Leadership and Pulic Issues Education Action Plan

Objective 1. Collaborate with CARI and other resources to identify public policy issues, on-going.

Objective 2. Survey community leadership needs Fall 2002 .

Objective 3. Develop a Memorandum of Understanding between the IANR administrative team and Extension faculty that addresses involvement in community issues of a controversial nature. Have in place by Fall, 2002.

Objective 4. Offer in-service to faculty and staff about identifying issues by January, 2003.

Outcomes:

A written document that clearly states policy for extension staff working with public policy issues will be developed. Faculty can recognize and anticipate controversial issues and be in position to respond. One (1) member of each Extension Action team and 20 or more other faculty will have attended policy training. Plans and procedures will be developed as an on-going process by the team to address identified needs. Community leaders will have received leadership training that will assist them to be more effective leaders. Plans and procedures will be developed as an on-going process by the team to address identified needs.

Goal 2.Conduct in-service leadership development training.

Objective 1. Identify on a yearly basis in-service Leadership training needs for all extension educators.

Objective 2. Plan and deliver two in-service programs per year.

Objective 3. Establish a team of Extension Educators and Stakeholders to develop a program: "Communities and Neighborhoods in Change" by Spring 2002.

Outcome:

Faculty will have an in-depth leadership development experience each year. An outcome of the training activity will be readily available resources. As a result of those experiences, Extension Educators themselves will be more effective with their constituents. They will feel more competent to conduct training programs for citizens in their local communities. Each Extension Educator on the team will submit one EARS report each year. Extension Educators will develop a proactive interest in assisting their communities and organizations change.

Goal 3. Communities and neighborhoods will identify and address leadership needs within diverse audiences.

Objective 1. Network Extension faculty with people and diversity resources within the University of Nebraska. Have these connections made by May 2002

Objective 2. Identify needs for staff and clientele training by August 2002.

Objective 3. Establish a formal statewide network for diversity issues, Spring 2003.

Objective 4. Establish a advisory committee of stakeholders for people of color by April 2002.

Objective 5. Initiate a pilot planning forum for a extension district by fall 2002 with business sponsorship.

Outcome:

100% of new staff will be exposed to diversity issues at any ‘new worker orientation' and that 100% of new hires will have a new awareness of cultural diversity in Nebraska. After staff training, there will be 5 new networking groups formed across Nebraska that communicate between ethnic audiences to economically improve their community. International experiences will be made available to travel or host citizens of the world. A formal list serve will be established that connects community leaders with diversity issues. District forums on diversity issues starting with Grand Island will highlight issues of local concern, share resources, and explore solutions.

Goal 4. Engage youth in leadership development, volunteerism, and policy issues affecting communities.

Objective 1. Identify specific areas for collaboration and planning with other Cooperative Extension Action Teams by May 2002.

Objective 2. Initiate a leadership certification program modeled after the Community Leadership Certification Program. Have it reviewed and recommendations by Spring 2003.

Objective 3. Design one curriculum for teens and another for pre-teens using existing 4-H resources. Have it ready for review by Spring 2003.

Outcome:

At least one more Action Team will be identified that has a vested interest in developing strategies for youth development. Through these collaborations, 60% of Extension staff participating will increase their understanding of volunteer systems, increase their ability to work with teens and pre-teens, and strengthen their own volunteer systems. A pilot leadership certification model working with school student councils within one Extension district will be initiated.

Goal 5. Create a leadership training program for local government officials.

Objectives 1. Develop a training package for the Nebraska Association of County Officials by November, 2002.

Outcome:

NACO will attract 75% of those commissioners in two districts for a training led by UNL faculty, staff from collaborating agencies. Ten percent or more of the participants will certify in Level I of The Certification Program.

Goal 6. Make available a leadership certification program for community and organizational leaders in Nebraska and beyond.

Objective 1. Advertise and distribute information about the Leadership Certification Program, January 2002.

Objective 2. Solicit participants for all three levels of the Leadership Certification Program.

Objective 3. Plan and conduct the Leadership Academy May or June each year.

Outcomes:

Level I of the Leadership Certification Program will identify the criteria of some ‘basic' experiences or classroom instruction that will provide citizens an advantage in the public issues arena. Some 50 people will participate and verify their skills at this level.

Level II of the certification process will attract 15 or more people each year who will participate in the Leadership Academy.

Level III will attract a much smaller group as it will require time commitment with UNL professors on campus or in an academic setting. It is projected to involve 5 or more people over the next three years.

Goal 7. Develop the skills and knowledge to collaborate and network with stakeholders and other action teams, agencies, and groups..

Objective 1. Link with working groups which have leadership or public issues in their mission statement. Complete by August, 2002.

Objective 2. Initiate dialogue with other Cooperative Extension Action team(s). Spring 2002.

Objective 3. Sponsor or co-sponsor a conference with stakeholders. Complete by December, 2002.

Outcome:

Bring together stakeholders for an annual review of the Action Team goals and plans. Provide resources for the H.O.P.E. project in cooperation with the Center For Rural Affairs. Establishing links with at least two (2) agencies and groups identify and what is now in place and what future plans are developing to involve the best uses of resources. Involve at least four LEAD alumni and other citizen stakeholders to provide advise for programming. Ongoing leadership programming will continue with project HOPE in Cedar, Knox and Pierce counties.

Goal 8. Market Cooperative Extension as a premier provider of leadership and public issues development.

Objective: Design a marketing plan. Have it in place by July 1, 2003.

Outcome:

The public and private sectors will understand the accomplishments and plans of Extension so they can make accurate assessments.

REVISED 12/20/01

Leadership (Team Leaders):

Laverne Barrett, Co-chair - UNL Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications

Gerald Hopp, Co-chair - UNL Cooperative Extension - Richardson County

Dan Wheeler, Co-chair - UNL Office of Professional and Organizational Development