The ECOP Programs Sub-Committee is pleased to announce the launch of MiTTNet (Managing in Tough Times Network), a directory of existing educational programs and materials relevant to managing in these difficult times. The directory will be available through eXtension for use by Extension educators across the country. MiTTNet includes content for individual and family financial and stress management, farm and ranch financial and risk management, community economic development, and youth stress management and positive actions.

Based on these categories, the most critical issues now facing Extension clients were identified and existing, high-quality Extension resources to address them were sought and added. The directory provides easy access to materials Extension educators can download and use, saving them time and resources while accelerating the Extension response to clients. Embedded evaluation tools will help gauge the effectiveness of this model and help us perfect the process as we address this and future issues.

A national web conference to launch MiTTNet and to introduce this directory to Extension professionals will be held on Thursday, July 30, at 1 p.m. EASTERN, Noon CENTRAL, 11 a.m. MOUNTAIN, and 10 a.m. PACIFIC.  The web address for the conference is: http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/teammeeting/. 

* No registration is necessary.  * Five (5) minutes before the announced time of a session, go to the URL listed above. * Enter as a Guest. * When prompted, enter your name followed by your institution. (ex: Mary Smith, Penn State) * Due to the large turnout anticipated only the presenters will have telephone connections.  You will be able to ask questions via the Connect chat function.   * We will record this session so if you cannot attend the recording will be available for viewing at another time.

Moderators for the web conference will be Lyla Houglum, Director of Special Initiatives and Western Region Extension Executive Director and Jane Schuchardt, National Program Leader, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, USDA.  Individuals representing each of the four programmatic areas will offer features of content included in the directory.  A demonstration of how to use the directory will also be featured. 

To learn more about “Managing in Tough Times” contact Lyla Houglum at lyla.houglum@oregonstate.edu, Jane Schuchardt at jschuchardt@csrees.usda.gov, or Tom Coon, ECOP Programs Sub-Committee and Michigan State University Extension Director, coontg@msu.edu.