Extension Foundation

THE EXTENSION FOUNDATION, IN COOPERATION WITH THE EXTENSION COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION AND POLICY (ECOP), THROUGH AN INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT (IAA) WITH THE USDA NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (NIFA) AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) ARE FUNDING THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SYSTEM (CES) TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG RURAL AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. EXCITE IS OPEN TO ALL LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION TO APPLY FOR FUNDING FOR THE VACCINATE WITH CONFIDENCE CAMPAIGN (ACTIVITY 1) AND/OR IMMUNIZATION EDUCATION PILOTS (ACTIVITY 2).THE VACCINATE WITH CONFIDENCE CAMPAIGN (ACTIVITY 1) FOCUSES ON MESSAGE TESTING FOR PRIORITY POPULATIONS FOR COVID-19. FIXED FUNDING IS ALLOCATED BY INSTITUTIONAL TYPE (1862, 1890 OR 1994) AND NON-COMPETITIVE APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED FOR CONFORMANCE. ACTIVITY 1 IS A ONE YEAR PROJECT.THE IMMUNIZATION EDUCATION PILOTS (ACTIVITY 2) SUPPORT APPROXIMATELY 20 PILOTS, TESTING VARIOUS METHODOLOGIES TO CONDUCT IMMUNIZATION EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITH PRIORITY POPULATIONS FOR ALL TYPES OF ADULT VACCINATIONS. INSTITUTIONAL APPLICATIONS WILL GO THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS AND WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE CDC, LOCAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE IMMUNIZATION RATES WITH PRIORITY POPULATIONS. ACTIVITY 2 IS A TWO YEAR PROJECT.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE ECOP WORKFORCE DEVELOP PROGRAM ACTION TEAM IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NECIW NATIONAL WORKING GROUP (NWG) AND EXF WILL COLLABORATE WITH NIFA STAFF TO FORM A ROBUST NETWORK OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES ACROSS EVERY U.S. REGION TO BUILD THE NATION'S CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO THE CHANGING NEEDS IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SECTOR. THE PRIMARY AUDIENCE FOR THE CLEARINGHOUSE WILL BE CES PRACTITIONERS, WORKFORCE INTERMEDIARIES, AND THE PARTICIPANTS THEY SERVE. INTERMEDIARIES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE US DEPARTMENTOF LABOR, AMERICANN JOBS CENTER, INDUSTRY PARTNERS, STATE AND LOCAL WORKFORCE AGENCIES, AND VENDORS LIKE EDUWORKS AND AGCAREERSP ARE CRITICAL PARTNERS FOR THIS PROJECT. THE INTERMEDIARY'S ROLE IS TO BRIDGE THE TIMING AND INFORMATION GAP AND ALIGN EMPLOYEE PREPARATION AND TRAINING TO EMPLOYER NEEDS, THEREBY CREATING THE OPTIMAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY SIDES OF THE WORLD OF WORK, ULTIMATELY SERVING AS THE DIRECT CONNECTION TO JOB SEEKERS.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** TO STABILIZE AND INCREASE INTAKE OF ROUTINE IMMUNIZATIONS, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, A TRUSTED MESSENGER IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, CAN HELP REDUCE BARRIERS AND INCREASE ACCESS TO VACCINES AS WELL AS STRENGTHEN VACCINE CONFIDENCE. THIS INCLUDES BEING ABLE TO ASSESS ADULT IMMUNIZATION EDUCATION NEEDS AND PROVIDE ROUTINE VACCINATION MESSAGES AND RESOURCES WITH HEALTH PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY. IT ALSO INCORPORATES AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL OF SUSTAINABLE HEALTH DECISION-MAKING THAT COMBINES THE INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONS AND REASON ON BEHAVIOR CHANGE COMMUNICATION. THROUGH EXTENSION'S EXCITE (EXTENSION COLLABORATION ON IMMUNIZATION TEACHING & ENGAGEMENT) PROGRAM, WE WILL ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:1. AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL, EXCITE IMMUNIZATION EDUCATORS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL PARTNERS, WILL INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE IN VACCINATIONS FOR ADULTS.2. EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS ACROSS PROGRAM AREAS WILL INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF AND ABILITY TO EDUCATE COMMUNITIES USING A MODEL FOR MAKING SUSTAINABLE HEALTH DECISIONS.3. EXCITE IMMUNIZATION EDUCATORS WILL EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, DEPENDING ON THEIR COMMUNITIES' NEEDS.4. EXCITE WILL INTEGRATE VACCINE EDUCATION ACROSS PROGRAM AREAS WITH THEIR EXTENSION COLLEAGUES, COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, AND VOLUNTEERS AS A CORE PART OF COOPERATIVE EXTENSION'S ONGOING OUTREACH.THE IMPACT OF EFFORTS BY THE EXCITE NATIONAL TEAM, IMMUNIZATION EDUCATORS, AND OTHER EXTENSION STAFF ENGAGED IN IMMUNIZATION EDUCATION WILL BE MEASURED THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEANS, INCLUDING EVALUATIONS BASED ON:CDC'S VACCINE CONFIDENCE SURVEY QUESTION BANK, RETROSPECTIVE PRE- AND POST-SURVEYS, NATIONAL NETWORK FOR COLLABORATION'S CONTINUUM, THE SYSTEMATIC SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT METHOD

