Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Contribution of 4-H Participation to the Development of Social Capital within Communities: Multi-state project NCERA215

Annual Meeting: April 4-5, 2017 Irvine, CA

• No registration charge; participants paid for their own meals, and used free meeting space. Participants made their own reservations for lodging. Participants brought their own copies of the agenda and materials.
• Meeting space: South Coast Research and Extension Center 7601 Irvine Blvd. Irvine, CA 92618

Summary of Discussion and Decisions

• Review and finalize Social Capital Resource Toolkit (Nia and team) – Decided to send it to National 4-H Council’s curriculum peer review after graphic artist is done. Jackie will do the review of the final product. Print it in a booklet form - each section in a stand-alone format. Marketing through 4-H Mall with the following section:
• SECTION 1 – Introduction and Background - This toolkit is designed for 4-H Youth Development and Community Development specialists (and other youth development professionals) to understand social capital, so that they may incorporate strategies that build and enhance social capital among vulnerable youth populations and their communities. Includes: Social Capital as a Conduit to Social Justice
• SECTION 2 - Programs, Processes, and Practices
• SECTION 3 - Evaluative Tools
• Confirmed NAE4-HA Pre-Conference (11/12/17; 12:30 - 3:30pm in Indianapolis, IN)
• Cost estimate is $47 per person for AV and Snack only 20 to 50 maximum.
• Teaching Team: Neil, Steve, Barb, Chris, Nia, maybe Keith, Matt. Material costs -one institution proposal/invoice to be paid by the conference. We would be promoted through regular conference registration package.
• Marketing Plan for the Pre-conference is to send emails; write articles for regional paper

CONNECTING TO STATE AND NATIONAL PROGRAM LEADERS (1.5 hours by Zoom):

GUESTS join by ZOOM: Toija Riggins, Natl 4-H HQ, Lisa Phelps, State-Maine Also members: Steve Henness, MO, and Jacquie Loning, MN

In person: Matt, Nia, Neil, Chris, Keith, Barb

• Matt - Provided orientation and history of our group and the work we do; publishing a volume of Youth Development in 2013; had strong connection to USDA-training and publications; active with presentations in the nexus of community development and youth development.
• Keith – Provided a quick overview of our mixed method study to understand how young people are connected to their communities. Research Question: What experiences build social capital? What about that unit developed social capital? We use a survey and a rubric to more objectively look at the club’s activities that develop social capital in kids. Findings show 4-Hers have connection to each other over time.
• Nia – Described reaching out to 400 4-H youth in CA and MD; found a higher level of Social Capital with community service; CA had higher connection to adults; MD did not connect 4-H to their social group connections in the community. We will look at that in second phase in MD; explore correlations between race and activities. In process of rolling out second phase: CA and MD, ME VT, MA - done in large part because of Lisa helping. Do we have any questions about survey?
• Nia - Overview of toolkit, research, outreach - teach kids about SC. Use surveys and REM at Pre-conference - hoping to put through the peer review process to become a National 4-H Curriculum.

Discussion Key Points

• National 4-H Strategic Plan - how does this fit into the plan? 4-H ECOP subcommittee logic model for defining 4-H learning experience is comprised of only club environment, needs more - has done a lot to define and measure that experience. They have model and asked for feedback at the National Program Leader meeting
• Research into Practice - 4-H provides entry into a world kids would not have. You are at an individual level of social capital - how can we use the research to build tools for practitioners?
• Public Value/Financial Capital - How make the link to use with a larger frame? In future, extrapolating beyond local to the federal level - demonstrating the federal value is huge cannot - right there where people are having conversations. Individuals to public outcomes - empirical. Think broader. How goes from local level to national - to get more resources? Longer term making next connection public value outcomes like economic - consumer financial protection bureau what would love to talk to you and National 4-H. Trying to broker with the scientists and increase financial capital - why social capital makes a difference in financial capital. Can congressmen connect our work with what they are looking for. If you want to operationalize the construct of Public value - big ask - you are going in exactly the right direction. Can connect with other national partners.
• Access, Equity and Opportunity - Use survey data to improve and increase access and opportunity - you need not doing anything else - if that is what you are doing - bringing awareness to this. Question comes up all the time; way we are moving toward it. It is a challenging talk because we are loosely organized partnerships. Even with ES-237 - not interpreted the same and agree on what to measure to tell a cogent story We think it is incredibly important and needs to go forward as a system. Stay tuned other that ES-237 no measurement of Access, Equity and Opportunity.

