Kim Allen, PhD, BCC, CFLE

PFPC is a research-based and evidence-informed curriculum-based program. Marshaling research on adverse childhood experiences, resilience, and protective factors, the NC 4-H team worked with specialists at multiple universities and within 10 counties in NC to create and evaluate a family-centered program which teaches families to communicate better with each other, to understand the opioid issues facing their communities, and to provide education as advocates within their home communities. Desired short and long-term results: Short-term objectives: 1) Increase youth and caregiver knowledge about the health impacts of substance misuse; 2) Increase youth and family self-efficacy for making healthy decisions about substance misuse; 3) Increase families������������������ ability to communicate and problem solve; 4) Empower youth and adults to work with community leaders to educate the public about the impact of substance misuse. Long-term objectives: 1) Decrease the likelihood of youth substance misuse; 2) Establish a strong evidence-base for PFPC Program; 3) Sustain and expand PFPC Program.

PFPC is a research-based and evidence-informed curriculum-based program. Marshaling research on adverse childhood experiences, resilience, and protective factors, the NC 4-H team worked with specialists at multiple universities and within 10 counties in NC to create and evaluate a family-centered program which teaches families to communicate better with each other, to understand the opioid issues facing their communities, and to provide education as advocates within their home communities. Desired short and long-term results: Short-term objectives: 1) Increase youth and caregiver knowledge about the health impacts of substance misuse; 2) Increase youth and family self-efficacy for making healthy decisions about substance misuse; 3) Increase families������������������ ability to communicate and problem solve; 4) Empower youth and adults to work with community leaders to educate the public about the impact of substance misuse. Long-term objectives: 1) Decrease the likelihood of youth substance misuse; 2) Establish a strong evidence-base for PFPC Program; 3) Sustain and expand PFPC Program.

The project is a continuation of the Middle School Healthy Homes Curriculum and will seek to expand national implementation of the curriculum into middle school science and family and consumer science classes across the nation.

North Carolina������������������s governor, Roy Cooper, issued a call to action to reduce opioid use and abuse. In response to this call, NC 4-H is partnering with the NC Office of Rural Health and county-based agencies to implement the NC 4-H Empowering Youth and Families Program NC 4-H EYFP. The NC 4-H EYFP is based on Iowa State University Extension������������������s evidence-based Strengthen Families Extension Program (SFP 10-14) which focuses on the prevention and reduction of opioid misuse and abuse education for youth and families in North Carolina. The NC 4-H EYFP will provide an opportunity for rural 4-H and Family and Consumer Science (FCS) agents and their local partners to reach youth and families with health and wellness information which focuses on building strong families and substance abuse prevention. In addition to the Strengthening Families Program 10-14 (SFP 10- 14), NC 4-H EYFP will include additional lessons specific to the impact of substance use on health, and provide a weekend family confluence training retreat to work with youth and families as they plan a community outreach campaign. Using SFP 10-14 and existing research-based 4-H curricula on substance abuse prevention and mental health, youth and adult participants will engage in activities that build life skills that prepare them to make healthy choices, and then share those skills in their communities.

This project will create healthy homes two new curriculum modules for two specific groups: 1. Teen parents involved in the VIP (Very Important Parents) program -- Curriculum modules will address specific housing related health and safety hazards for young children in the home. 2. Middle school youth -- Curriculum modules will address housing related hazards that youth can identify and control and that reinforce science topics in the NC school curriculum standards. The project will pilot test the curriculum and report findings and revise. The project will develop materials for Limited English Proficiency populations.

Empowering Youth and Families The NC 4-H & FCS Program team seeks to create a program to reduce youth substance use and abuse through the creation of parallel curriculum that promotes conversations between youth and their parents about the various complex issues involved in making healthy decisions. Youth/Parent Curriculum A curriculum for youth and parents with three components will be created to meet this need. Youth-Focused Content: Youth curriculum that engages youth in 1) understanding the implications of substance use and abuse in North Carolina, especially in relation to the upsurge in opiate use among youth in target communities; 2) learning and practicing skills related to having conversations about risky health behaviors, such as drug use and abuse, with parents and peers; 3) partnering with other youth and adults in their communities to promote healthy lifestyle choices. Parent-Focused Content: Parent-focused curriculum that engages parents in 1) understanding the implications of substance use and abuse in North Carolina, especially in relation to the upsurge in opiate use among youth in target communities; 2) learning and practicing skills related to having conversations about risky health behaviors, such as drug use and abuse, with their children and other parents; 3) partnering with other youth and adults in their communities to promote healthy lifestyle choices. Family-Focused Content: After each lesson in which youth and their parents participate in separate content practice experiences, youth and parents will be brought together to practice engaging those newly learned skills with each other and with peers. Family Community Confluence After youth and families complete the curriculum in their counties, they will be brought together for an intensive weekend experience at a 4-H camp in NC to learn to take their skills to the next level of community engagement. These youth and families will learn to implement the curriculum they have just experienced as well as other ways to engage their communities in joining the conversation to combat the growing opiate epidemic in their communities.

Building on previous work, this project will root the initiative at current demonstration centers; link to the Farm to Childcare (F2CC) program conducted by Wake Co. Smart Start (WCSS); expand training opportunities with partners; deepen professional training for teachers and child care cooks to link gardening activities to curricular opportunities and healthy eating; and focus on parent engagement to stimulate healthy eating and active lifestyles at home and encourage active participation in their communities creating a community of practice to support system change and sustainability.

Co-PI will be working as a national coach. Autumn Guin, CYFAR Coach, will provide technical assistance, mentoring, education, and other forms of support to approximately seven CYFAR Sustainable Community Project (SCP) community sites. She will conduct needs assessments with each site and create tailored action plans for each project. She will provide continuing support of the sites through monthly telephone calls, periodic trainings using distance education technologies, and other forms of technical assistance as needed. In addition, she will provide an average of three site visits per calendar year to provide in-person project support, and will participate in the annual CYFAR professional development conference each spring.

This project will create healthy homes three curriculum modules for two specific groups: 1. Teen parents involved in the VIP (Very Important Parents) program -- Curriculum modules will address specific housing related health and safety hazards for young children in the home. 2. Middle school youth -- Curriculum modules will address housing related hazards that youth can identify and control and that reinforce science topics in the NC school curriculum standards.

The North Carolina 4-H Very Important Parent?s (VIP) Program staff will work with teen parents, their families, and their child?s early childhood centers in Lenoir, Greene, and Person Counties to 1.) develop the teens? parenting and life skills; 2.) teach teen parents how to cultivate their child?s development and education; and 3.) incorporate technology to help teen parents and their child?s educational system engage in two-way family-school communication. This program will use a blend of technology and face-to-face instruction to help teen parents make better choices in the areas of parenting and education.