2024PDC

Track: Program & Project Development

Description: Summer Community Adventures combines the talents of Extension and the local school corporation to make an unforgettable summer program for 50 local youth. Discuss how partnering together with Extension Professionals across program areas can enhance your program and add FUN. How can new collaborations lead to reaching our underserved audiences? Let’s talk a few tips and tricks!

Presenters: Jennifer Mayo, 4-H Youth Development Educator, Spencer County; Megan Jaspersen, Health & Human Sciences Educator, Spencer and Perry Counties; Nick Held, Agriculture & Natural Resource, CD Educator, Spencer County; Erin Meyer, Community Wellness Coordinator, Spencer, Perry, Crawford, and Pike Counties; Danica Williams, Nutrition Education Program Assistant, Perry, Spencer, and Crawford Counties

Track: Program & Project Development

Description: As schools and institutions explore ways to source more food locally and regionally, Extension professionals have a unique opportunity to support growers, buyers, and learners in the Farm to School movement. Extension professionals can serve as connectors, educators, and project leaders in supporting this work, an important role often left unfilled. As a connector, Extension professionals might help farmers and school food directors understand the challenges and benefits of working together to put fresh, local foods on the school menu. Extension professionals might connect local Master Gardeners or volunteers to assist with school gardens. Extension professionals can also support formal learning in the classroom by leading agricultural or nutritional educational activities. Many Extension professionals are already playing an important role in the Farm to School, also known as, Indiana Grown for Schools, movement in their community. With this session, learn how you might increase your impact or begin the process of bringing these important activities to the schools in your county.

Presenters: Sarah Hanson, Food Systems Coordinator; Laura Dodds, Farm to School Coordinator and Marion County CED; Beckie Lies, CWC, Marshall and St. Joseph Counties; Brianna Goode, IDOH Farm to School Coordinator; and Anna Holloway, IDOH Farm to School Value Chain Coordinator

Track: Program & Project Development

Description: The Purdue Extension Digital Transformation Team will discuss Extension's role in advancing Digital Access in Indiana, including highlighting opportunities across all program areas and introducing a new Digital Literacy Toolkit.

Presenters: Carly Holland, HHS Extension Educator, Rush County; Andrea Hatfield, Community Development & ANR Educator, Boone County; Cindy Barber, Community Development Educator, Daviess County; Gina Avila- Community Development Educator, Porter County

Track: Program & Project Development

Description: Cass County, while rural, defies expectations with its impressive diversity. Home to Logansport Memorial Hospital (LMH), this county exemplifies a blend of cultures within its rural landscape. However, despite this diversity, the Logansport Memorial Hospital (LMH) has faced challenges in educating patients from various linguistic backgrounds about safe sleep practices. The changing demographics of Cass County, including a growing Hispanic and Haitian population, have highlighted the need for effective communication and education in these communities. Recognizing this gap, Purdue University’s Community Transformation Team played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration between Cass County Doulas from the Hispanic and Haitian communities and Logansport Memorial Hospital's Labor and Delivery nurses. Together, we created a culturally tailored Safe Sleep story with assistance from an outside vendor. This unique course, available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, utilizes a story-based approach to convey essential safe sleep information to new mothers and families in a language and format they understand. The course was developed iteratively, with continuous input and support. LMH collaboration with doulas and Purdue epitomizes an innovative framework for transcending linguistic and cultural barriers in healthcare education. As a vanguard of inclusive healthcare, the forthcoming Safe Sleep course presents a groundbreaking solution for delivering vital information to multifaceted populations. We plan to expand this transformative initiative to neighboring counties, with assistance from Purdue Extension, amplifying its potential to effect widespread positive change across Indiana.

Presenters: Tisha Reid, Lead Health Equity Analyst, Purdue University Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering/Statewide;
Angela Washburn, Senior Health Equity Analyst; Sylvia Saxena, Health Equity Analyst Purdue Center for Healthcare Engineering

Track: Program & Project Development

Description: Health First Indiana is a state investment in local public health to provide core services to the community. There are many opportunities for Purdue Extension to partner with local health departments to provide these core services. Join us to explore ideas and possibilities for collaborating with your local health department!

Presenters: Ashlee Sudbury, CWC Training Specialist, Nutrition Education Program; Mindy Duckett, CWC/State Specialist - Emergency Food Assistance, Fulton & Miami Counties; Beckie Lies, CWC/State Specialist - Local Foods & Community Gardens, St. Joseph & Marshall Counties; Jeff Walker, CWC/State Specialist - Physical Activity & Built Environment, Jennings, Ripley, & Dearborn Counties

Track: Program & Project Development

Description: Parenting while being incarcerated presents distinct challenges for children, parents, co-parents, and families. This session aims to delve into these challenges and offer educational prospects for individuals who are incarcerated to become the best parents they aspire to be. “Parenting a Different Way” also capitalizes on the unique qualities each parent possesses, fostering valuable insights and empowering them to further enhance these qualities. This program was collaboratively developed with the women residing in the Hearten House Homeless Shelter in DeKalb County.

Presenter: Angela Sorg, HHS Educator, DeKalb County