TO ESTABLISH AND ADMINISTER A NATIONAL SUBAWARD PROGRAM IN SUPPORT OF PESTICIDE APPLICATOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED APPLICATORS OF RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDES.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THERE ARE 25-30 MILLION ADULTS WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE AND ADDITIONAL ADULTS WHOSE INSURANCE DOES NOT OFFER COVID-19 VACCINES AT NO COST TO THEM. CDC'S BRIDGE ACCESS PROGRAM PROVIDES NO-COST COVID-19 VACCINES TO ADULTS WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE AND ADULTS WHOSE INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER ALL COVID-19 VACCINE COSTS. THE EXCITE BRIDGE ACCESS PROJECT FULFILLS TWO MAJOR OBJECTIVES: 1) INCREASE AWARENESS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE THROUGH THE BRIDGE ACCESS PROGRAM AND 2) INCREASE AWARENESS OF WHEN AND HOW TO GET A FREE UPDATED COVID-19 VACCINE THROUGH BRIDGE ACCESS FOR THOSE 18 + UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED. UNDERINSURED AND UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS IN RURAL AREAS WILL BE THE PRIORITY FOCUS OF THE PROJECT.

DESCRIPTION:THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE EXTENSION FOUNDATION. SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL ADMINISTER A NATIONAL SUBAWARD PROGRAM THAT ENABLES OR INCREASES THE CAPACITY OF PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMS (PSEPS) TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS FOR PERSONS PREPARING TO BECOME PESTICIDE APPLICATORS OR MAINTAIN A CERTIFICATION. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO ENSURE THAT RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDES ARE USED SAFELY AND DO NOT CAUSE UNREASONABLE ADVERSE EFFECTS TO PERSONS WHO USE THEM, THE PUBLIC, OR THE ENVIRONMENT.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE 1) ADMINISTERING AND CONTINUING TO IMPROVE THE NATIONAL SUBAWARD PROGRAM (APPLICATION, SUBAWARD DISBURSEMENT, REPORTING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION); 2) ENCOURAGING, FACILITATING, AND INCENTIVIZING SUBAWARD COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES AND MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS (MSIS), INCLUDING THROUGH THE SHARING AND ADAPTATION OF PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION MATERIALS; 3) PENDING ANNUAL FUNDING AWARD AND AGENCY BUDGET, CONDUCTING ADDITIONAL PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS AT MSIS.SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARDS ARE TO SO-CALLED 'PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMS' (PSEPS) OR 'PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION FUNDS MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS' (PSEFMP PROGRAMS), USUALLY LOCATED AT LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES. SUBAWARD RECIPIENTS WILL DEVELOP OR UPDATE MATERIALS, CONDUCT OUTREACH PROGRAMS, PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND/OR OFFER EDUCATION AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES FOR PERSONS PREPARING TO BECOME PESTICIDE APPLICATORS OR MAINTAIN A PESTICIDE APPLICATOR CERTIFICATION. PENDING ANNUAL BUDGET AND AGENCY FUNDING, SUBAWARD RECIPIENTS MAY ALSO IMPLEMENT ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE 1) A USER-FRIENDLY ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS; 2) EFFICIENT SUBRECIPIENT AWARD DISTRIBUTION; 3) AN ONLINE SUPPORT NETWORK FOR SUBRECIPIENTS; 4) A USER-FRIENDLY REPORTING SYSTEM; 5) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (MATERIALS, WORKSHOPS, AND MEETINGS) TO SUBRECIPIENTS; 6) EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT ARE CREATED, REVIEWED, AND SHARED WITHIN THE NETWORK; 7) PROGRAM MONITORING AND EVALUATION, INCLUDING THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE; 8) QUARTERLY PROGRAMMATIC REPORTS; 9) BIANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS, AND AN END-OF-PROJECT FINANCIAL REPORT. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE 1) INCREASED PARTICIPATION FROM MSIS AND THE NATIONWIDE LAND GRANT UNIVERSITY SYSTEM THROUGH THE STREAMLINED APPLICATION PROCESS; 2) IMPROVED CAPACITY AT EXF TO ADMINISTER THE AWARDS; 3) COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN SUBAWARD RECIPIENTS ON, AND THE SHARING AND ADAPTATION OF, PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION MATERIALS FOR PESTICIDE APPLICATORS; 4) AN IMPROVED AWARD STRUCTURE AT THE END OF THE FIVE YEARS; 5) IMPROVED CAPACITY AT MSIS TO ENGAGE IN PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH; AND 6) AVAILABILITY OF CULTURALLY RELEVANT EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSERVED AND MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE PEOPLE PREPARING TO BECOME PESTICIDE APPLICATORS OR MAINTAIN A CERTIFICATION.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** NEXTGEN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH PROGRAM

