At two locations in the south central Washington community of Granger and the southwestern Washington city of Tenino, community volunteers called Web Wizards have provided free computer training to local kids and adults for the past two years.

A spring break program at Granger High provided more than 50 kids with an opportunity to play organized three-on-three basketball. Some also participated in a ropes challenge course, which gave them an opportunity to improve their teamwork skills. A block party capped the break activities.

After school 4-H programs in the neighboring communities of Tenino and Bucoda in southwest Washington are providing kids from kindergarten through the fifth grade with fun activities that provide learning opportunities as well. These kids also do regular community service projects.

What do all these programs and 17 others around the state have in common? They were all initiated by community partners interested in providing positive activities for children, youth and families. The programs are all the offspring of the three-year-old “Partners in Promoting Strength” (PIPS) program of Washington State University Cooperative Extension. The program has been funded by a $500,000 state strengthening grant from the Cooperative State, Research, Education, and the Extension Service of U.S. Department of Agriculture.

WSU Cooperative Extension’s PIPS program is part of a national Extension initiative to expand successful programs for children, youth and families at risk. The Washington State effort is led by Mary Deen and Louise Parker who secured grant funding in 1997. Deen is a Family and 4-H Youth Specialist in the Tri-Cities. Parker is a Family Economics Specialist at the WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center.

The money is used to strengthen Cooperative Extension’s capacity to reach audiences Extension has not reached in the past as well as support local programs, according to Deen.

Each summer a training is offered to assist community teams in the beginning steps of providing programs in their communities. Training is limited to 50 people. Invitations are extended to community partners by county extension offices across the state. Both extension faculty and community partners participate.

Community partners have included youth, volunteers, school personnel, newspaper employees, local business and chambers of commerce. “Basically, anybody who cares about their community,” Deen said.

Participants learn how to go about providing educationally sound programs that will benefit the whole community. The key is the groups plan programs based on the strengths and needs of their communities. According to Deen, the high community input and involvement in the development of the programs assures a greater likelihood that the programs will continue.

Groups from 20 counties have received training so far. The groups have returned home and created a variety of programs that have had an impact on their communities. One community group decided to build a bike park. Another built a park with play equipment for children. A third community began summer day camps for school-age children.

Adults and kids have benefitted. They have learned valuable life skills, including how to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence. They also have learned first aid, CPR and parenting skills.

“It has been really rewarding to see the communities take ownership,” Deen said. “We hope to expand the program in the next couple years.”