Early-Career Challenges of Youth Development Extension Educators and Effective Strategies

Koralalage S. U. Jayaratne, Daniel P. Collins and Shannon B. McCollum
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Koralalage S. U. Jayaratne: Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7607, USA
Daniel P. Collins: 4-H Youth Development, Institute of Agriculture, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-4500, USA
Shannon B. McCollum: 4-H Youth Development, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7655, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-13

Abstract: The purpose of this research study was to determine the challenges faced by early-career youth development extension educators and strategies helpful in managing those challenges. This study used the modified Delphi method of three rounds with a specifically selected expert panel of 24 members to build consensus on the challenges that early-career youth development extension educators faced and managing strategies of those challenges. The expert panel of this Delphi study was selected from two south-eastern states in the U.S. based on their proven success and effectiveness in youth development extension programming in their respective counties. The three-round Delphi study led to building the consensus on 16 challenges faced by early-career youth development extension educators and 14 strategies helpful in managing those challenges. The findings of this study have implications for planning onboarding training programs for early-career youth development extension educators. Future research is needed to understand how identified strategies contribute to managing early-career challenges faced by youth development extension educators.

Keywords: 4-H youth development; extension educators; early-career challenges; strategies; onboarding training (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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