THE US AGRICULTURALPRODUCTION SYSTEM AND SUPPLY CHAIN HAS FACED UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES IN RECENT YEARS. COVID-19, EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, AND WORKFORCE SHIFTS HAVE ALL HIGHLIGHTED VULNERABILITIES IN THE AGRIFOOD SYSTEM. THESE CHALLENGES, ALONG WITHNEW AND EMERGING THREATS SUCH AS CYBER TERRORISM, INTENSIFY THE NEED FOR EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SURROUNDING AGROSECURITY AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE FOR THE AGRIFOOD INDUSTRY AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SUPPORT. ADVANCING BOTH REQUIRES A MULTIFACETED APPROACH THAT INVOLVES COLLABORATION, CAPACITY-BUILDING, AND EXTENSION PROGRAM INNOVATION WHICH BUILDS CAPACITY AROUND RISK ASSESSMENT, PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, AND RECOVERY.THIS PROJECTWILL BUILD ON THE EXISTING WORK AND PROGRAMMING OF THE EXTENSION DISASTER EDUCATION NETWORK (EDEN). THE EDEN PROJECT IS A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND TERRITORIES WHO WORK TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF EDUCATION AND INFORMATION, AND THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES RELATED TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, AND RECOVERY. WE WILL SUPPORT EDEN INEXPANDING THE REACH OF EXISTING PROGRAMSAND ACCELERATINGEMERGING ONES BY LEVERAGING THE EXPERIENCE AND TOOLSOF THEPROJECT TEAM. WE WILL PARTNER WITH EDEN TO IDENTIFYNEW EDUCATIONAL/PROGRAMMING NEEDS, BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF THE NETWORK BY PROVIDING FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BUILD EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AROUND THOSE NEEDS. WE WILLINFUSE THIS WORK PROVEN INNOVATION PROGRAMMINGAND TOOLS TO MAXIMIZE THEIMPACT OF EDEN PROGRAMS AND HELP BUILD RESILIENT INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STRUCTURES AND PARTNERSHIPS. WE WILL SEEK TO BUILD NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND NON-PROFITS TO ADDRESS NEW AND EMERGING THREATS. BY WORKING TOGETHER, STAKEHOLDERSCAN DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS THAT BENEFIT FARMERS, COMMUNITIES, AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

DEVELOPING A ROADMAP FOR THE FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS RECENTLY DEVELOPED IN COOPERATIVE EXTENSION'S NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR HEALTH EQUITY AND WELL-BEING.

AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, AND CLIMATE EXTENSION LEARNING AND CLIMATE ADVISORS NETWORK

AGRICULTURE AND CLIMATE VARIABILITY EXTENSION LEARNING NETWORK

SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERACTIVE DATA SET OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OFFERINGS OF EXTENSION OFFICES ENABLING THE EXTENSION FOUNDATION TO IDENTIFY AND SCALE EXISTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ACROSS ALL ASPECTS OF COOPERATIVE EXTENSION IDENTIFY AND SCALE EXISTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ACROSS ALL ASPECTS OF COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

EXTENSION FOUNDATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EXTENSION COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION AND POLICY (ECOP) FOR THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE (CES) AND THE CLIMATE PRIORITY ACTION TEAM (PAT) PROPOSES TO CONVENE NATIONAL EXTENSION LEADERS FROM LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES INCLUDING HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND TRIBAL COLLEGES THAT ARE FOCUSED ON CLIMATE SCIENCE AND CLIMATE-BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. THE NATIONAL EXTENSION CLIMATE ACTION CONVENING WILL STRENGTHEN THE NETWORK OF CLIMATE-BASED EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS, ACCELERATE CLIMATE-RELATED APPLIED RESEARCH AND PROGRAMMING, AND ELEVATE CES'S CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATE RESILIENCY, MITIGATION, AND ADAPTATION EFFORTS. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE CONVENING IS TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, WHICH WILL SERVE AS A GUIDE TO IDENTIFY ISSUE-BASED APPLIED RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF PRACTICAL CLIMATE APPLICATIONS FOR CES AUDIENCES. THE ACTION PLAN WILL BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS RELEVANT TO EXTENSION IN NIFA'S FORTHCOMING NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE ROADMAP AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.A CONCERTED AND IMPLEMENTABLE ACTION PLAN IS NEEDED TO GUIDE MEANINGFUL ACTION AND LEVERAGE THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SECTION'S(CES) 3200-PLUS NETWORK OF EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE WITH THE BEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE METHODS. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION PLAN WILL LEAD TOCES'S INCREASED ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOLUTIONS REGARDING CLIMATE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION THROUGH SYSTEMWIDE PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES AND BENEFIT FROM NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDING. OVER THE LONG TERM, COMMUNITIES WILL BE MORE RESILIENT AND BETTER-EQUIPPED TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHALLENGES AS A RESULT OF CES PROGRAMMING AND PARTNERSHIPS.?