The Military Projects conducts training for Army Reserve leadership

On April 15, 16, and 17, the BCTR’s Military Projects and the Cornell Office for Research on Evaluation (CORE) hosted a three-day training program on evaluation capacity building for the leadership of the Army Reserve Family Programs (ARFP). The group attending consisted of 44 Headquarters, Regional, and command support level staff who are responsible for the management and delivery of training and family support programs throughout the United States and its territories. The training served as the launch of a two-year partnership beginning April 1st to develop performance metrics and measures of effectiveness for the family support programs that the Army Reserve provides for all Reserve soldiers and their families. This work is funded by an award through United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Army Reserve. In addition, the partnership will develop a standardized needs assessment to gather community input on the needs of Reserve soldiers and family members which will be used by each Family Programs Center to prepare for their tri-annual accreditation review.

During their three days on campus, the group began the process of developing pathway models for their programs and services. These models will be finalized during a one-day follow up training in Boston in August. During the time between now and August, concept mapping will be conducted with a large group of program stakeholders to assure that the models incorporate the broadest range of perspectives of those who have a vital interest in the program. Evaluation plans will be developed from the finalized models and outcome metrics will be selected from the evaluation plans for piloting. As outcome metrics are validated they will be incorporated into the ARFP’s client tracking system to be used for ongoing monitoring and evaluation. The work begun in Ithaca in April will serve as the basis for a long and careful process to develop valid and credible measures of these critical programs and services.

Gannon delivers training, “Risk and Thriving in Adolescence”

On February 12, 2013, Nigel Gannon (4-H NY State Healthy Living Program Specialist) presented a training to 60 social workers, school counselors, and teachers who work with youth in Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison counties. His presentation, Risk and Thriving in Adolescence: Understanding and Supporting Youth Decision-Making, was part of Cornell Cooperative Extension's annual training event, "Connecting with Kids."

In his talk, Gannon addressed why adolescents take risks and what communities can do to help keep them safe. The interactive presentation highlighted current research about adolescent risk-taking and ways to support youth approaching or passing through this stage of development. Gannon also reviewed a training tool recently created by NY State 4-H educators to develop a safety net that offers services, opportunities, and support to developing youth. In addition, the presentation addressed the social-emotional needs of youth and adolescents with suggestions for promoting wellness in this area.

Risk and Thriving in Adolescence: Understanding and Supporting Youth Decision-Making was based on the work of the Risk and Thriving in Adolescence Program Work Team (PWT), a group of Cornell Cooperative Extension and 4-H educators, campus faculty, and external stakeholders who meet to assess and direct programming. This PWT is co-chaired by ACT for Youth's Jutta Dotterweich. The Cornell Research Program on Self-Injurious Behavior's Janis Whitlock serves as its faculty advisor.

PROSPER Partnership Network training at the BCTR

John Eckenrode (PI; NY PROSPER Demo. Project) , Sarah Chilenski (Evaluation Coordinator; PROSPER National Network), Melissa Tomascik (PA Prevention Coordinator and State Coach; Penn State), Eugenia Hamilton (PROSPER National Network; Iowa State), Kim Kopko (NY PROSPER State Liaison), Deinera Exner-Cortens (NY PROSPER Evaluation Coordinator), Richard Spoth (PROSPER National Network; Iowa State); Jennifer Tiffany (NY PROSPER State Extension System Rep.)

The Unit 1 Training for the PROSPER (PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience) Partnership Model was held at the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research (BCTR) on May 16 & 17, 2012. PROSPER works through the Cooperative Extension system to implement and sustain high-quality evidence-based programming designed to prevent risky behaviors in youth, promote positive youth development, and strengthen families. The training was an orientation to the various phases of the PROSPER Model, defined the State Management Team, Prevention Coordinator, and Team Leader roles, and defined next steps for implementation of the PROSPER Partnership Model in New York State.

The PROSPER Unit 1 Training was conducted by the National PROSPER Partnership Network and attended by National Network faculty and staff from Iowa State and Pennsylvania State Universities, Cornell University faculty and staff, Cornell Cooperative Extension educators from four counties, as well as graduate and undergraduate students involved in the PROSPER Partnership Model.

Deinera Exner-Cortens, John Eckenrode, and Kim Kopko at the training

New York’s initial involvement with the PROSPER Partnership Network began in March of 2010 with the participation of the BCTR and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) in the Grand Opportunities (GO) Project funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Cornell was selected for the GO Project because the center and the extension system scored high on a number of key readiness indicators for adoption of the PROSPER Partnership Model.

Two counties in New York—Livingston and Schuyler—have been selected to begin implementation of the PROSPER Partnership Model. Donna Horton from Livingston County and Melissa Schroeder from Schuyler County will serve as Team Leaders for the Community Teams in their respective counties. Anna Steinkraus from Tompkins County has been selected for the role of Prevention Coordinator. The Prevention Coordinator serves as a Community Team’s “coach,” providing ongoing proactive technical assistance and functioning as liaison between the Team Leaders in the counties and the State Management Team at Cornell University. The State Management Team is led by John Eckenrode and consists of research faculty, extension staff and administrators, an evaluation coordinator, and liaisons to the national PROSPER Network. Kim Kopko will serve as the State Coordinator for the PROSPER project.