Potential Projects

1. Output: National Report on Social Capital and Tools for State Programs (Volunteer Tools)

• Describe outcomes – impact - Questions:
• What outcomes for a youth who has social capital - for stakeholders (in congress, business, education) - for public value?
• How should we publish National, state, local report?
• What do we need to do that? Survey analysis; program function via REM and Rubric.
• Nia focused on the frameworks - 6 C’s, ELM, Essential Elements; look at 4 elements
• Consider doing a statewide rubric. National Rubric - ECOP might be that measure.
• ASK for funding for a grad student to support these measures.

2. Create a state/national template for research findings: Example Nia’s Maryland one-page report. Powerful bullets - Volunteer power to say our 4-H club work with this child leads to ”x” outcomes.

• Recruit youth to do survey – Contribution; reflection; “Pizza Party and a Survey”!
• Create a Checklist for clubs - Our programs that are aligned with – Club Story results X state X national.
• What heightens the Building of Social Capital Outcomes? Reflection; Moving from community-service to service-learning. Schools think of service learning connected to academics; we think of independence, the processes they can replicate, and social justice. NIA: Social Justice community model will be moving to social capital and community change, Matt asks how are we using the National Report to move forward social justice. Are there certain approaches to use? Nia selected, intentionally, sites of non-traditional clubs and diversity of program models. This data set can lead to lots of these questions; maybe in Phase Three.
• What are the elements (Chris) that need to be present to lead to Social Capital - what do they need to do locally to improve practices? They don’t get to compare club level data against club.  If you code by club; and the rubric can be connected, then we’ll have something. Will talk to the analyst about this. Also asking her for National, Regional, State, and Club (deluxe) reports. Things you need to do on a daily basis to make clubs more welcoming, etc. Nia is sending Barb more coding information about this.

Other potential products

• Package our tools to support states in developing public value statements; measure SC to package public value statements.
• Barb’s idea for an article title...Illustrate the Invisible Story Connections of Social Capital - existing template from the state Barb mentioned to connect activities to public value (financial)
• Simple calculation to translate social capital to financial capital.
• Look at jobs connections to college institutions. - To economy. Where are 4-Hers going
• We need Grad student dig up research about funding to do these things...benefits of social capital
• Steve - why is Social Capital more important in the world? Relationships trust, it is the new currency, how they get things done. Engagement - Social Capital gets kids ready - how do governments make decisions. WE are there in helping kids make those engagements.  Lisa made reference to reports and directors for info to include in reports - this is why our colleagues should be interested in what they are doing. You are telling more of that story and illustrating the invisible relationships - it will serve them well.
• Jackie - looking for dissertation topics - excited bridging public engagement with program - system is really talking about it - entire campus.
• Nia presented her research  - Lisa Lauxman loved the Essential elements…Overlay

Timeline on Data Collection for new states:

• Now Pre-Planning what the national report looks like - one pager like Lerner Study will put us ahead. What venues do we use with policy makers? - PILD, visits by youth to congress N4-HC
• Between Spring and Fall of 2017: MD did another unit.  WV in Fall; ME by June; Jackie in
• Fall-Winter 2017-2018: Data analysis
• Spring 2018 Annual Meeting -Finalize National Report (Maine - Whale watching)

NEXT MEETING TOPICS/MONTHLY GOALS for 2017-2018-We might need some longer meetings.

