Programs: Grants: Building Community Inclusion
Funded by Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation
(BCI Program was finished in 2006; for informational purposes only.)
The Building Community Inclusion(BCI) program worked with 4-H sites during 2004-2005 that had a desire to advocate for youth-adult partnerships and change the local, state or national view of inclusion of youth of all abilities in community programs. The program enabled sites to provide support for inclusion of youth with disabilities in youth/adult partnerships through youth roles in governance. Youth worked in partnership with adults on local community governance groups to implement community awareness activities and inclusive programs.
Program goals include:
creating opportunities for communities to create and adapt current programming into inclusive and accessible opportunities for all youth, regardless of ability;
building the capacity of youth and adults to establish enduring partnerships designed to enhance their ability, skill and resource base in creating an inclusive environment for all youth, regardless of ability;
establishing the basis for a cultural shift and systemic change in the 4-H youth development movement in the ability and attitude of professionals, volunteers and participants to create inclusive environments for all youth, regardless of ability.
Program outcomes include:
100 percent of youth participating in this program will be involved in social activities with youth both with and without disabilities;
youth participating in this program will become more accepting of their peers regardless of ability through formal and non-formal educational and social activities;
staff, volunteers and organizations will model an attitude of willingness and will be able to include all youth, regardless of ability, in youth programming;
communities receiving funding will have created an atmosphere capable of including all youth, regardless of ability.
The BCI evaluation and promising practices reports will be posted for download on this web site. Please check back soon to access them as downloadable files.
For more information on the BCI program contact Sally Miske at smiske@fourhcouncil.edu
Recipients of Building Community Inclusion Grants:
Macon County 4-H, Illinois Cooperative Extension, IL
- Texas 4-H Center, Texas Cooperative Extension, TX
Texas 4-H CAPITAL, Travis County 4-H Program, TX
4-H Camp Howe, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Hanover Habitat for Humanity's 2005 YOUTH United, Virginia Cooperative Extension - Hanover Unit, VA
Shine Up and Step Out: "TRY-IT!"! Program, North Carolina State University, NC
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