These are the programs that Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County can and does provide to assist and streamline the provision of overall county programming:


1. Family and Consumer Science:


Nutrition Education: we provide a six-session, research-based nutrition education program for low/moderate income families, youth and seniors.  The evaluation component of this program, designed and structured by Cornell University, allows us the capacity to determine and demonstrate learning and behavior change for all of our clientele, and enables us to tailor the data such that we can specifically determine outcomes for a given group or organization.  For example, the data we collect in our work with the Community Action Program of Ulster County will be assessed, and we will be able to tell CAP leaders the impact and behavior changes our education program has achieved with their specific clientele who participate in our program.  One primary focus is to change behaviors of food stamp recipients so that they can get maximum nutrition out of their food stamp dollars; this includes an education component on financial management and budgeting.  All Cornell nutrition educators are fully trained, and receive continuing education, in Cornell-developed curricula and program delivery techniques.
The majority of our nutrition education programs are funded by two USDA grants.  One to Cornell University and one to NYS OTDA.  These grants fund the salaries for all of the nutrition educators, all teaching supplies and materials and mileage.  CCE provides a 50% match to the NYS OTDA grant receive these funds.  This match primarily comes from the rent the county provides for our office space, and administrative support.  Without the County support for office space and administrative staff we would not be able to receive this grant.
Other organizations in Ulster County that we could potentially assist or provide follow-up with nutrition education are:

 Relatives as Parents Program: we are THE one stop shop for all needs of relatives as caregivers in Ulster County – there are no other such complete programs for this target population in Ulster County.  We provide grandparent/aunt/uncle/older sibling support, education and access to the information and services they need in order to care for their relative child.  This keeps approximately 2500 children in Ulster County out of the Foster Care system, and often, out of the Juvenile Justice system.  Our staff has been Cornell-trained in the Parenting A Second Time Around (PASTA) curriculum, and maintains the NYS database on all clients from which we draw evaluation information on impact and effectiveness of our services. 

This program is 100 percent grant funded.  We currently receive funding from NYS through a grant to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County and from the Brookdale Foundation.  We have applied to the Dyson Foundation for additional support.
Other county programs we could potentially assist with the provision of kincare services are those that serve senior populations and youth populations, including but not limited to:

Financial Education and Credit Counseling:  we offer groups, agencies and organizations financial counseling for their clients and employees.  These presentations are most often free to the agency requesting the sessions, since we are primarily funded for this program through NYSERDA and Department of Labor.  There is no limit in terms of county agencies and organizations we can assist with this education, which has been shown to have high impact and effectiveness among recipients based on the evaluations.  Our educators are Cornell-trained with specific Cornell-developed materials and lesson plans, which are used in the presentations.  Currently we are limited by the fact that we only have funding for one part-time staff person for this program and the energy efficiency program (see below).  We receive funding through contracts with Honeywell/NYSERDA and Department of Labor to conduct these programs.
County agencies and organizations we can assist include:

 Energy Efficiency Education:  As with our Financial Education and Credit Counseling, we are able to provide this education to organizations, groups and agencies – their employees and clients – regardless of income or status.  Our educators have been Cornell-trained, and follow Cornell-developed curricula and materials in their presentations.  CCE provided information about low-cost energy efficiency improvements, technical assistance and outreach to the Ulster County Winter Watch program last year in response to the DSS concern that many families would have difficulty affording to heat their homes.  Funding to conduct these programs is provided through contracts with Honeywell/NYSERDA and Cornell University.
County agencies and organizations we can assist include:

2. Environmental Program (Watershed Management)


Environmental programming at CCE Ulster County is spread out among several different programs.  The Family and Consumer Science program currently offers the energy efficiency programs targeted to consumers, the Agriculture Program covers environmental issues related to agriculture: such as working with with the Ulster County Open Space and Ag Preservation Programs and handling pesticide training and certification.  The Nutrition Program responds to consumer food safety issues. 


Currently the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s designated Environmental Program is focused on watershed management, particularly in the Ashokan Watershed.  The program staff are entirely funded by a contract from NYC Department of Environmental Protection to assist with the development of stream management plans, education and outreach around best management practices for stream and riparian management, and assistance with implementing projects and activities that are identified through the planning process as a high need or a priority for stakeholders and communities in the watershed (Shandaken, Olive, Woodstock, and Hurley).  The program also provides information about invasive species in the region, and provides information and some assistance to watershed organizations that are outside the Ashokan Watershed.  CCE UC has staff trained in GIS, and has access to software and technical assistance through Cornell University.


The program currently has a 5 year, $1.5 million contract with NYC DEP which covers the cost of three full-time program staff, 20% of the salary of a youth educator, and an administrative assistant.  CCE shares office space and coordinates their work with UC SWCD, who have a similar contract with NYC DEP. 


In addition, CCE has received $2 million from NYC DEP to implement action plan recommendations in the Watershed.  CCE is currently using those funds to leverage other grants.  CCE UC Environment Program staff are currently working with UC DOE and UC Planning to use their funds to leverage other funds that would allow program staff to work on watershed management outside the Ashokan Watershed.


We currently are working closely with Ulster County Department of the Environment, UC Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA NRCS in Ulster County, UC Hazard Management, and Ulster County Planning.  We are also working closely with the towns in the watershed, NYS DEC, USGS, SUNY Ulster, SUNY New Paltz and Cornell University on projects, programs and research in the watershed.

3. Commercial Agriculture


Ulster County is home to about 500 family farms that account for a Market Value of $58,859,000 in crop sales and $6,736,000 in livestock sales. These numbers do not reflect the “multiplier effect” on the Ulster County economy, e.g., labor, agri-tourism, and support industries.


