Georgia County Government - July 2008 - (Page 36)

EXTENSION continued from page 35 Like 4-H programs in Georgia, Summit programs account for the latest research on positive youth development in their design and implementation. The national 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development, the first longitudinal study of its kind, shows that providing youth with the opportunity to connect with caring adults, acquire skills and make decisions about issues affecting them has a major, positive impact. When engaging in these types of interactions, not only are youths less likely to participate in risky behaviors like underage drinking, smoking, bullying or vandalism, but they are more likely to become competent, caring, confident individuals who have character and are connected to their communities. Before attending the Summit, county teams will meet and complete pre-conference work assignments that require them to research issues affecting their communities. At the Summit, participants will interact with subject matter experts and become engaged with issues related to cconomic development, education, health and safety. ACCG Executive Director Jerry Griffin will be one of four subject matter experts to open the Summit, as he educates delegates on the role that County Officials Sought as Resources s the 2008 Georgia Youth Summit planning committee finalizes preparations for the 4th Biennial Georgia Youth Summit, the focus is sharply on the interaction between young people and adults. Moving from youths and adults simply “working together” to the incorporation of fully integrated youth-adult partnerships is one of the cornerstones on which the Georgia Youth Summit is predicated. Opportunities abound for county officials to play an integral role. As county teams develop action plans designed to address critical issues their communities, they will need to know who, what, and where the resources are that they will need to execute their plans. They will need to learn how to access those resources. County officials are the most knowledgeable sources of information of this type. Your knowledge and skills as a resource “educator” are needed to make the experience a complete one for Summit delegates. If your county does not yet have an adult leader pledged to support and direct your county’s delegation of teens, then there is another opportunity for you to get involved. The youth delegates who have traditionally been selected to represent their counties are some of the most inspired, most motivated young people in our state. You will discover a true joy in working with youth who are inspired to become civically engaged. If you are interested in playing a role, please contact Jeff Buckley in the State 4-H Office at (706) 542-4444 or jbuckley@uga.edu. – By Jeff Christie, ACCG Cooperative Extension Liaison economic development plays in building strong and viable communities. A distinguished group of experts from the other issue areas will join Griffin in setting the stage for the work of the Summit. County teams will then meet, share and interact with other county teams from within their Service Delivery Area to discuss the issues most relevant to them. Strong relationships between youths and adults are crucial to the Summit process. The wealth of research on best practices in this area will drive the participants in the community analysis and action phases of the Summit. Delegates will receive Youth and Adult Partnership training, in which youths learn to effectively communicate their opinions and adult leaders learn to listen to young people’s ideas and provide them the opportunity to have meaningful input and to make meaningful decisions. Once a county team has identified the issue it would like to target, team members will decide how they plan to address that issue and what resources will be needed to help meet their objectives. Volunteers with knowledge of both local and state government, along with awareness of available resources, will work with county teams to connect them with potential collaborators as they develop their action plan. A Members of the 2008 Youth Summit Planning Committee confer as final preparations are made. Members are (L to R): Dimple Bansal, Gwinnett County; Ian Cowie, Lumpkin County Extension Agent; Hillary Thornton, Charlton County; and Sameisha Tucker, Baldwin County. 36 GEORGIA COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - June 2008

Georgia County Government - June 2008 Contents President’s Message County Matters Laurens, Treutlen and Wheeler Counties Work Together to Leverage Economic Development 2008 Hurricane Season Forecast to be Active GDEcD: Georgia Is Bolstering International Marketing Efforts U.S. Communities Announces Auto Parts Service Contract Energy Innovation Center Opens in Warner Robins Coweta County Uses Innovative Road Construction Techniques Counties & The Law: An Analysis of Ten Commandments Displays in Georgia Courthouses Georgia’s Grand Old Courthouses: Talbot County Extension News: Youth Summit Teaches Civic Engagement Research Corner: Train Me! NACo News: NACo Seeks Obesity Prevention Programs County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - June 2008

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