Extension Community Programs

As a leader in your community, often you are asked to present a program to club meetings, civic groups or professional organizations. Finding information for such a program and then organizing it can be challenging and time consuming. Look no further!

Faculty from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension are providing you research-based, educational program resources free-of-charge. Information in each program is based on research from educational institutions around the world. The programs listed here reflect the variety of topics which our clientele cite as issues within their communities. Congratulations on leading your organization to a greater understanding of these priorities!

NOTE on using materials:

Each program includes a teaching outline (Leader Guide) for the facilitator and a handout for the participants (Participant Manual). You can print and immediately use these materials.

• Leader Guides and Participant Manuals are provided in PDF format to facilitate printing. Free Adobe Reader required for viewing and printing of file.
• The Survey link goes to an online version provided through the Survey Monkey service. The survey is also available in the Participant Manual to be given as a paper evaluation form.
• Viewing a PowerPoint Presentation file requires Microsoft Office 2000, 2002, 2003, or 2007.
• Viewing a video file requires the RealPlayer program (free download).

 New Community Programs

► (New 2012) Making it Happen!: Building Positive Relationships with Children
Leader Guide, Participant Manual
Did you know that intentionally working towards building positive relationships with children greatly influences their social, cognitive, and emotional development? This interactive lesson will invite caregivers and parents to consider ways to build positive, nurturing, responsive and dependable relationships with the infants, toddlers and/or preschoolers in their care. Participants will receive several resources and strategies sure to support and encourage young children's healthy growth and development!

► (New 2012) Social Networking Sites: What They Are and How to Navigate Them
Leader Guide, Participant Manual
The use of Social Networking Sites (SNS) has dramatically increased in recent years. Today, over 50% of teens and 35% of adults are using at least one type of SNS. These sites can have many personal and professional benefits, however, can also pose many challenges and even risks to both adult and teen users alike. This community lesson will provide basic information about some of the most common SNS available and help audiences learn about appropriate and safe ‘netiquette’ techniques in using these sites. 

Continuing Community Programs

(2011) Chocolate — A Functional Food?
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, PowerPoint Presentation, PowerPoint Presentation (PDF), Chocolate Wonders Game (PPT), Chocolate Wonders Game (PDF), Chocolate Wonders Game Directions
A functional food is a food that contains an active compound that provides health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals are the basic nutrition needs but there are other components in food that contribute to your health. Phytochemicals, Nutraceuticals – What are these in my food. In this program, we will help you learn about the different types of chocolate, explore the health benefits of chocolate, and demystify the functional food jungle in the grocery store!

(2011) Healthy Meal Planning on a Budget
Leader Guide, Participant Manual
This community lesson will teach participants to plan healthy, delicious meals, consistent with the dietary guidelines, while on a limited budget. 

(2011) The Learning Child: Keys to Enhancing Learning
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, PowerPoint Presentation, PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
When families and caregivers play, read and talk with their children, they foster their cognitive competence in ways associated with later academic achievement, work performance and social adaptation. This interactive lesson will introduce fun and exciting ways caregivers create a responsive, stimulating, affirming and developmentally appropriate environment for young children (Birth-3).

Bite When the Temperature is Right
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, PowerPoint Presentation, Script for PowerPoint Presentation
Cooking to the proper temperature helps you to serve safe food to your family and friends. The "Bite When the Temperature is Right" program will focus on the different types of thermometers available for use when preparing food and how to use each thermometer correctly. Participants will also learn how to calibrate a thermometer. A temperature chart will let program participants know what temperature their foods should reach to be safe to eat.

How Strong Families Deal with Stress and Crisis
Leader Guide, Participant Manual
Every family faces tough times in life. Strong families work together to help each other rise above the difficulties. The focus here is on how families effectively manage stress and crisis in their lives with a special emphasis on the role members of the older generation play in helping to support younger, less-experienced family members.

Living Resourcefully: Finding Ways to Make Your Dollars Go Further
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, PowerPoint Presentation
Explore ways to save money in the household budget. Learn ways to make the most of what you earn and how to eliminate spending leaks. Reduce the impact of living on a set income when prices rise or when you encounter a financial setback. Develop strategies to make the most of your financial resources and resources that are available to you. Reduce the impact of living on a set income when prices rise or you encounter a financial setback. Develop strategies to make the most of your financial resources and other resources that are available.

Purchasing "Green" -- What Does It Really Mean
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, PowerPoint Presentation
This lesson educates consumers about the concept of purchasing "green" to save energy and resources. Learn how to determine if products are indeed green or just part of the hype and if switching to green products is a smart way to protect the environment.

Bullying
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, Survey
Many children experience bullying at one point or another. Parents, teachers and other concerned adults need to learn about how to equip children with the skills and knowledge necessary to identify and deal with bullying.

