UMass Extension, Communities, Families and Youth Program

 Web Site:
  www.mass4h.org

 Address:
  Tillson House
  23 Tillson Farm Road
  Amherst, MA 01003-9261

 Contacts:

 Karen Barshefsky
 Phone: (413)577-0758
 Fax: (413)577-0760
            
 E-mail:
   karenb@umext.umass.edu

UMass Extension's Communities, Families and Youth Program partners with service providers of the Holyoke community through the provision of resources, trainings, and connections to the university. The mission of our program is to "provide youth and those who work with youth with supports and opportunities that prepare them to become contributing members of society."

The goals of our program are to: 1) build linkages between pre-existing youth serving groups, agencies and organizations in Holyoke; 2) build linkages between pre-existing youth serving groups, agencies and organizations in Holyoke and between UMass Extension's Communities, Families and Youth Program, other colleges, and other departments at the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus; 3) build upon and strengthen pre-existing programs by providing relevant youth development resource materials, curricula, information, nutrition education, and computer literacy skills to after school programs, groups, agencies and organizations; 4) increase opportunities for teens from various groups to interact with other teens throughout Holyoke and throughout the state; and 5) increase adult volunteer leadership skills and community connectedness.

To accomplish the above goals, specific content areas incorporating a variety of curricula have been identified. These content areas include, Life and Work Skills, Environmental Education and Stewardship, Science and Technology, and Youth/Adult leadership. Primary ages supported by our programs are 5-19 as well as adults who work with youth. Hours of operation vary depending upon specific programs.

There's a lot more to Umass Extension. Visit our website at: www.mass4h.org.