Program Planning Task Force to Provide Training During Mid-Management Centra On May 11, 2010

Program Planning Conferences are one of the most important meetings conducted by a District Extension Administrator/County Extension Director and Regional Program Directors. This process provides an excellent venue to coach, motivate and encourage County Extension Agents.

As District Extension Administrators/County Extension Directors and Regional Program Directors begin thinking about establishing a Program Planning process that is part of a performance management system it is important remember that a program planning continuum is a series of related activities which includes the following;

• Distribution of Program Planning documents that provides expectations for programming, outlines key elements of plan (planning tasks with committees and task forces, marketing tasks, a series of sequential educational events, outlines evaluation methodologies, and outlines interpretation of results to elected officials and stakeholders, etc).
• Program Development Trainings and Workshops.
• Specialist Scheduling.
• Program Planning Conference.
• Plan review and feedback.
• Plan approval.
• Coaching and Feedback by District Extension Administrators and Regional Program Directors during the implementation of programs.
• Program Appraisal- this is where accomplishments are reviewed and goals for improvement in the future are established.
  

In an effort to improve processes related to program planning a program planning conference task force has been appointed. This task force has conducted a comprehensive review our program planning conference process and will be providing middle managers with recommendations during the Mid-Management Centra on May 11, 2010. The task force members include the following;

• Dr. Elaine Fries- Chairperson
  
• Hurley Miller
• Miles Dabovich
• Vincent Manniino
• Marvin Ensor
• Dr. Ruben Saldana
• Dr. Galen Chandler
• Dr. Susan Ballabina
  

This task force has been asked to accomplish the following;

1. Establish agency goals and objectives for program planning. These goals needs to be clear and concise and aimed to move our agency to the next level not just "we are going to plan good programs".
2. Review all current pre-conference documents developed to assist agents in preparation for program planning and establish consistent documents or templates to assist agents.
   
3. Review all current agendas and areas of emphasis for program planning and establish a consistent set of agendas and points of emphasis.
4. Review all processes associated with program planning and establish some best practices that are designed to ensure quality control.
   

As District Extension Administrators /County Extension Directors and Regional Program Directors work with agents in developing programs in the future it is important to ensure that we are...

1. Focusing our efforts.
2. Developing our agents.
3. Optimizing our results.
4. Communicating our results to decision makers.
   

Remember, success in Extension is by design--it just does not happen! Extension Program Planning Conferences are the venue that District Extension Administrators/County Extension Directors and Regional Program Directors utilize to establish plans that will result in success.