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“THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY 4-H AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY PROGRAM WINS SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE'S HONOR AWARD” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1234-E1235 on June 17, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY 4-H AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY PROGRAM WINS SECRETARY
OF AGRICULTURE'S HONOR AWARD
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HON. STEPHEN HORN
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, June 17, 1997
Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate the Los Angeles County 4-
H After School Activity Program for exemplary work in helping at-risk youth overcome many barriers and realize their dreams. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman presented the program with one of the 1997 Department of Agriculture Secretary's Honor Awards.
Some of the best legislation the House has passed so far in this term is designed to improve opportunities for America's at-risk youth. The historic juvenile justice reform bill we approved last month will help deter children from going down the path of crime. By removing work disincentives and fostering a more diverse mix of families in public housing, the landmark public housing bill the House also passed last month will give children who live in public housing more adult role models who work.
The Los Angeles County 4-H After School Activity Program is a step ahead of the federal government in improving the lives of underprivileged children in the nation's second-largest metropolitan area. Administered by the University of California, the program provides a positive, nurturing environment for children ages 7 to 13 who live in public housing. These children are young enough for positive adult role models to have an impact on their lives. But without this program, they could well fall victim to the pressure to join a gang, drop out of school when they get older, or get caught in the terrible trap of drug addiction.
The program was organized in the wake of the 1992 riots. It was so successful that it quickly grew to serve more than 1,500 children in Los Angeles County. Children attend the program 2 to 5 days a week from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and they participate in homework assistance and tutoring sessions, learn-by-doing projects, physical recreation, and community service projects. The children's projects focus on subjects ranging from gardening and plant science to computers, from photography and video to leadership development. The 4-H program also expects older children to participate as peer role models who can assist with special projects.
In a refreshing example of a wide range of organizations working together to improve their community, the program is run as a collaborative effort involving educational, governmental, business, and other organizations. The University of California Cooperative Extension provides overall administrative support and staff, with other support coming from the Unocal Corp., the Los Angeles Unified School District, the City of Los Angeles Housing Authority, the Corporation for National Service, the National 4-H Council, and the California 4-H Foundation.
The After School Activity Program has had a major impact on the lives of the participating children. Seventy percent of participants' teachers noted some or much improvement in the children's interest in schoolwork and their ability to solve problems. More than 60 percent of the teachers also reported some or much improvement in participants' ability to adapt to new situations and in their cooperation levels with peers. The children participating have seen a positive impact on their lives: 96 percent say they feel safe at 4-H, and 85 percent say 4-H helps them stay out of gangs.
Too many urban children have no positive role models, so they turn to gangs for acceptance. Too many children in our cities have underdeveloped academic skills, so they face an even steeper hill to climb when they grow up and have to find a job. Too many inner-city children see little hope in their lives, so they seek false solace in drugs and alcohol. The Los Angeles County 4-H After School Activity Program is saving L.A. children from lives of despair. This innovative program is a collaborative effort that is making a real difference in children's lives. My congratulations and deepest appreciation go to George Rendell, who is the director of the University of California's Los Angeles County Cooperative Extension, Resource Development Coordinator Ray Grabinski, and all the dedicated staff members, volunteers and other community-minded individuals who have made this program an outstanding success.
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