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Programs and Projects
Growing Rural – With funding from the Ball Brothers Foundation
between 2007 and 2010, CROPS developed an innovative, educational, and
entrepreneurial program that is creating leaders for our future and it
can be replicated anywhere. Branding the Growing Rural model to align
with a farming theme, CROPS’ youth-led rural development model includes
six simple steps: 1) community and youth development needs assessments
(Field Analysis), 2) leadership development (Soil Preparation), 3)
service learning that aligns to Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math (Seed Planting), 4) social innovation and cultural enrichment
(Plant Nourishment), 5) measurable community and youth development
outcomes (Crop Harvesting), and 6) continuous improvement processes
(Land Enrichment.) CROPS staff and Board is available to provide
training to replicate the program nationally.
CROPS’ Health Network Center - resulted from a planning grant
awarded by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health
Resources and Services Administration in 2007. The purpose of the Health
Network Center is to increase access to rural health care through
increased collaboration, increased technology, increased efficiency, and
sharing of resources. Members of the CROPS’ Health Network have
expertise in electronic health records, telemedicine, medical fitness,
health education, dental health education, hospital administration,
state legislation, marketing, communications, and grant writing.
www.healthnetworkcenter.org
Art of the Dollar – is an interactive web-based grant writing
training program for youth. Funded by the Ball Brothers Foundation in
2010, the Art of the Dollar will be available by September 2010. The
course provides youth with information on how to identify and prioritize
rural development projects, find funding resources and develop winning
grant applications. Examples of winning youth-led projects and grant
applications are included in the training. Onsite follow-up training can
be provided by CROPS staff and Board upon request.
San Pierre Revitalization Project – CROPS’ work in San Pierre has
led to increases in youth volunteerism, adult mentorship, donors, grant
awards, collaborating partners, town meetings, products, and services
and has produced improvements in community facilities, health and
wellness programs, social interaction, public speaking, academic
performance, vocational skills, confidence, leadership and civic
engagement. We have generated $300,000 in funding for a small
unincorporated town that had never received a grant, helped 25% of our
youth volunteers obtain scholarships, and trained youth to write winning
grant proposals, including two from the Indianapolis Colts. In San
Pierre, we transformed a virtually unusable San Pierre Lions Club
building into a community asset that is finding new life as a church.
Current projects include a Sandhill Crane Bikeway System, San Pierre
Skate Park, and Historic Preservation of WPA Stone Bleachers. |
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