During the 2024-25 4-H program year, the Clark County Extension team reached 15,468 youth participants and delivered 6,155 hours of programming. The urban Extension team reached 12,654 youth participants, delivered 5,487 hours of programming, and delivered 421 programs at 113 program sites. Programs included community and afterschool clubs, special interest, school enrichment, afterschool programs, day and overnight camps and individual study options. The urban 4-H team reached 5,783 youths, delivered 3,836 hours of programming, and delivered 188 programs at 56 sites, 36% (n=2,068) of the urban 4-H youth participants completed program evaluation surveys.

The 4-H Thriving Model is the theory of change for positive youth development (PYD) in 4-H. High quality 4-H program settings provide youth with a place to belong, matter and explore their personal spark. These components help ensure that 4-H programs provide a nourishing developmental context – a place where youth can grow. In the 4-H Thriving Model, the process of positive youth development is described by using seven indicators of thriving: a growth mindset, openness to challenge and discovery, hopeful purpose, prosocial orientation, transcendent awareness, positive emotions and, goal setting and management. The evaluation instruments were adapted from the Mediating Effects of Thriving on Youth Development studies (Arnold & Gagnon, 2019). 

Of the participants who completed the 4-H Developmental Context Short Survey for short session workshops, most agreed that they valued the things they learned in 4-H. For questions pertaining to belonging and positive adult relationships, most of the participants agreed that adults in 4-H treated them fairly and helped them, and they felt respected and safe in 4-H. The positive responses indicate strong positive outcomes for sparks, belonging, and positive adult relationships. Most participants said they would come back for future 4-H classes.

Among participants in longer-term programs, a high satisfaction with 4-H was evident as most agreed that they really liked the things they did in 4-H and the majority agreed with the positive statements related to belonging and positive relationships with adults. The majority said they would come back again. The 4-H Thriving Youth survey has items in four scales—Willingness to Grow and Discover, Thoughts About the Future and Goals, Empathy and My Emotions, and Problem-Solving Skills. The analysis revealed statistically significant median increases in the scale scores from before to after on all four 4-H Thriving Youth scales on the post-reflective survey.

Artfully Expressing Ourselves! The program was evaluated separately. The post-reflective survey included items from four scales asking participants about their experience with the curriculum: elements of art, feelings towards art, art topics and expression, and art and identity. The analysis revealed statistically significant median increases in the scores from before to after on all four post-reflective survey scales.

Health Rocks!® applies 4-H’s successful Positive Youth Development model with life skill development and decision-making philosophy to the challenge of reducing tobacco, alcohol, e-cigarette/vaping and drug use. The program instills confidence and communication skills necessary to make responsible decisions and develop internal strength to resist risky behaviors. Analyses of the surveys revealed positive changes in youth’s feelings about their decision making, self-efficacy, well-being, and hopes for the future.

In summary, results of 4-H positive youth development programming show strong outcomes in the various areas of the 4-H Thriving Model. For youth who attended short-term sessions, the strongest results demonstrated an impact in youth sparks, positive adult relationships and belonging. For youth who attended longer 4-H programming, increases from before to after the program were demonstrated in participants’ perceptions of their willingness to grow and explore, set goals, strengthen empathy and positive emotions, and solve problems. Spark, positive adult relationships and belonging were also strong among the participants in the longer 4-H programming sessions.

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