Fitting in the Fiber!
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, Survey
Fiber is one of the most important nutrients in a persons diet. This lesson will teach the participants the health benefits of fiber, good food sources of fiber and tips on how to get your daily recommended amount of fiber.

Housing Options for Today and Tomorrow
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, Survey, PowerPoint Presentation
Understanding housing and related service options for older persons is critical in making housing choices today and in planning for the future. The design, layout, features, maintenance, cost, services available and location of the home can help or hinder the person's ability to continue to live "on their own". This lesson addresses the multiple housing options that may be available in communities.

Make Sure It's Done the Way You Want: Advance Directives
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, Survey, PowerPoint Presentation
Advance directives allow people to give instructions for their future medical care in the event they are unable to communicate their wishes due to illness or incapacity. This program explains requirements and limitations of advance directives according to Nebraska law, discusses forms for a Nebraska Power of Attorney for Health Care and a Nebraska Living Will Declaration, includes a brief glossary of terms related to advance directives and identifies resources for more information.

Banding Together for Strength
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, Powerpoint Presentation
This community program teaches ways to use an elastic band to strengthen and maintain muscle as one grows older. Doing activities that strengthen muscles at least twice a week will give noticeable results in muscle tone and firmness as early as 6 weeks. Strength training can help those with osteoarthritis by decreasing pain, increasing muscle strength, gaining more function and improving clinical symptoms of arthritis.

Caregiving: Challenges and Rewards
Leader Guide, Participant Manual
Examines how a person can best meet the needs of an elderly parent or disabled person. Utilizing community resources, maintaining the personal health and satisfaction of care givers and determining ways to help with environmental and health needs are addressed. Relationship dynamics of the person in need and the care giver, in addition to other important issues are discussed to aid in making preliminary plans.

Credit: How Do You Score?
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, Powerpoint Presentation
Credit scores and credit reports. What do these terms mean? What information is included in a credit report? Who can see it? Where do you get one? What is a credit score used for? Is a higher number better than a lower one? Answers to these questions and more are found in this lesson: Credit: How Do You Score?

Promoting Cultural Understanding and Developing Cultural Competence
Leader Guide, Participant Manual
The United States has undergone a rapid shift in its’ ethnic composition and in addition, today’s world is one of increasing globalization. This community lesson focuses on how individuals can be better responsive to cultural differences and diversity in backgrounds and how they can be global citizens in today’s changing world.

Easy on Energy: Tips for Conserving
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, Powerpoint Presentation
Save energy resources and dollars, and reduce emissions by using energy conservation measures and energy efficient products in the home.

Health of Children
Growing Healthy Kids through Nutrition, Physical Activity and Self Esteem: This program will focus on helping Nebraska children and their families develop basic skills in food preparation in order to plan and make healthy meals and snack; adopt a family physical activity plan and develop a positive and healthy self esteem for the entire family. Whether you are a parent, grandparent or family friend, this program will help you better support the health of children.

• Healthy Meals for Healthy Kids: Ages 6-12 years
  Leader Guide, Participant Manual
• Cooking with Your Kids
  Leader Guide, Participant Manual
• Family Fitness
  Leader Guide, Participant Manual, PowerPoint Presentation
• Maintaining a Positive and Healthy Self-Esteem: What Can Adults Do?
  Leader Guide, Participant Manual

Long Term Care: What Is It, Where Do You Get It and How Do You Pay For It!
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, Powerpoint Presentation
With the impending retirement of the baby boomer generation, the need for resources to care for seniors is poised to grow exponentially. The term “long-term care” is used to describe a variety of care options, delivery systems and service providers. This lesson will provide learners with in-depth knowledge of care methods, cost of care, how services are financed, as well as who provides care to our nation’s elderly and disabled adult citizens.

Make Every Drop Count in the Home
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, Powerpoint Presentation
Water conservation is an environmentally sound way to reduce the demand for water. Water conservation can include physical changes (like modifications to plumbing and fixtures), or behavior changes (like changes in water use habits). This program focuses on the many effective ways to conserve water in your home. Conserving water can help preserve the quality and quantity of available water and may reduce use and utility costs.

One of Rural America's Greatest Challenges . . . Methamphetamine
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, NebFacts,
PowerPoint Presentation, Nebraska Roadside Clean-up Volunteer Safety Video
One of rural America's and Nebraska's greatest challenges is the drug epidemic, especially methamphetamine. Nebraskans need to become more aware of the magnitude of the problem and how it relates to public safety and rural economic development. In addition, individuals and communities need simple strategies to help combat this growing problem.

Volunteerism: A Tool for Positive Youth Development
Leader Guide, Participant Manual, Powerpoint Presentation
When youth volunteer, benefits are reaped by almost everyone involved — the targeted population, the community and especially the volunteers themselves.

Who Cares For The Caregiver
Leader Guide, Participant Manual
This publication will help you consider your own role in caregiving and be prepared to discuss it if you have some experiences that you would be willing to share.