U.S. Department of Agriculture

• Agency Mission and Goals
• Activities and Priorities Relating to Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
• Collaborative Efforts
• Future Directions
• FY 1995 Funding

Agency Mission and Goals

The mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is to provide national leadership through integrated research, education, and extension programs to address critical issues relating to children, youth, families, and nutrition. These programs and activities are offered in cooperation with public- and private-sector partners and the land-grant university system.

Activities and Priorities Relating to Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Several USDA activities and priorities focus on preventing juvenile delinquency and improving the quality of life for families and children. Education and training sessions are offered in such areas as parenting skills, childcare, and resource management. The Department's Children, Youth, and Families At Risk National Initiative provides comprehensive preventive education for individuals and families with children. The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education program provides prevention education for families and youth, including substance abuse prevention programs. The 4-H Program offers comprehensive educational programs designed to involve youth in healthy learning experiences, increase self-esteem, and enhance problem-solving skills.

The Cooperative Extension Service (CES) is a publicly funded, lifelong learning system that links the education and research resources and activities through the 74 land-grant universities, 3,150 councils, and USDA. CES was designed to provide educational opportunities and research-based information for residents in the communities where they live. The following are examples of educational opportunities that specifically relate to juvenile justice and delinquency prevention:

• In Phoenix, the University of Arizona's CES youth professionals spearheaded the Coalition for Youth and Families. In a 2-square-mile radius, 89 percent of students showed an increase in school attendance, 78 percent improved their grades in school, and referrals to juvenile court were reduced from 14 percent to 4 percent.
  
  
• Cornell University's CES, in cooperation with other partners, formed the New York City Take Charge/Be Somebody Community Partnership to combat substance abuse by linking neighborhood youth and adults to resources.
  
  
• The University of California's CES is working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), corporations, foundations, and the National 4-H Council in the Los Angeles 4-H After School Program. To combat gang activity, the program teaches youth leadership, responsibility, respect for others, and the value of academic achievement.
  
  
• The Rutgers University CES has joined with the New Jersey Department of Corrections to develop Careers in the Green Industry, which joins high school-age youth involved in the juvenile justice system with the university to gain skills and attain jobs in fields such as horticulture and animal sciences.

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Collaborative Efforts

USDA is involved in several collaborative efforts that relate to juvenile delinquency prevention. The Department is working with the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marines to implement youth development education programs on military installations nationwide. The Department is working with HUD, the National 4-H Council, and private corporations to provide positive afterschool programs in housing communities in Los Angeles and Oakland, California; Kansas City, Missouri; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. USDA also participates in the Partnerships Against Violence Network (PAVNET), an intergovernmental partnership with the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, and Labor. PAVNET is an online search and retrieval system that provides access to programs and information to combat violence in America. USDA's online communication and linkage to local Extension Service Offices throughout the country is provided through CYFERNET, a global electronic system of children, youth, and family information on the Internet.

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Future Directions

As the U.S. population has become concentrated in metropolitan areas and urban centers, CES has increased its efforts in these areas by developing a new Urban Extension Agenda. This agenda calls for strong emphasis on developing partnerships and collaborations -- especially with other agencies and organizations that are focused on urban audiences.

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FY 1995 Funding

FY 1995 funding from USDA for the 4-H Youth Development program totaled $65 million; funding for the Children, Youth, and Families at Risk National Initiative totaled $10 million.

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