Missouri's Bootheel Career Exploration Project : a demonstration rural career education pilot modeled on 4-H
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Funding: A career exploration youth project, funded on March 22, 1973, with $100,000 in 1890 Extension Service USDA Grant Special Project funds, was initiated in a six-county area of southeast Missouri. (See Appendix A). The program, primarily for seventh through twelfth grade youth in nine schools, representing six school districts, was designed to aid disadvantaged youth in identifying and preparing for career opportunities. The three-year project enabled youths to assess their own strengths and capabilities in examining various career options. Funding for the project came through the Extension Service-USDA 1890 Land Grant Special Project funds in the amount of $50,000 for FY 73-74; $34,343 for FY 74-75; and $15,657 for FY 75-76. · Leadership Lincoln University, Missouri's 1890 Land Grant institution, initiated the project in cooperation with the University of Missouri-Columbia. The project's direct local leadership came from the director of extension in the Bootheel Extension Program Planning Area and the area youth specialist. Counsel and advice was provided on a continuing basis from Lincoln University's campus through its state youth career specialist. Technique: Small study groups meeting in schools, field trips, individual counseling and youth involvement in the preparation of a slide-tape directory were employed as project educational activities. Community organizations and agencies were involved in working with an advisory council in designing and carrying out the program. The Smith-Lever concept of developing adult awareness, by working through youth, was one of the paramount reasons why the Cooperative Extension 4-H model was proposed and used. The nature of the modified 4-H special activity project enabled close coordination with the parents of these primarily rural, minority-group, disadvantaged youth. The traditionally more structured school program would not, it is believed, have been as effective in meeting desired objectives. Scope: In 1973, a total of 7,000 youth were surveyed utilizing appropriate instruments designed to measure career interests and aptitudes. From this larger sample, 560 youth developed their own career profiles, career plans and career calendars. Of these, 150 were singled out for in-depth study and individualized work. Career assistants (high school counselors paid by the project for evening and weekend work) assisted these 150 youths and their families. The results indicated that 134 of the 150 met or exceeded the objectives established for the project, i.e., to find satisfactory, above minimum wage employment. Interest to other institutions: This pilot project, because of its design (to serve disadvantaged rural youth) will have appeal to other institutions interested in reaching poor youth living in areas with similar geographical and environmental characteristics.
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Provided for historical documentation only. Check Missouri Extension and Agricultural Experiment Station websites for current information.
Provided for historical documentation only. Check Missouri Extension and Agricultural Experiment Station websites for current information.