University of Illinois Extension is committed to providing educational programs to help people make their lives better, healthier, safer and more profitable.

Teaching Our Children Healthier Lifestyles

• 750 children prepared nutritious snacks to make better food choices during a summer six-session workshop.
• 1,100 fourth and fifth graders interactively experienced how choices affect their bodies' health by participating in the Body Walk program.
• 300 limited resource youth reduced lifestyle risk factors in after-school nutrition programs.
• 391 preschool and elementary children practiced hand-washing skills to prevent the spread of germs.

Improving Adults Food-Safety Practices

• 450 older adults on fixed incomes adopted safer food handling practices resulting in money saved from less food waste and less food borne illness.
• 600 food stamp recipients and adults living in transitional housing monthly received information to maximize the nutritional value of their food choices through wise shopping, food preparation and safe food storage.

Enhancing Children's Growth and Development

• 52 families addressed the developmental needs of their young children, ages 3 weeks to 3 years.
• 30 migrant parents learned the importance of love and limits with children.
• 2,872 youth participated in character education programs.
• 14 after-school programs in various locations were provided throughout the county to give youth alternatives to hanging out in the "wrong places."
  

Strengthening the Quality of Children's Lives

• 80 child care providers and Head Start staff received training to gain skills to manage children's anger and improve communications with parents.
• A variety of family education programs increased 395 adults' knowledge of family nurturing and life management skills.
• 695 children served by the Crisis Nursery experienced educational activities in the vegetable, butterfly, sensory and discovery gardens planted and maintained by more than 150 volunteer hours by Master Gardeners. Parents, grandparents and children created enthusiasm for shared inter-generational activities by learning gardening techniques in a six-session workshop.

Creating a Community of Support

Stratton Elementary School, Beardsley Park Community Association and University of Illinois Extension worked together to renovate the abandoned and neglected garden plots located on school property. Students learned math and science concepts while working the garden. Seven neighborhood families planted garden plots and built a spirit of community in the neighborhood. Volunteers showcased new plant varieties and gardening fundamentals in gardens at the Champaign County Nursing Home, Champaign County Humane Society, and the Idea Garden. Youth experienced hands-on learning by planting school gardens at Centennial High School, Stratton Elementary and the Juvenile Detention Center.

Strengthening Financial Security

• More than 1,500 high school students experienced making decisions about future spending as a realistic approach to money management.
• Crop production participants adapted field and pest control practices to ensure favorable economic and ecological outcomes.
• More than 75 farmers and landlords gained insight and skills in agricultural financial management and global grain marketing.

Being Environmentally Responsible

• More than 219 fifty-five gallon drums of toxic materials from 1,929 households were collected and disposed in an environmentally sound manner including more than 100 propane tanks, two pallets of fire extinguishers and five pallets of batteries that otherwise would have been dumped in local landfills.
• 238 arborists, landscapers, public works employees and Master Gardeners learned how to improve practices in tree selection, planting and care to sustain long term growth of trees.
• More than 2,000 Champaign County residents received appropriate pest management procedural information regarding their homes, landscapes or gardens.
  130 individuals passed testing certification for Private Pesticide Applicator licenses to use pesticide formulations with minimal environmental impact.

Reaching Out to Others

• More than 330 volunteers provided more than 12,250 hours of volunteer service valued at $210,543 to multiply University of Illinois Extension's efforts in Champaign County.
• Extension staff networking with more than 40 local agencies and groups enhanced collaborations within the county.
• Outreach through three weekly News Gazette columns, two weekly WCIA television features, and a bi-monthly Extension newsletter to 4,500 households provided University of Illinois research-based information to Champaign County residents.
• More than 50,000 Internet users accessed educational information monthly through the Champaign County Extension website.

For many college students, credit cards are as common as football games and late-night pizza. So, what can parents do to keep their kids from falling into the credit card trap?
"First, understand that credit card offers roll in as soon as students hit campus," says Lois Smith, consumer and family economics educator with University of Illinois Extension. "Students may be tempted to open an account to buy books and supplies, spiffy up the dorm room, or buy the latest fashions. Talk with your student about credit and decide together whether a credit card is really needed. You may find that a checking account with a debit card is a better option."

If your student does decide to open a credit card account, talk about how the credit card should be used. Is it for emergencies only? Is it for school supplies?
The following tips can help prevent common credit problems:

• Compare card offers. Avoid cards that charge an annual fee. Also, choose one that has a low interest rate and minimal finance charges.
• Use only one credit card.
• Consider a low-limit or prepaid credit card. These options can help keep spending under control.
• Never spend more than you can quickly repay.
• Avoid borrowing money on a credit card. These cash advances quickly build up fees and interest charges.
• Don't max out your credit limitonly charge what you can afford to pay back.
• Carefully review monthly statements and save all receipts for reference.
• Strive to pay the full balance every month to avoid finance charges. If that is not possible, always pay more than the minimum to help control debt.

More helpful tips are found in the Parent Smarts series available from University of Illinois Extension. For a free set, call 333-7672. If you have Internet access, you can download the fact sheets at: http://www.ace.uiuc.edu/cfe/credit/parentsmarts/index.html.