Congratulations to Paula Gregory, this year's recipient of the Maynard and Audrey Heckel Extension Educator Fellowship Award, for her Children, Youth and Families At-Risk (CYFAR) program efforts in New Hampshire. Paula receives a $1,000 award to "support/enhance the continued work of the chosen fellow within UNH Cooperative Extension" as designated by the Heckels. During the May State Extension Conference, Paula will highlight the program for fellow staff.

As project director of three five-year cycles of CYFAR projects, Paula has provided both management of the CYFAR community-based projects, and statewide leadership to build our capacity in six areas identified by CSREES as critical components of organizational change needed for CYFAR work.

New Hampshire’s CYFAR efforts since 1990 have already enhanced both our capacity to work with at-risk audiences, and the capacity of communities to create and sustain collaborative programs. All four previously funded CYFAR programs are sustained. Manchester’s Y.O.U. is now YMCA managed and has expanded to other city schools. Boscawen’s B.E.S.T. program has expanded enrollment and added a before-school program through the Concord YMCA. Claremont’s It’s Your Future! program is managed by Claremont School District and has increased enrollment to 1,380 youth in five schools. Haverhill’s CREEPY program expanded to the full middle school with a $150,000 annual budget, and has just had $66,000 put in the 2007-08 school budget by the school board.

Congratulations, Paula!