Serving Those Who Serve America
This morning, I was privileged to represent
USDA at a Military Families Summit hosted at the University of Maryland and
organized with us by the Department of Defense Military Community and Family
Policy program. More than 300
leaders who provide support to military families – including the
office of the Secretary of Defense, the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, the
National Guard and Reserve, land-grant universities, and other non-governmental
partners – also attended the event to review the Defense Department’s
commitment to family support and readiness, the status of military families, and
challenges military families will experience in the future.
Why was USDA at this event in the first
place? For one thing, we have more
20 years of experience in partnering with the different military branches
providing educational programs and support for military youth and families on
bases and installations and in local communities. In 2009, for example, more
than 24,000 youth participated in 248 4-H club programs on bases and
installations in the United States and around the world. These programs offer the mentorship,
guidance, and restored sense of pride that many children of military parents
lose when they have limited support around.
Currently, 24 extension staff members are on
direct assignment with the military services providing important leadership and
working in partnership with service personnel to deliver quality 4-H youth
development programs; more than other 240 4-H professionals work in support of
this partnership
across the United States. More than 75 Cooperative Extension staff members are working
with Army bases in Texas alone to address some of the most critical needs being
faced by military families (i.e., health, nutrition, financial management, and
family stress). Our Extension
staff, in partnership with military services, has developed nine new curricula
or programs in 2009 that address important issues for military families such as
health, nutrition, stress, and leadership.DOD and military families benefit directly
from an extensive cooperative extension network that spans nearly every county
in the United States. The Defense
Department supports these programs through USDA’s National Institute of Food
and Agriculture (NIFA), which in turn partners with several land-grant
universities who work with the extension agents to provide support to military
families.
Today’s Military Families Summit offered me a
great opportunity to renew and reaffirm this relationship. We announced today
formation of an expanded joint effort between NIFA and DOD. The partnership will focus on three
overall areasa: community capacity
building in support of military families, workforce development, and
strengthening family, child care, and youth development programs.
As the nation this week honors the service
and sacrifices of our military members – and their families – we can be very
proud of the role that USDA plays in reaching out and helping those families in
the United States and abroad.
Rajiv Shah is Under Secretary for Research, Education, and
Economics.
Permalink |
Posted:
02:56PM Nov 10, 2009
by USDAblogger in USDA Web Site |
Tuesday Nov 10, 2009
