Families & Communities Engaged in Issues Together
Project Description:
Collaborative partners of the original Rhode Island Cooperative Extension (R.I.C.E.) SACC Education project funded since 1992 examined data, program strengths, existing audiences and risk factors and have marshalled forces to address the needs of the high risk communities of Central Falls, East Providence, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket.
Goal 1 of this project is to replicate and expand the existing R.I. CE SACC Education Project to include additional curriculum and training for pre-school children, children in grade K-3 and children in grades 6-8, in highest communities at risk.
Goal 2 is to expand/facilitate collaboration, and empower these communities utilizing needs identification, Citizen Politics, and shared resources. RICE's ecological model of providing protective factors such as: basic life skills curriculum for youth, Professional Staff Development training for agency staff and volunteers and facilitating a community, parent, and school coalition will expand organizational and programmatic development to high risk communities state wide.
The project will incorporate training for volunteers (adult and teens) agency staff, community decision makers and involvement of college students in a community service learning model that will extend the mission of CES.The R.I. CE vision includes the collaboration of state agency partners: Rhode Island Department for Children, Youth and their Families (RIDCYF) and expansion of these partnerships to community agencies.
The mission is to bring together children, youth and families with key decision makers from these communities in a collaborative effort to provide: Communities with a safe, secure environment; assist families in achieving positive, productive and contributing lives; support parents taking responsibility for meeting children's physical, social, emotional and intellectual needs through moral guidance and direction; reinforce youth's ability to demonstrate knowledge, skills, attitudes and behavior necessary for fulfilling contributing lives; and ensure that all children would have their basic physical, social, emotional and intellectual needs met.
Project Description: (Electronic Connectivity)
The R.I. Electronic Connectivity project is being implemented in seven of the highest risk communities in the state. The Project provides child care sites, and community based organizations focusing on parenting education, collaboration and community development with necessary hardware/software and technology training materials and supplies to electronically acquire resources, research, and curriculum to improve the quality of life for R.I. citizens most at risk in their respective communities. URI's Office of Information Services (OIS) provides full internet access and connection time to the Internet which includes Electronic Mail and World Wide Web (WWW) accessibility. The Project further provides desktop computers for 4 project staff, 3 Youth at Risk Communities, and 4 State Strengthening community sites. Each of the 7 communities will provide 3 host sites for desktop computers. Additionally, 7 laptop computers are available for rotation, up to 2-weeks in duration, within these same targeted communities.
training
parenting
comm. dev.
Extension
Director
Jeff Seemann
Dean
University
of Rhode Island
College of the Environment and Life Sciences
Woodward Hall, Kingston, R.I. 02881
401.874.2457, Fax: 401.874.2970
e-mail: jseemann@uri.edu
Project
Director
Marilyn Martin
Cooperative
Extension Educator IV
Children, Youth & Families/4-H
University
of Rhode Island Providence Campus
80 Washington St.,
Room 302
Providence, R.I. 02903
401.277.5255, Fax: 401.277.5319
e-mail: mmartin@uri.edu
Evaluation
Specialist
Dr. Tony Mallilo
Associate
Professor
University
of Rhode Island
College of the Environment and Life Sciences
Woodward Hall, Kingston, R.I. 02881
401.874.4658, Fax: 401. 874.4017
e-mail: tonym@uri.edu
Technology
Specialist
Cindy Ray, CNA
Senior Information Technologist
University
of Rhode Island
Information Technology Services
Tyler Hall, Kingston, R.I. 02881
401. 874.4787, Fax: 401. 789.4040
e-mail: starstuf@uri.edu
