2007 Walter Barnard Hill Award for Distinguished Achievement in University Public Service and Outreach

Joanne S. Cavis

Joanne S. Cavis, county extension coordinator and family and consumer sciences agent for Muscogee County, Ga., leads numerous outreach extension programs designed to address issues such as child development, child abuse and neglect, parental education, childcare provider training, and financial literacy. During 26 years of service, she has educated the public about these issues through workshops, demonstrations, newspaper articles, radio spots and a weekly 30-minute television show.

Cavis has been awarded more than $4 million in grant funding to develop and support community-based outreach initiatives. More than 3,800 parents and nearly 5,000 children have benefited from the Positive Parenting Program: Play and Learn Together, which was designed and first implemented in 1990. Through the program, parents learn how to become their child’s first teacher, how to nurture their children, and infant and child development stages.

Cavis supports program design and leads teacher workshops for the annual daylong Early Childhood Institute. More than 5,500 childcare providers have participated since 1989, learning how to provide effective and safe care for children during and after school.

In 1987, she facilitated establishment of the Columbus Regional Chartered Council on Child Abuse. Cavis also helped establish the Columbus Children, Youth and Family Coalition, which later became the Columbus Family Connection. As a Coalition board member, she helped write the organizational handbook, served as chair of the standards of excellence committee, led board retreats, and trained members in ways to serve as family advocates.

In addition to children and families, Cavis also led a community-wide effort — called Columbus Saves — designed to teach youth and adults how to save money. By 2004, participants were on track to save more than $1 million.