Inside This Issue: The New Portfolio Are You Ready? Congress Svc. Project 3 Feature Friday 4 Fasola Mini-Grants 5 TN 4-H Alumni & Friends Meeting Upcoming Events 7 2 6 Tennessee 4-H Ideas Volume 18, Issue 7 Youth Thriving Indicators Dr. Richard Clark February 16, 2018 One of the main goals of the 4-H program is to help youth develop a thriving orientation an outlook and approach to life that is ever growing and expanding in a positive direction. Thriving is more than the mere absence of problems, and more than just doing okay. Rather, thriving is marked by a set of positive vital signs that point toward a young person reaching her or his full potential, happiness, optimism, and personal fulfillment. Thriving youth are youth who are healthy and flourishing as they make their way from childhood to adulthood. Thriving develops from mutual, positive interactions between youth and others in programs like 4-H. Research shows that thriving youth typically do well on important outcomes, such as academic motivation and success, social competence, and high personal standards. Thriving youth are also more connected to others, and more engaged in service to others, often making a difference in their communities. Research conducted by Search Institute has identified six indicators of a thriving trajectory: 1. Openness to Challenge and Discovery: Youth have the desire and ability to explore and try new things and challenges. Youth also possesses a growth mindset that supports effort in learning over innate ability. 2. Hopeful Purpose: Youth have a sense of hope and purpose for their lives, and are on their way to a happy and successful future. 3. Transcendent Awareness: Youth have an awareness of a sacred or transcendent force and the role of faith or spirituality in shaping everyday thoughts and actions. They have a sense of meaning in life, and hold beliefs and values that guide decision making. 4. Positive Emotionality: Youth view helping others as a personal responsibility, and live up to the values of respect, responsibility, honesty, and caring. 5. Pro-Social Orientation: Youth care about others, and demonstrate this care through empathy, concern, inclusion, and the ability to consider how their actions affect the thoughts and feelings of others. 6. Intentional Self-Regulation: Youth employ an effective balance of goal setting and pursuing strategies, including persevering, and making adjustments when goals are not attained. In addition, the youth are able to make self-regulatory decisions that lead to better short-term and long-term success.
Page 2 The New Tennessee 4-H Portfolio: Are You Ready? Lori Gallimore, Extension Specialist As most of you are well aware, the changes to the Tennessee 4-H Portfolio have been ongoing for the last year and a half in anticipation of moving to a full online system. The current portfolio involves interactive, online forms, a new rubric, online scoring, and online submission. You ve already gotten the hardest part out of the way! Now, we are almost ready to make our last big step! In February 2019, all Tennessee 4-H portfolios will be submitted for competition as Websites, instead of being scanned in and emailed. Your regional and state offices, as well as the portfolio workgroup team, are so excited about our new, web-based format! Are you ready to make the last, big step with us?! Oh My! What does this mean?! What?! I don t know anything about websites?! Oh No! Do I have to change a lot of stuff?! Will the portfolio be private and secure?! WHOA! Deep breath! The Portfolio Workgroup is making plans to answer these questions and more in a series of regional trainings! In this training, you will learn tips for successful portfolios, how and what to include in each section, also learn and develop Websites (yep it is easier than you think!) Please mark your 2018 calendars for the following regional dates to learn about the Web-based portfolio: Central Region: August 30 and 31 Western Region: September 4 and 5 Eastern Region: October 1 and 2 The locations and specific agenda have yet to be determined. Registration information is also forthcoming. Due to limits with space, time and technological resources, this training will be limited to 4-H agents only. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Page 3
Page 4 CURRENT GRANT PROJECTS: FEATURE FRIDAY Shelby Brawner, Extension Assistant/Grant Manager
Page 5 JUANITA H. FASOLA FOUNDATION, INC. MINI-GRANTS AVAILABLE Ryan Hensley, Executive Director, TN 4-H Foundation The Juanita H. Fasola Foundation has announced the availability of mini-grants for the purpose funding educational programs for youth and young adults in basic life skills and home economics. The Fasola Foundation funds projects focusing on consumer education and nutrition; cookery; clothing; sewing; textiles; parental education and childcare; hygiene; health care management; household economics and management; household equipment; house cleaning; and housing. The Foundation is also interested in funding projects, which offer educational training and opportunities for the learning disabled, including but not limited to dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, speech auditory disorders, and/or educational rehabilitation. Ms. Fasola, a former Extension worker, was a strong supporter of the Tennessee 4-H program. If you are interested in applying for a mini-grant, an application can be found HERE or in the Resources section of the Tennessee 4-H Foundation website. If you have questions, please contact Ryan Hensley at Tn4H@utk.edu or 865-974-7436 for more information. The 4-H Foundation merely collects and submits grant applications and has no influence on the selection process. Successful applicants will be announced in 4-H Ideas when the 4-H Foundation is notified what, if any, applications were selected. There is no maximum or minimum grant level; however most grants from the Fasola Foundation are funded at $10,000 or less. Grant applications will be accepted until Tuesday, February 27. Please submit applications to: The Tennessee 4-H Foundation c/o: Ryan Hensley 2621Morgan Circle 205 Morgan Hall Knoxville, TN 37996 Tn4H@utk.edu
Page 6
4-H Motto: To Make the Best Better ALEC Graduate Program Masters of Science in Agriculture Leadership, Education and Communications (ALEC) Online degree available!! For more information, please visit ag.tennessee.edu/alec Or Call 865-974-7371 Carrie Ann Stephens Professor, 4-H/ALEC State 4-H Office 2621 Morgan Circle Room 205 Knoxville, TN 37996 Phone: 865-974-2128 Fax: 865-974-1628 4-H PLEDGE I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking; My HEART to greater loyalty My HANDS to larger service; and My HEALTH to better living, For my club, my community, my country and my world. 2018 State 4-H Calendar Upcoming Events Feb 16 Feb 23 Feb 22-23 Feb 23-24 Beekeeping Essay Due 4-H Alumni Recognition Forms Due State 4-H Council Meting State 4-H Horse Educational Contests 4h.tennessee.edu TN4hfoundation.org Want to see your story in Ideas? Email it to state.4h.office@utk.edu ALEC.utk.edu