  |
|
|
|
Extension Success StoriesView OSU Extension Success Stories by Program AreaFamily and Community DevelopmentWeb-based information resources help Oregonians cope with tough economic times To help families weather the turbulent economic climate in Oregon, OSU Extension Family and Community Development faculty placed responsive information on the World Wide Web and trained local agency representatives on how to access and use the Web site. A component of the site helps families identify which of 12 assistance programs may be available to help them address their specific needs. Between 500 to 700 individuals and families access these materials each month. Extension assists communities with local enterprise development Extension’s Family and Community Development Program teamed with the Community Development Corporation in Yamhill County to train and support micro-enterprise development. Half of the participants in the training program were low income. By the conclusion of the program, 75 percent had completed business plans, and 25 percent had started new businesses. Nutrition education translates into future savings Extension nutrition education programs are saving millions in future health care costs. Poor diet and physical inactivity is the second largest cause of preventable death in Oregon and the United States. At 22 percent, Oregon has the highest prevalence of adult obesity of any state west of the Rockies. Rigorous studies have shown that $3.63 in future health costs are saved for every dollar invested now in OSU community nutrition programs. Hunger rate high in Oregon National surveys identify Oregon as having the highest rate of hunger of any state in the nation. In 2002, state investments in OSU Extension Family and Community Development programs provided $1.2 million used to work with Oregon’s Food Bank, schools, WIC, and other local programs to increase food security and health for low-income Oregonians. |