Common Measures into Practice:4-H Military Partnerships Case

Casey D. Mull, Ph.D.Public Service Associate

Background on the 4-H Military Partnerships

• World’s largest employer sponsored child care program

• Integration of 4-H• Grant funding since 2004– 4 Partners form the funding– USDA administers through Kansas State Univ

Sources of Funding

USDA

Air Force CYP

Army CYSS

Navy CYP

CYFAR Funds

The Value of Common Measures

• Program impact nationwide • Individual program improvement• Accountability of funds to multiple masters

The Value of Common Measures

• Program impact nationwide • Individual program improvement• Accountability of funds to multiple masters

Challenges

Challenges of Common Measures

• Program fidelity – Local needs– Multiple service branches with different needs

• Accountability of funds to multiple masters• Lack of evaluation capacity and involvement on

both the military and extension perspectives• IRB Challenges / Survey Challenges

Yet We Move Forward

• Military metrics are output driven– Though they value the outcomes– Military’s lack of evaluation capacity

• Constructs used in Social-Emotional align with desired programming in military child & youth

• You don’t know what you don’t know….