunities among families. Although these
events were held at a church, all families were welcome to Family Nights.
German created a sports and technology after school program in Danbury. From fitness to soccer to
technology, kids have the opportunity to do physical activities, play indoor soccer, and learn computers
as well. The program started in mid-March and ran for five weeks.
German created a technology curriculum, ―Youth Internet Masters‖ (YIM). This curriculum will teach
teens how to design web pages using HTML language. Without needing sophisticated and expensive
programs other than Notepad for Windows or Text-Edit for Macintosh, teens will be able to design web
pages and websites. This curriculum will be ready by summer. Interested counties should contact
German Cutz (german.cutz@uconn.edu) to pilot this curriculum.
4-H Mentoring Project
With newly received grant funds from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
(OJJDP) through the National 4-H Council, Fairfield and New Haven Counties are initiating a new 4-H
mentoring program for 120 youths. Our community partners include Waterbury Youth Services and the
Bridgeport Juvenile Review Board. In addition to weekly mentoring, youngsters in the program will be
joining 4-H groups and participate in local Family Night Outs. The mentoring program is based on
Utah‘s Extension program ―Youth and Families with Promise.‖
4-H Afterschool
4-H Afterschool was part of the Newtown Valentines for Troops program. As part of the collaborative
effort, 80 elementary aged youth wrote letters to troops stationed overseas. In addition to letters, 4-Hers
also sent 5 boxes of assorted ―goodies‖ like soap, beef jerky, gum, hard candy and heat-and-go
individual dinners.
Parenting Education
Did you know? You can keep your child‘s smile healthy! The University of Connecticut, Health
Center, Pediatric Dentistry, offers a fluoride test service for drinking water. The test kit costs $20.00
and can be obtained by the contacting the center at (860) 679-2805.