• May 2017 - Confirm toolkit. Survey Update. Data analysis plan. Website review, update & purpose: http://ucanr.edu/sites/Social_Capital_Multi-State/ Consider http://fyi.uwex.edu/youthadultpartnership/
• June 2017 - Finalize grad student proposal; Discuss public value national impact (invite Dr Riggins)
• July 2017 - Review NIFA strategic plan; ECOP 4-H outcomes; Request NIFA-Council funding  student
• Aug 2017 - Continue on above projects. Peer Review process for Toolkit
• Sep 2017 - Finalize Pre-conference components, materials, PP etc; Plan NAE4-HA meeting time.
• Oct 2017 - Discuss survey findings; options for publications; presentations (NAE4-HA proposal)
• Nov 2017 - Face to face at NAE4-HA Focus on rubric and survey correlations; NAE4-HA - Ask Bonita for 30 minutes to present to state leaders -Invitation new states to survey.
• Dec 2017 - Orientation for new members. Website review/update
• Jan 2018 - Pull from reports- national, regional, state, and club (deluxe)?
• Feb 2018 – Add public value to reports
• March 2018 - Annual Meeting in Maine to finalize the National Report
• April 2018 - National summary report available for National 4-H Conference/PILD, etc.
• FALL 2018 - NAE4-HA - Ask Bonita for 30 minutes to present to state leaders Re: National Report
• Outreach to new partners and new members to this NCERA215 includes: Nia at Extension Urban Conference; Promotion at Pre-Conference, recruitment at task force meetings, and with new states who are doing the survey. Orientation will be at the December meeting. Mary mentioned reaching out to Native American audiences by speaking to John Phillips during the First Americans Land-Grant Consortium (FALCON) Nov. 3-6, 2017in Washington, DC

Election of Project Officers: Co-Chairs - Nia Imani Fields and Matt Calvert; Secretary - Neil Klemme

South Coast Research and Extension Center Site Tour, Lunch

Adjourn

2016-17 Accomplishments

The team remains focused on four objectives

Objective 1: To convene researchers, Extension educators, and faculty whose research, teaching and/or practice involves youth and community development in order to foster interdisciplinary work on social capital and community youth development.

The team has connected to national and state 4-H program leadership and has helped to advance the focus on capturing outcomes at the community level and with a focus on social justice.

A large number of team members have been involved in publishing results in peer-reviewed publications and delivering scholarly presentations and professional development sessions. The range of states and disciplines involved has increased the reach of these presentations to include youth development, evaluation, community development, and education.

The team maintained a monthly meeting schedule, met during the NAE4-HA national meeting, and held an annual meeting.

Objective 2: To fund and implement a major national research project utilizing the tools already piloted and validated by this project to explore how the 4-H Program contributes to the development of social capital within communities,

A consortium of Northeast states, including Maine, West Virginia, and Massachusetts has collected survey data to grow the data set begun with 4-H units in California and Maryland. Wisconsin and Minnesota have also identified resources to collect surveys.

The team submitted 3 grant proposals to William T. Grant Foundation and CNCS (grants were rejected with feedback)

Objective 3: To refine existing and develop new measurement tools to identify and analyze how the 4-H Program impacts the level of the various capitals (as identified in the Community Capital Framework) within the community.

Added about 100 4-H youth pilot survey dataset in CA, MD and WV (total ~450); found a higher level of Social Capital with community service; CA had higher connection to adults; MD did not connect 4-H to their social group connections in the community. We will look at that in second phase in MD; explore correlations between race and activities. In process of rolling out second phase: CA and MD, WV, MN, WI, MA - with support from state program leaders.

Objective 4: To improve the quality of community youth development practice in the Extension system and beyond by a. Disseminating research findings b. Creating and delivering training modules on effective program practices.

The team drafted and piloted a Social Capital Resource Toolkit designed to help 4-H Youth Development and Community development educators understand social capital and incorporate strategies within their programs. The toolkit includes exemplary programs developed by team members.

