June P. Mead
The results of the New York State 4-H Club Parent Study: Do 4-H Clubs Make a Difference? report have been distributed to the 43 counties, 4-H Youth Development Educators and Executive Directors who participated in the 4-H Club Parent Study. June P. Mead, study investigator, reports that the overall statewide findings will be distributed throughout the system in the near future.

Each of the 43 counties received a two-page summary of their county-specific study highlights suitable for sharing within their county, and a complete set of county-specific results, including parents' verbatim responses to the two open-ended questions on the survey: "Are there other ways 4-H has helped your child?" and "What can we do to improve your child's 4-H experience?"
A total of 1,314 parents representing 2,030 4-H members participated in the study. Parents reported statistically significant changes in their children in terms of all developmental assets tested. When asked how 4-H helps their children, parents reported their children developed long-term relationships with good role models; made friends with positive peer groups; increased self-confidence; and had opportunities to learn "things they never learn in school", things that will help them succeed in life, get into college, and choose careers. The study was supported by the CYFAR Program, National 4-H Headquarters, CSREES/USDA, and the New York State 4-H Foundation.
For more information, contact June P. Mead, jm62@cornell.edu.