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Hood River County Demonstration Site

Program Description

Staff Contact: Billie Stevens

Hood River County, located along the Columbia River, is characterized by an economy based on agriculture, lumber, and recreation. Latinos comprise 17% of the county's population of nearly 17,000, and numbers are expected to increase. In a series of community-oriented focus groups held in the spring of 1997, middle school youth were identified as a segment of the Latino population in Hood River County that was poorly served and at high risk.

Working in partnership with Latino community members and administrators in the Hood River School District, the 4-H Youth Development Program designed the Hood River County Oregon Outreach Project in the fall of 1997. The project provides an after-school program for middle school youth, but in support of that focus, also has a family and adult educational component. (See Vision/Mission and Goals/Objectives.)

The OOPS After School Program and the OOPS Summer Day Camps are the focus of enrichment opportunities for Hispanic/Latino youth 11-14 years of age. The program is offered twice weekly for two-hour sessions at a local middle school. The program's objectives are to create cultural awareness, pride, and understanding and to develop life skills, including leadership and computer skills. The summer day camp program offers activities addressing the same educational objectives as well as recreational opportunities. High school students assist with activities as teen leaders.

Other youth programs supported by the project include summer and winter soccer leagues and volunteer-led 4-H clubs. The soccer leagues involve youth in grades K-12 and provide youth with recreation and an opportunity to develop social skills including decision-making, conflict resolution , and problem-solving. The 4-H clubs enroll youth K-12 and focus on cultural arts, particularly dance.

A secondary component of the project is the Computer Literacy Technology Program that provides basic computer training to parents and children. The objectives are to teach basic computer skills and Internet connectivity, encourage child/parent interaction, and provide a positive experience in schools for Hispanic/Latino families. The training consists of a series of weekly sessions offered at schools located throughout the county.

The Hood River demonstration site is also involved in efforts to increase the participation of Hispanic/Latino adults in the community and reinforce their leadership skills. Project staff members have collaborated with other community groups to offer a Cultural Sensitivity Workshop for members of the community and Board Member Training Workshops focusing on cultural values and how to become involved with community groups and boards. At the beginning of the project, staff assisted in the development of a coalition that fosters the involvement of the Latino community in the greater Hood River County community.

All programs offered involve collaboration with community partners. Major collaborators have included the Hood River County School District, Community Education, The Oregon Arts Foundation, The STARS Foundation, The Oregon Historical Society, Mid-Columbia Folklore Society, Latino and Latino-serving organizations, the Commission on Children and Families, local churches, local government, and individuals from the private sector. Their collaborative contributions have provided facilities for programs, staff time for teaching, transportation, and program activity funds.

[The above text describes Oregon Outreach activities in Hood River County during the 5-year span of the CYFAR State-Strengthening Grant that ended in 2002. For information about more recent activities, contact the OSU Extension staff member identified at the top of the page.]

For more program details, see Key Outcomes.