The Extension Youth and Families Program Unit meets community needs by providing community-based programs, conducting applied research, and collaborating with others to create an environment where individuals can thrive in richly diverse communities.

Program Areas

Nutrition Education

• Our programs support individuals and communities to make healthy choices and be more physically active by facilitating policy, system and environmental changes and providing nutrition education classes. Classes, offered both online and in community settings, help participants improve diet quality, increase physical activity, and expand food resource management skills.

Supporting Strong Families

• Our programs support parents and caregivers from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and life stages to raise children who thrive by helping families recognize and build upon their strengths. Our work helps families remain strong in the aftermath of divorce, be prepared for when their young children begin school, and stay connected as their children move into adolescence.

Promoting Consumer Food Safety

• Our programs offer consumers evidence-based educational opportunities and resources on food safety, including how to buy, store, prepare and serve food. We help families stay healthy and avoid foodborne illness. Consumers learn about home food preservation and limiting food waste. Farm to table, eating local and growing your own food promotes self-reliance and sustainable food systems.

Cultivating Health and Wellness

• Our programs support individuals and families to lead productive lives and produce the next and future generations of healthy, responsible, and informed citizens. Our work provides evidence-based education and resources to improve knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors to support financial, physical, and mental health.