Between October 2007 and September 2008, I have completed the second year of the five-year 2007 – 2011 Plan of Work.  This year my program emphasis has continued in the areas of Food Safety, Nutrition, Parenting, and some involvement with a program providing support to military families.  The overall condition outcomes that my efforts are addressing are the following:

• Reduce the incidence of foodborne illness in New Hampshire.
• Reduce the incidence of risk factors for chronic disease and other lifestyle-related health problems.
• Parents will demonstrate healthy interpersonal relationships and provide appropriate nurturance and guidance to their children.
• Increase understanding and awareness of the unique issues facing military youth and their parents who are dealing with deployment and reunions of their loved ones serving in war conflicts overseas.

Marketing efforts: I coordinated or participated in numerous marketing efforts to promote projects offered in the area of Family and Consumer Resources in the county or statewide.  These included providing coordination for our statewide Positive Parenting segments on WMUR-TV, a guest interview for WTPL FM radio, and an exhibit on Food Safety at the Senior Health Fair in Derry, NH.  I provided coordination of updating our county web site last year, and two Educator Assistants now regularly update the Rockingham County portion of the Extension web-site.

Planned Outputs: 150 participants will attend eight food safety workshops.

• 80% of program participants will score 75% or greater on knowledge tests of high risk practices.
• 50% of participants report keeping food at safe temperatures.
• 50% of participants practice personal hygiene such as hand washing.

Output and Outcome Results: A total of 356 food service workers, volunteers, consumers, and professional service coordinators attended 14 food safety and food preservation programs. 

• SAFE (Safety Awareness in the Food Environment): Six SAFE programs were provided for 138 food service workers and were co-sponsored with the Derry Health Department, Stratham and Rye schools, the Lollipop Tree in Portsmouth, NH, Silverthorne Adult Day Care in Salem, NH, and Riverwoods Retirement Community in Exeter, NH.  One hundred and thirty (130) evaluations were completed following the comprehensive two-hour workshop, which provides an overview of the causes of food borne illness and increases understanding of safe personal hygiene and food preparation practices. Of the 130 evaluations completed, 119 or 92% had a passing score of 75% or better.
• ServSafe Training Course and Examination: Along with the Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Resources from Hillsborough County, I coordinated and/or conducted portions of three ServSafe^® trainings with the Derry Health Department, Portsmouth Health Department and Nashua School Department. In addition, the Health Inspector with the respective towns also presented a small portion of the training.  A total of 53 food managers and handlers participated in these trainings that provide an in-depth food safety and sanitation certification program sponsored by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. As a result, 81% (43 participants) passed the ServSafe^® examination with a score of 75% or greater and are now ServSafe^® Certified.
  
• On the Home Front: Emerging Food Safety Issues: One program was provided for 15 professional service coordinators working with senior housing complexes in the state. Of the 14 evaluations completed, 100% indicated they agreed or strongly agreed they learned new food safety knowledge.
• Exhibits and Demonstrations on Food Safety and Food Preservation: I provided four exhibits and demonstrations reaching approximately 150 people.  A food safety exhibit was provided for the Derry Senior Fair, two Food Preservations demonstrations for the Exeter and Portsmouth Farmer’s Markets, and one training on Canning for five Master Gardener volunteers and coordinator, who provided an exhibit and demonstration at the NH Harvest Festival at Stawbery Banke.

Planned Outputs: Implement NutriNews for Seniors. Provide two-three nutrition programs for 30 adults.

• 85% of participants eat nearer to MyPyramid amounts.
• Individuals will gain awareness and apply skills demonstrating increased knowledge of how to choose food according to the Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines.

• Are you Eating Lard? For Project Safeguard sponsored by the Rye Jr. High School, 15 parents and their 7^th graders attended the program which covered an exploration of the increasing responsibilities that teens have in making food choices, how parents can support them, and how to make healthy choices at fast food restaurants. Evaluation feedback included comments such as: interesting and learned a lot, it was fun, liked the test tubes, good content, surprising.
  
• Eighteen (18) seniors subscribed to and received at least Lessons 1 and 2 of the NutriNews Home Study Course for Seniors.  These lessons were “The Facts about Preventing Osteoporosis” and “Eating your Best for Less”. Nine seniors returned all worksheets and received Lessons 3 and 4, “Make the Food Label work for You” and “Fat, Fiber and Cholesterol”. As a result they received a NutriNews Home Study Course Certificate of Completion.
• Workplace Wellness Study: I served as County Contact for four video conference presentations and/or lab work for the Workplace Wellness Study. Six professional and support staff participated in the study and evaluation results have not yet been gathered.

PARENTING

Planned Outputs: Provide 20 parenting series or one-time programs for 150 parents.  Distribute child development newsletters to 800 families.

• 50% of people who attend the parent education program and complete a pre- and post-survey report they intend to apply their understanding of general developmental milestones and progressions in ways that support their child’s progress – socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually.
• 50% of people who attend the parent education program and complete the pre- and post-survey report they intend to apply their understanding of the positive discipline techniques in ways that support their child’s growth and development.

Outcome and Output Results: A total of 102 parents, grandparents, foster grandparents and other caregivers attended 15 presentations as part of one-time programs or a parenting series.  Child development newsletters were distributed to 968 families.

