Extension Staff Response to Increased Programming for At-Risk Audiences

Authors

• Diane Klemme, University of Wisconsin- StoutFollow
• Cheryl O. Hausafus, Iowa State UniversityFollow
• Karen Shirer, Michigan State UniversityFollow

Volume

43

Issue

1

Abstract

The study described here examined individual and organizational assumptions that contribute to or inhibit Extension staff's work with at-risk audiences. Three focus group interview sessions were conducted with Extension staff. Analysis of emerging themes identified a number of individual and organizational assumptions that inhibit the organization's ability to change. For example, the study showed that staff lacked clarity about the meaning of the term "at-risk" and staff questioned if the organization valued at-risk programs efforts. The study demonstrated that to create meaningful and sustained change in an organization, individual and organizational assumptions need to be exposed and alternative scenarios developed.

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Recommended Citation

Klemme, D., Hausafus, C. O., & Shirer, K. (2005). Extension Staff Response to Increased Programming for At-Risk Audiences. Journal of Extension, 43(1), Article 9. https://commons.joe.org/joe/vol43/iss1/9