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development of human and social community resources directly related to
family living.
"Extension programs are designed to assist adults and youth in obtaining
non-credit education in a setting which will help them understand today's
concerns and determine future directions." The impact of economic fluctua-
tion, social change, changing food supply and changing environment are
identified as the major areas of concern. The report, with its accompanying
literature, is a study of the social and economic concerns of the family
in this
decade. 13
Cooperation With Other Resources
The 1957 state legislature in Chapter 431 of the state laws sanctioned
the broad scope of cooperative extension. The legislative action recognized
cooperation with other agencies. The home economics extension staff had
previously worked closely with the state department of health and social
ser-
vices, with the county nurses, county welfare workers, home economics
teachers and other social and business groups. In areas where migrant workers
come into the state in the summer, special programs had been developed for
them. Indian families on and off the reservations had often been helped by
home economics extension workers. The extension home economists shared
responsibility with agricultural engineering specialists in helping families
get
running water, septic tanks, efficiently arranged and equipped kitchens,
and
remodeled homes. Horticultural specialists worked with the extension home
economists on gardening, orchards, and food storage. Extension agents helped
set up emergency programs for collecting metal scrap and milk weed pods (for
life jackets) during World War II. In the emergency, special emphasis was
given to food production and storage. Labor recruitment for farms and
orchards were extension's responsibility in war time. Home economics
specialists shared in the recruitment and supervision of over 3,000 young
people to pick cherries. Extension cooperated with three major farm or-
ganizations - the Farm Bureau, the Grange, and the Farmers' Union, by pro-
viding programs at meetings and camps. Extension also cooperated with farm
security in their farm and home financial aid and management program. The
health, housing and economic needs of migrant workers were recognized as
major areas of concern - and home economics extension responded with
programs to improve the health, housing and economic situation of the
migrant workers.
These are but a few examples of cooperative work with other groups. Ex-
tension also shared in programs of other agencies and they, in turn, helped
carry out extension programs. The ultimate goal was to help families achieve
their goals.
4-H Club Work
Four-H club work is one arm of cooperative extension and has been in-
strumental in disseminating reliable home economics information.14
In the early years of 4-H club work most clubs were in rural areas and
villages. Now the program has expanded into urban areas and members may
select a wide variety of projects, many representing family economics, en-
vironmental factors, aesthetics, and community organization.
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