On Their Own & OK builds skills in youth, and incorporates ways for adults in the home to support this step towards independence. Youth can develop their self-care skills to make good decisions while staying home alone. With adequate education from parents, teachers, and community partners, young people can develop confidence in the skills they need for staying home alone safely.

On Their Own & OK reinforces how to act in an emergency, helps young people handle boredom without technology, recommends age-appropriate chores, and includes plans for a family celebration to continue to strengthen family relationships.

Youth-serving organizations in Iowa are encouraged to contact their local Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county office to explore partnership opportunities in administering this program.

Growing in the Garden: Local Foods and Healthy Living is designed for youth gardening programs, community neighborhood gardens, farm to school programs, Ag in the Classroom and Master Gardening projects for grades 4-12. The curriculum is very adaptable to other ages as well.

The seven units address questions such as:

• Why do people garden?
• How do you plan, plant, maintain and harvest a garden?
• How do you store and prepare garden produce?

Youth-serving organizations in Iowa are encouraged to contact their local Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county office to explore partnership opportunities in administering this program. Additional information on this program is available on the Connecting Learning and Living webpage.

Mindful Teen: From Surviving to THRIVING! is a six-lesson workshop series for youth in grades 7-12 based on the book The Mindful Teen: Powerful Skills to Help You Handle Stress One Moment at a Time by Dr. Dzung Vo, an Adolescent Medicine Specialist at British Columbia Children’s Hospital.

This interactive journal is for trained 4-H facilitators to print or purchase for participating youth, to accompany The Mindful Teen book and lessons. More information on Mindful Teen is available for Iowa 4-H staff in myExtension.