CYFAR Program Overview
Through an annual Congressional appropriation
for the National Children, Youth, and Families
at Risk (CYFAR) Program, CSREES allocates
funding to land-grant university extension
services for community-based programs for
at-risk children and their families. Since
1991, CYFAR has supported programs in more
than 600 communities in all states and territories.
State and local public and private organizations
have contributed cash and in-kind resources
that match or exceed the federal appropriation.
The CYFAR Program is based on research on
effective programs for at-risk youth and
families and on the human ecological principle
of working across the lifespan in the context
of the family and community. To assure that
critical needs of children and families are
met, CYFAR supports comprehensive, intensive,
community-based programs developed with active
citizen participation in all phases. CYFAR
promotes building resiliency and protective
factors in youth, families, and communities.
CYFAR supports collaboration--forming lasting
partnerships to achieve greater outcomes
and to provide a support base for sustaining
programs for those at risk. CYFAR also promotes
the use of technology to improve programs,
provide efficient access to educational resources,
and provide essential technological skills
for youth and adults in at-risk environments.
State Projects
State Strengthening (STST), New Communities
(NCP) projects and Sustainable Communities
(SCP) projects serve as the CSREES mechanism
for funding community-based projects and
expanding statewide capacity for supporting
and sustaining programming for at risk youth
and families. CSREES currently provides funding
to 45 land-grant university extension services
for State Strengthening and New Communities
Projects. These community programs serve
60,000 youth ages pre-K to 19 and their parents.
These state CYFAR projects call for collaboration
across disciplines, program areas, and geographic
lines, as well as a holistic approach that
views the individual in the context of the
family and community.
In the interest of sustaining and expanding
community programs for at-risk children and
families, the CYFAR Initiative also funds
a broad variety of support and technical
assistance including:
Children, Youth, and Families Education
and Research Network - CYFERnet
CYFERnet is
a national network of land grant university
faculty and county Extension educators working
to provide resources to community educational
programs for children, youth, and families.
CYFERnet works across all land-grant universities
to solicit and review publications, quality
research information and program materials
for Children, Youth, and Families at Risk
(CYFAR) staff and others implementing programs.
More than 30 universities collaborate on
CYFERnet. Anyone can submit educational materials
to CYFERnet for review and web publication.
Computers and Internet Connectivity
CSREES provides computers, electronic access,
and training in essential technology skills
to staff, youth, and adults in CYFAR community
program sites.
CYFAR Liaisons
University faculty provide technical assistance
to CYFAR community and state projects and
link them to resources of CYFERnet and CSREES.
These CYFAR liaisons also provide feedback
to CSREES regarding impact and needs of community
programs for at-risk youth and families.
Annual Conference
Each year more than 800 Extension staff,
collaborators, and volunteers participate
in the national
CYFAR conference, sponsored by CSREES
and planned by university and county faculty
representing CYFERnet and CYFAR projects.
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