• Parenting Education Series: A four-part series for those at the Rockingham County House of Corrections was provided for six men.  Out of five evaluations, these participants agreed or strongly agreed they increased their knowledge in these areas: types of families (3), listening and communicating better (5), staying connected to my kids (5), child development (5). Additional comments included: “The teacher was wonderful. She really opened me up to discuss topics on my son. Now I’ve got some goals. I have some tools to work with. Thank you for your time and patience. I appreciated your time and effort to do the class and I think you should continue the class”; “Thank you for your time and knowledge”; “The lady’s teaching seemed very educated and I enjoyed the class.”
• Family Focus:  Parenting your Young Teen: Nine parents attended one or all of the three-session series co-sponsored by the Timberlane Middle School in Plaistow, NH.  Of the three evaluations returned by mail, two agreed they learned what normal behavior is for teens, adolescent brain development, dealing with normal conflicts, and fostering responsible behavior. Practices they planned to try as a result of the workshop included: being more consistent, pick and choose battles, be aware of protective factors, use information on brain development, and think through problem-solving more calmly.
• One-time Parenting Education Programs: Fifty-four (54)) parents or grandparents attended five, one-session programs in collaboration with various organizations and with the following results:  
•             Of the eight evaluations completed by parents and grandparents attending Parenting the Second Time Around for Salem Grandparent Support Group, six ((75%) indicated they learned about parenting styles and positive discipline techniques. Ideas or practices they planned to try as a result of the workshop included: prevention techniques, cool down before addressing issue, use responsive rather than permissive discipline, don’t ignore misbehavior but address it in a positive way.
•              Of the eight evaluations completed by foster parents participating in Helping Children become Socially Competent for the Foster Grandparent Program, four (50%) increased their understanding of the parts of social competence and learned strategies to help build social knowledge and skills. Participants said as a result of the workshop they will be more aware of children’s needs, work harder, try to understand and identify social problems, follow strategies and encourage children.
•              Of the six evaluations completed by parents attending Limit Setting for Young Children for Epping Head Start, six (100%) indicated they learned why we set limits, keys to effective limits, and new prevention techniques.  Ideas or practices they plan to try are: all ideas, speak more clearly, be positive, different ages need different limits.
•             Of the ten evaluations from parents attending Understanding the Teen Brain for the Plaistow Home Schooling Group, seven (70%) agreed they increased their understanding of the developmental tasks of teens, nine (90%) agreed they learned more about adolescent brain research, and four (40%) learned more on how to foster healthy brain development. Ideas or practices they plan to try are: read the handouts, share information on sleep with my husband, be more aware of sleep cycles, enforce less TV/computer time.  
•             Twenty-one parents and twenty-one children viewed a UNH Cooperative Extension exhibit as part of Raymond Family Fun Night. No evaluations were completed at the event.
•  WMUR-TV Positive Parenting: I continue to coordinate the three-minute guest appearances on every third Thursday during the noon news.  I appeared as a guest in January 2008 and talked about “Developing our Future Voters” and in July 2008 provided information on “Family Fun at Pick your own Farms”.  According to WMUR-TV surveys, approximately 24,000 people view the noon news on Thursdays.
• Child Development Newsletters: A total of 440 families received the monthly Cradle Crier, a newsletter for the parents of newborns through their infant’s first year.  A total of 528 families with toddlers received the bi-monthly newsletter, Toddler Tales.  In addition, many parents are also receiving these newsletters on-line. 
• Ready, Set, Go! Conference: I attended a five-day national conference in Kansas in December to learn more about the Operation Military Kids project to support youth and families of those with a parent in the military deployed overseas.  I have had meetings with the NH Air National Guard and NH National Guard to explore how we can provide some of our parenting, financial management or nutrition programs to their families.  I also presented an overview of the Operation Military Kids projects to 13 agency professionals attending the Southern NH Human Service Council meeting in Derry, NH.
• Parents: Friends or Foes? Eleven child care providers attended this Better Kid Care Workshop as part of the statewide ABC Conference in Portsmouth, NH.  Results from the eleven evaluations indicate that eight (72%) agreed they learned new information.  Ideas or practices they plan to try as a result of the workshop are: try not to take things personally, keep doing what I’ve been doing because it’s working, understand parent’s development, try a different approach when talking with parents, try to understand parent’s perspective more, get more face time with parents and focus on them as the client.
• Managing Conflict with Success (hopefully): I provided the program for nine seniors at Camp Anita, and eight people (88%) indicated they increased their knowledge of why conflict occurs, their conflict management style, active listening and “I” messages, and problem solving steps to resolve conflict.

three, 6 week Parenting During Difficult circumstances series were offered at Meredith Community Center, Gilford Elementary School, and Lakes Region General Hospital.

Additional parenting series offered included a 12 week series through Laconia Adult Education and a 5 week series at the Belknap County House of Corrections.

 Participants completed post series evaluations indicating increased understanding of developmental milestones, positive discipline strategies, and increased parental confidence.

 In response to the statement "after completing this program, I will now start..." responses included:

"using better discipline strategies.  better manage my stress"

"take better care of myself.  give my kids written caring notes"

listening more to the kids, what they feel, what's going on."

"to have a better understanding with the variance in ages. be more understanding of their feelings"

"to look at myself more as a parent for my daughter rather than a friend."

"giving options"

"to try and communicate better with my children, find ways for my kids to vent"

"be more positive about everything. understanding more of the why one day at a time."

"to take a step back and think of the best way to discipline my son."

"get more involved in the community and relationship building within the community."

"taking care of myself so I can use better, more patient parenting skills"

"giving my children more undivided attention when they ask questions."

"being more consistent"

"telling children why they cannot do something rather than just saying "because I said so"

"teaching myself to slow down and listen to family and friends. Put my goals together and put in a place I can see everyday so I will not forget" 

Valley Street Jail - male inmates

February and March 2008

One inmate indicated that what he enjoyed most was "group conversations. Learning different ways to deal with problems."

A number of inmates indicated that they wished both parents or their spouse/partner/girlfriend could attend the class with the men.

NH State Prison for Women parenting class Jan-March 2008

"I learned a lot out of this class and ways to deal with my children.  I could never know enough and I am always looking to know more. Thanks for this class!"

• Miscellaneous grants