What does it take to enhance the odds for vulnerable young people across the nation? Just ask youth, families, schools and agency partners from Hillsboro and Seabrook.

Over the past five years these communities have worked closely with UNH Cooperative Extension educators and volunteers through a collaborative grant funded project of USDA, CSREES (Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension System) program for Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR).

In Hillsboro, CYFAR expanded an elementary afterschool program for fourth and fifth graders, and provided intensive staff training on experiential science-based after-school activities. The project also partnered with the school district to create and sustain a growing 21st Century afterschool program for sixth to eighth graders. These programs annually reach over 120 youth who might otherwise be unsupervised during afterschool hours. Program evaluations find these youth do better academically and socially, and have fewer conflicts at home and with peers.

In Seabrook, youth from four surrounding seacoast towns are benefiting from a growing youth center. Prior to CYFAR involvement, Seacoast Youth Services, Inc. served court-referred youth in a diversion program. Now over 50 middle school youth are active in constructive programs each day afterschool and during the summer. Through a partnership with local organizations and businesses, these youth gain nutrition and fitness skills, exploring science, engineering and technology through a "Techno-Team," and contributing to community resources through service learning projects.

At the 2009 annual CYFAR Conference in Baltimore, attending CYFAR site coordinators Michael Koski and Rick Alleva accepted recognition on behalf of their projects from the federal partner, USDA/CSREES. Joining them were technology specialist Trent Schriefer, project director Paula Gregory, and community partner Heath Jackson. Extension team members not able to attend from Hillsboro County: Heidi Bennett, Jolee Chase, Sharon Cowen, George Hamilton, Jonathan Nute, Dan Reidy and Julia Steed Mawson. From Rockingham County: Karyn Blass, Claudia Boozer-Blasco and Terri Schoppmeyer.

UNH staff actively participated in the conference program. Alleva and Schriefer were joined by community business partner Heath Jackson of RC Maximus Raceway, in facilitating an interactive demonstration of the remote control cars being built by the Seabrook youth as part of their Techno Team activities.

Extension Educator Kathleen Jablonski and Gregory facilitated an interactive discussion on implementing 4-H in afterschool programs. Gregory also co-presented a research poster with Barbara Prudhomme White, Ph.D., UNH Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy on findings from a pilot study on stress interventions with highly stressed pregnant women.

Also attending the conference were Extension Specialist Charlotte Cross, coordinator of the state’s Operation Military Kids (OMK) project, Belknap County Extension Educator Becky Levesque and Sullivan County Extension Educator Robin Luther.

Accepting certificates of recognition for New Hamsphire’s CYFAR projects are from left to right, Paula Gregory, project director; Trent Schriefer, project technology specialist; Michael Koski, Hillsboro project coordinator; Rick Alleva, Seacoast project coordinator; and Heath Jackson, business partner with Seacoast project.

Preparing remote control cars for the "Learning Games Arcade" featured during the CYFAR program is RC Maximus Raceways owner and CYFAR project partner, Heath Jackson.