Cornell Cooperative Extension is the only source of unbiased, research-based information and education for Ulster County farmers/growers.  Extension agriculture educators hold masters degrees in agricultural sciences and continually enhance their knowledge base through direct work and collaborations with Cornell University researchers and professional continuing education. This high degree of expertise, and the link to Cornell University, directly benefits the Ulster County farm economy.


Extension educators work directly with farmers to improve production (yield and quality) through farm visits, workshops, meetings, electronic and hardcopy newsletters, daily recorded messages, and research trials demonstrating new or improved cost effective best management information.  We provide training to growers on regulatory and compliance issues, such as Labor Laws, DEC pesticide certification, Dept. of Transportation Laws, Ag and Market processing licensing, and food safety.  CCEUC Educators work with farmers to improve marketing of their products through innovative seminars and by linking farmers with markets.


CCEUC Educators participate in, and support, Ag Farmland Protection (AFP) efforts by assisting farmers   and municipalities with Purchase of Development Rights programs, Annual Ag District Inclusion, Right to Farm and farm neighbor issues.  Lydia Reidy has chaired the AFP Board since its inception in 1996.  Educator Teresa Rusinek sits on the County Open Space Committee.


CCEUC Educators consult with, and provide guidance to, new and transitioning farmers.  We  interface with special interest groups and county/regional agencies, namely: Planning Board, Dept. of Health, Dept. of Labor, Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Environmental Protection, County Soil and Water District, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency,  County Dept. of Environment, NYS Dept. of Ag & Markets,  UC Tourism, Hudson Valley Agribusiness Dev. Corp.,  Hudson Valley Growers Network, Farm Bureau,  Lower Esopus  Watershed Partnership,  Mohonk Consultants Food Recovery Project.  CCEUC Educators also provide University-based education and outreach to the agricultural community on issues of farm alternative energy and energy efficiency.  


There is no other unbiased, University-based source of information and education available for the agricultural community in Ulster County other than Cornell Cooperative Extension.  Cornell University is the premier agricultural school and research facility in the Northeast.  Cornell Cooperative Extension is the conduit between community needs, research and education.


 4. Community Horticulture


This CCE program teaches individuals and groups to adopt environmentally sound horticultural practices, and teaches youth and adults multidisciplinary skills through horticultural projects. 


The Horticulture Program in Ulster County is primarily supported through its volunteer base of 60 volunteers.  CCE provides training for up to 18 new volunteers every 2 years.  Participants pay a $250 fee that covers much of the cost of this vigorous 85 hour training.  Instructors are horticulture professionals from Cornell University and Cooperative Extension.  Upon completion of the course, 100 hours of community service is required before volunteers are officially recognized by Cornell University as Master Gardeners.  Our volunteers give back thousands of hours of community service each year going above and beyond what is asked.  The Master Gardener program is a nationwide program operating through the Land Grant Universities.  CCE Ulster employs a part time employee who coordinates master gardeners and programs. 


Our speakers bureau,   demonstration gardens, informational booths at farmers markets, fairs and festivals have provided gardening education and outreach to 177,000 Ulster County residents.  Our gardening workshops that focus on topics such as invasive species, xeriscape gardening and pesticide free gardening are attended by over 400 residents annually. Our horticulture diagnostic lab/hotline that is manned by volunteers three days a week during the growing season educates county residents in Integrated Pest Management for home, garden & yard, using least-toxic pest control methods. The Installation of 3 demonstration rain gardens on public sites in the county encourages residents, landscapers, and municipalities to adopt storm water best management practices.  At the end of this 3 year USDA- funded program, over 200 individuals will be trained in rain garden installation and stormwater issues, many from MS4 regulated communities.  Our volunteers work with schools to assist teachers in planning garden based education curricula by providing resources and training.  This year alone we have reached over 200 school youth, teachers and parents.

5. Youth Development


4-H is the Youth Development program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County.  In 2008, 4-H served 1,086 Ulster County youth ages 5 – 19 years of age, who participated by enrolling in clubs, school programs, camps and special interest offerings.  For more than a century our relationship with USDA and the 106 land grant universities has allowed 4-H youth to be uniquely connected with a hands-on laboratory focused on positive youth development.  4-H is the only youth organization that partners USDA, Cornell and land grant universities, and offers a cost effective way to meet societal needs in science, engineering, technology, healthy living and citizenship.

 

4-Hers are leading the way in addressing many of the issues of our time, including the environment, energy, obesity, community leadership and science and engineering.  Whether they are participating in a watershed cleanup project or preparing healthy nutritious meals for afterschool programs, they are ready and eager to contribute!  4-H Benefits the economy by helping youth explore career opportunities, achieve success and develop relevant job skills in areas such as science and engineering, financial literacy, sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship. 4-H provides youth with opportunities not just to participate, but also to lead programs that improve our communities.  Youth in one community are mapping invasive species in a new way through GPS technology.  Mapping these species will help residents and 4-Hers to plan projects to remove them to create a healthier ecosystem.


Tufts University conducted a 4-H study of positive youth development to look at the impact of the program on participants.  This was the first such study to show the measurement of five foundational characteristics that 4-H works to develop in youth: competence, confidence, connection, character and caring.  The findings included these:

The study found that youth who participate in the high-quality, out-of-school 4-H programs were more likely to develop the five foundational characteristics the longer they remained active participants. 


The most important asset of 4-H is the volunteer base of the program, i.e., the adults who provide leadership to 4-H cubs.  In 2008 Ulster County had a volunteer base of 184 adult leaders, and this number continues to grow.  These youth programs, which provide optimal opportunities for positive youth development, have been shown to reduce the likelihood of these youth to engage in risk behaviors such as underage drinking, smoking, bullying, and vandalism. 


The study confirmed that 4-H youth become leaders, achieve higher marks in school, and contribute to self and society – all of which strengthen the Ulster County communities in which they live.