Kansas State University

The Kansas 4-H Thriving Study - Wave Two

Submitted by Sarah E. Maass

The week of June 16, Kansas 4-H will be conducting the second wave of the 4-H Thriving Model evaluation. We will be inviting 4-H youth to participate in a survey to tell us about their experience in 4-H. The survey is designed to help Kansas 4-H understand how youth are thriving in 4-H.

Parents of youth in grades 3 and up will receive an email with an electronic survey link. Parents will be asked to share the electronic survey link with their child in order to follow consent practices. 

This is going to be an easy lift for you as a local Extension professional.  We ask that you promote and encourage your 4-H members to participate.  At the end of this article is an optional newsletter article you can use in your 4-H newsletters.

4-H families may ask you about this survey. Here’s what you can do:

• Encourage youth to respond! This data will help us share the impact of 4-H programs in Kansas.
• Direct any questions to Samantha Grant (samgrant@ksu.edu), Evaluation Consultant, or Sarah Maass (semaass@ksu.edu) or 785-532-5800. 

• If parents do not want their child(ren) to participate in this study, they can simply delete the message. Two reminders will also be sent to all participants who have not completed the survey. There is no impact on 4-H programming, and staff will never know who completed and who did not complete the survey. 
• We will have incentives for the youth.  Depending on the number of responses we receive, we will offer five to seven scholarships to 4-H members to attend state 4-H educational opportunities.

In early September, we plan to have local data ready for you to share in your end-of-year reports to share with your Extension Boards and stakeholders. 

Thank you for promoting and supporting the Kansas 4-H Thrive evaluation!

Optional Email and/or Newsletter Article:

Kansas 4-H Thriving Study – We Want to Hear From 4-H Members!

Mid-June, Kansas 4-H will be conducting the second wave of the 4-H Thriving Model evaluation. Members in grades 3 and up will be invited to participate in a survey to tell us about their experience in 4-H. The survey is designed to help Kansas 4-H understand how youth are thriving in 4-H.  While the survey is optional, we would love to hear from every member. 

Emails will be sent to the parents emails we have on file in 4-H Online with an electronic survey link. Parents will be asked to share the electronic survey link with their child(ren). 

Here are some key things to know:

• The goal is for the first survey to go out the week of June 16.  Two reminders will be sent to all participants who have not completed the survey.  The survey will close mid-July.
• This data will help us share the impact of 4-H programs in Kansas.  By responding, your child(ren) will help us tell the story of Kansas 4-H. 

• If you do not want your child(ren) to participate in this study, you can simply delete the message. There is no impact on 4-H programming, and Extension Agents will never know who completed and who did not complete the survey. 
• Direct any questions to Samantha Grant (samgrant@ksu.edu), Evaluation Consultant, or Sarah Maass (semaass@ksu.edu), State 4-H Program Leader, or 785-532-5800. 

Thank you for supporting Kansas 4-H as we continue “To Make the Best Better!”