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Janet E. Beyer, M.Ed.
Regional Extension Educator, Community Youth Development

Community Youth Development Educators in the University of Minnesota Extension Service act as catalyst, advocates and resources for adults and communities working with and on behalf of youth to promote positive learning and development in young people. Community youth development educators seek to:

1. Increase knowledge and change attitudes about out-of-school time opportunities among critical public, policy and practitioner audiences.
2. Enrich out-of-school time options for youth and enhance choices by youth, families and communities, and
3. Close the opportunity gap in out-of-school time experiences for cultural, racial, ethnic, gender, geographic and economic groups as one way to address achievement, health and connectedness gaps.

Education:

• M.Ed., Adult Education,
  University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
• B.S., Home Economics,
  University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

Areas of Expertise:

CURRENT

• Youth Work Matters—Professional Development Programs for youth workers offered in three formats: 24-hour Course can be taken for graduate credit or CEU’s; 4-8 hour workshops; and a web-based, self-paced on-line training program designed for volunteers in youth development programs
• Making the Case for Out of School (OST) Time—An educational CD package of resources that can be tailored for your audience, including PowerPoint presentations of research and statistics relating to out-of-school time and how it affects youth, families and the whole community; video clips featuring four of the most respected professionals in youth development; and activities and discussion guides to facilitate group discussion
• Community Youth Profiles and Community Building Program
• Regional support for Minnesota Commission for Out-of-School Time

PREVIOUS

• 28 years as a County 4-H Youth Development Program Educator

Research:

Current Research study “What’s UP” with Dr. Mary Marczak, University of Minnesota Associate Professor—Research and Evaluation on Youth and Family Development: A study relating to how youth and families make decisions about and spend their time in out-of-school hours. This study correlates with both the Making the Case for OST education package and the work of the Minnesota Commission on OST. Final report due by June 2004.

UMR Courses:

Youth Work Matters—24-hour course for youth professionals. Ceu’s and graduate credit available
—contact Beyer for details.

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