The Ohio 4-H program review is the first of a series of OSU Extension reviews.
The project timing coincided with a national search for a new statewide leader.
Purpose
The purpose of a program review is to guide program development on a continual basis. A program review is a process that evaluates the status, effectiveness, and progress of programs and helps identify future direction and priorities. Program reviews are a standard practice in youth development programs (Roth & Brooks-Gunn, 2016) and higher education (Barak, 1082; Barak & Berdahl, 1978; Berrett, D., 2011). The OSU Extension 4-H program review is a voluntary practice for self-study and external review.
The review includes these essential elements:
- The State of Youth Development in Ohio
- Report prepared by Dr. Scott Scheer and students Trent Baldwin and Amy Michaels.
- Ohio State University Extension 4-H Youth Development Internal Self-Study
- Report led by Dr. Kirk Bloir and the Ohio 4-H team.
- Ohio State University Extension Crowdsourcing Insight Summary: 4-H Youth Development
- Research and report generated by Dr. Cindy Torppa, Dr. Debby Lewis, Amy Elhadi, and Danae Wolfe from OSU Extension Learning and Organizational Development.
- External committee visits and Final Report from the External Review Committee
- In-person visits were held in April 2019Â on campus. Committee members represented diverse perspectives of 4-H programs varying in size, scope, and geographic location. The committee submitted a final report outlining observations and insights.
- Reflection with Extension leadership, program teams, advisory councils, and Ohio Joint Council of Extension Professionals leadership.
- Key stakeholder communication throughout the process
Questions that were asked during external review
OSU Extension program reviews are conducted on behalf of Dr. Jackie Kirby Wilkins, interim director of OSU Extension for the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The OSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Program Review was led by Dr. Julie Fox, with support from Michelle Gaston.