Publications

When you shop with local merchants, you’re helping to create jobs, fund services and promote community development in your town, where it makes a difference to your family and neighbors.

Through exercises described in How Our Shopping Habits Help Predict the Future of Our Community, you’ll be able to evaluate the impact your shopping habits have on your community. Is it more expensive to shop in larger stores? Will selection be better? You may be surprised!

How Our Shopping Habits Help Predict the Future of Our Community – Participant Guide is a 4-page, 8 ½ x 11 publication with one handout. It is great for individuals, or can be used by groups.

(Group leaders also may be interested in the 2-page companion lesson plan: How Our Shopping Habits Help Predict the Future of Our Community – Leader Guide.)

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This set of two Extension Community Lessons discusses the six strengths common to families who manage stress and crisis well.

How Strong Families Manage Stress and Crisis — This Leader Guide (HEF590) contains a lesson plan, briefing of the six strengths, and recommended resources.

How Strong Families Manage Stress and Crisis — The Participant Guide (HEF591) contains descriptions of the six strengths common to families who manage stress and crisis well, a stress checklist, discussion questions, and activity worksheets. An evaluation form is included so participants can provide feedback about the lesson.

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The I Wonder book encourages children to think about the world in which they live. Young readers will journey along with the amused explorer who shows curiosity about bees, butterflies and more! Learn More

Fun, interactive, and simple ways parents and caregivers can encourage children from birth to age 8 be more active. Learn More

Children are often the unseen victims of divorce. When their parents divorce, children are affected physically, emotionally, and mentally. Kids Talk About Divorce — Adolecent Edition is a research-based curriculum developed to help children in grades 6-8 or young adults whose parents are experiencing a divorce or were recently divorced. The course, which includes many activities, is designed to be taught in eight consecutive 40- to 50-minute sessions. It can be taught by a school employee, such as a school counselor or nurse, during lunch time, study hall, or after school.

Course topics include:

• Developing children’s awareness of the complexity of divorce
• Empowering them to cope with the divorce process
• Increasing children’s coping skills
• Strengthening their self-esteem

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This set of two Extension Community Lessons explains how to stretch your financial resources, including how to eliminate spending leaks, cut food, family, and transportation expenses, and use community resources more fully.

Living Resourcefully: Finding Ways to Help Your Dollars Go Further — This Leader Guide (HEF588) contains a lesson plan and background resources such as a PowerPoint® presentation and suggested activities to get discussion going on how to spend money wisely.

Living Resourcefully: Finding Ways to Help Your Dollars Go Further — The Participant Guide (HEF589) contains strategies to reduce unnecessary spending, manage credit, and make the most of community resources. An evaluation form is included to provide feedback about the lesson.

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With the impending retirement of the baby boomer generation, the need for resources to care for seniors is poised to grow exponentially. This lessons provides information on care methods, cost of care, how services are financed, and who provides care to our nation’s elderly and disabled adult citizens.

Long Term Care: What Is It, Where Do You Get It and How Do You Pay For It? — This Leader Guide (HEF570) contains resources, a lesson outline, and suggested activities to lead participants through the elements of long-term care.

Long Term Care: What Is It, Where Do You Get It and How Do You Pay For It? — The Participant Guide (HEF571) contains material covering long-term care methods, cost, financing, caregivers, and types of facilities. It also includes a form for calculating the monthly cost of assisted living.

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This set of two Extension Community Lessons will help residential renters and owners understand how water is used inside the home, and why and how they should use water more efficiently by changing their water use practices and selecting efficient appliances and equipment.

Make Every Drop Count in the Home — This Leader Guide (HEF576) includes a PowerPoint® slideshow, a lesson plan, and additional resources to take participants through activities to make them more aware of water usage and how to use less water. An evaluation form is also included for leaders to hand out to participants after the lesson.

Make Every Drop Count in the Home — The Participant Guide (HEF577) contains information on how much water is used in a home and how participants can use water more efficiently when using the toilet, shower or bath, washing machines, and dishwashers.

Format: 4-page leader guide, 4-page participant guide, and 2-page evaluation

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This set of two Extension Community Lessons covers how to use advance directives — living wills and powers of attorney — to ensure that your family and physicians will know your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments.

Make Sure It's the Way You Want: Advance Directives — This Leader Guide (HEF584) contains background resources, including a PowerPoint® presentation, and activities to initiate and guide a discussion about advance directives. An evaluation form is included to provide feedback on the lesson.

Make Sure It's Done the Way You Want: Advance Directives — The Participant Guide (HEF585) provides background on advance directives such as a living will, power of attorney for health care, and how to set up and manage advance directives.

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