Family
Learning parenting skills
Child abuse and neglect has been declining in Champaign
County since 1997, but occurrences are still almost double
the state average. Family support and parenting programs
targeted particularly in early childhood have an immediate
effect on family well-being. Protective factors include
learning social skills, fostering attachments to family
members, and supportive parenting skills.
- University of Illinois Extension Champaign County provides
parents and caregivers with educational information and
resources they need to actively participate in their children’s
learning process and to nurture their children’s
development. More than 1,500 facts sheets, newsletters,
and brochures were distributed to parents.
- Fifty-seven play groups and two library programs resulted
in 581 contacts with parents and 539 contacts with children.
Investing in character education
School suspensions can cost a district up to $40/ day/student.
Champaign County has more than 1,100 school suspensions
a year. One youth housed in Juvenile Detention costs approximately
$194/day. Guiding youth to be responsible, trustworthy and
respectful is important to the individual, family and community.
Research shows a significant change in school behavior when
character education is a part of the school curriculum.
- More than 2,700 youth ages 5-18 in Champaign County
have participated in character education activities in
their school classrooms and after-school programs.
- Mahomet’s Lincoln Trail Elementary Principal
reports students have become more caring to fellow students.
This has resulted in less discipline action on bus routes
especially during bus stops. Teachers have seen a difference
in students’ behaviors with less time required for
discipline problems in the classroom.
Providing quality child care
Champaign County parents invest between $110 and $200/week
for their infant or toddler to attend a full time child
care center or an average of $104/week for in-home child
care. Parents depend on reliable, affordable, and accessible
child care to retain their jobs. They need quality child
care to stimulate the positive growth and development of
their children in their early learning years.
- University of Illinois Extension taught 22 workshops
for 330 child care providers on building better businesses
through communication with parents, guidance and discipline,
age-appropriate activities, and health and safety practices.
Extending educational outreach
The Internet brings all the resources of University of
Illinois Extension into homes, business, libraries and schools.
Our Urban Program Resource Network website has more than
18,000 web pages providing information on everything from
helping kids succeed in school, sports nutrition to how
to fertilize your lawn.
- The website allows Extension to be accessible to anyone,
anytime. The Champaign County web site receives more than
48,000 hits each month. People are relying on our website
to get information in a quick and timely way.
Teaching food safety and nutrition education
Food Stamp recipients receive an average $86.81/ person/month
for food. Extension’s Family Nutrition Program teaches
individuals to make wise food choices and create more nutritious
meals.
- More than 13 percent of the children in Champaign County
receive food stamps. University of Illinois Extension
provides food budgeting, food safety and nutrition education
monthly to more than 1,500 adults with limited resources
at more than 100 locations throughout the county. Helping
reduce hunger by stretching the food dollars with better
choices are the goals of the Family Nutrition Program.
- More than 600 children learned about healthy eating
in nurturing environments during after school hours.
Learning money skills
U.S. teens spend $158 billion per year. Eighty-three percent
of college students have at least one credit card with a
balance of $2,300. Youth lack budgeting skills, credit smarts
and savings plans.
- Teaching young people money management is a life skill.
More than 1,800 students in Champaign County have benefited
from Extension activities that teach budgeting, check
writing, and decision-making skills.