Nia Imani Fields has developed a presentation and educational framework linking social capital, social justice, and accepted youth development frameworks such as life skills and the essential elements. It has been shared in several professional development venues and contributed to a national conversation in 4-H Youth Development.

Publications

• Calvert, M., Zierl, L. and Small, S. Pierce-St. Croix County CARES Coalition: Addressing Child and Family Social and Emotional Well-Being. In Chazdon, Emery et al (Eds). (2017). A Field Guide to Ripple Effects Mapping, University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing.
• Henness, S. and Moncheski, M. Youth/Adult Partnerships Impacting Rural Poverty: The Case of Lamar, Missouri In Chazdon, S., Emery M. et al (Eds). (2017). A Field Guide to Ripple Effects Mapping, University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing.
• Fields, N. (2017). The contribution of urban 4-H to social capital and the implications for social justice. Journal of Extension.
• Fields, N. (2016). The contribution of urban 4-H positive youth development towards social capital and social justice. Morgan State University, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 10240078.
• Fields, N. & Nathaniel, K. (2017 submission). Contribution of 4-H participation to the development of social capital within communities: Findings from phase 1 of survey study. Journal of Positive Youth Development.

Presentations

• 3 presentations to state program leaders to share research updates and invite states to join the research study
• Fields, N. (2017). Increasing Social Capital and Social Justice through Urban Positive Youth Development. Maryland Out of School Time (MOST) Conference. Ellicott City, Maryland.
• Klemme, N. (2017) Programming Efforts to Develop Social Capital in Iron County Youth. Hurley K-12 School District Staff Inservice. Hurley, WI. An informational presentation for local educators on programming related to social capital building.
• Calvert, M., Emery M., Baker, B., Fields, N. (2017). When Is Youth Development Also Community Development? Youth Program Practices that Foster Social Capital. Poster, Federal Reserve System Community Development Research Conference, Washington DC.
• Fields, N. (2017). Considerations toward a Social Justice Youth Development Model. National Urban Extension Conference. Bloomington, Minnesota.
• Klemme, N. (2016). Using Social Network Analysis to measure youth Social Capital. Bloomington, MN. Community Development Society Conference, A presentation on developing and measuring social capital.
• Calvert, M. Arnold, M., Baker, B., Fields, N., Haskell, J., Henness, S., et al. (2016). Youth Community Networks: Research Tools to Inform Practice and Measure Social Capital. Society for Research on Adolescence Conference, Baltimore City, MD. A presentation on developing and measuring social capital. (Refereed)
• Fields, N. (2016). Increasing Social Capital through Culturally Relevant Positive Youth Development. Children, Youth and Families at Risk Subject Matter Expert Webinar.https://cyfar.org/resource/increasing-social-capital
• Fields, N. & Nathaniel, K. (2016). Preliminary Findings: Contribution of 4-H Participation to the Development of Social Capital within Communities. National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA) Conference, New Orleans, LA. Joint research session to present findings from phase 1 of social capital research study.
• Fields, N. & Brown, M. (2016). Increasing Social Capital and Social Justice through Positive Youth Development. A Regional AmeriCorps VISTA Summit. An interactive workshop highlighting connections between PYD, social capital and social justice.
• Emery, M. & Goreham, G. 2016. “Ripple mapping: a research and evaluation tool.”  Great Plains Sociology Association Annual Conference, Sioux Falls, SD
• Emery, M. & Goreham, G. 2016. “Ripple mapping: an under-utilized research tool.”  Rural Sociological Society Annual Conference, Toronto, CA
• Chazdon, S. Hansen, D. Emery, M. 2016. “Harnessing the power of ripple mapping to enhance community engagement.” Harnessing the power of ripple mapping to enhance community engagement. Community Development Society Annual Conference, Bloomington, MN
• Chazdon, S., Emery, M., Hansen, D, & Higgins, L. 2016. “The emergence of ripple effects mapping.” Presented at the annual National Association of Community Development Extension Practitioners, Burlington, VT. June