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Name: White, Rebecca E.
Title: Professor
Specialization: Family Development, Evaluation
E-mail:
Department: Family & Child Development
Organization: LSU AgCenter
Address 1: 221 Human Ecology
Address 2: Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone Number: (225) 578-3921
Fax Number: (225) 578-2697

Education/Training

Dr. White is an Associate Professor in the LSU Ag Center’s School of Human Ecology. She serves as a family and child development specialist for the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service’s Family and Consumer Sciences Program. She is responsible for leading child development educational programs including the Louisiana Child Care Provider Training Program, the Be Child Care Aware public awareness campaign, the Character Critters program, and various family literacy programs. Dr. White is responsible for fund development, program design, implementation, coordination, accountability and evaluation of these programs. Her current professional emphasis is on securing increased funding for programs that help families and children improve their lives.

Education

1977 B. S. Home Economics Education, Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe LA
1983 M. S. Home Economics Education, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston LA
2001 Ph.D. Educational Leadership and Research, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

Dissertation - Professional Culture and Efficacy Correlates of Organizational Effectiveness in Cooperative Extension Services
Professional Experience

29 Years with LSU Ag Center - Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service

07/01/02 – present
Associate Professor/Extension State Specialist, School of Human Ecology, LSU AgCenter

06/12/95 – 06/30/02
Extension Associate, Family and Consumer Sciences, LSU AgCenter

11/15/90 – 06/11/95
Extension Parish Chair, Lincoln Parish, LSU AgCenter

10/01/90 – 06/11/95
Extension Home Economist, Lincoln Parish, LSU AgCenter

03/19/90 – 09/30/90
Extension Associate Home Economist, Lincoln Parish, LSU AgCenter

01/01/78 – 03/18/90
Extension Assistant Home Economist, Lincoln Parish, LSU AgCenter

09/01/77 – 12/31/77
Extension Assistant Home Economist, Morehouse Parish, LSU AgCenter

Recent Professional Accomplishments

Organizational Grant Development – Since 1995 developed grant proposals totaling over nineteen million dollars for the LSU AgCenter. Grant proposals funded in the amount of $5,598,975. Prior to organizational restructuring in 2004 enhanced organizational capacity at grant writing by working with over 15 field and state faculty in gaining skill at grant writing. Proposals have address development of Extension programs for parenting education, childcare provider education, family literacy, fathering, character education, community development, youth tobacco use prevention, after school enrichment, food safety, workforce preparation and substance abuse prevention.

Character Critter s - 2000 - to present. Serves as Project Director for Character Critters, developed with Leslie Cooper Parsons. This character education program has four components: character themed stories and activities for preschoolers, parent and child take home educational activities, storybooks and parenting for character presentations. The program was designed for trained volunteers to teach six concepts of character to children through the telling of 12 appealing stories about cute animals. Participating children receive a take-home storybook and take-home, parent-child character development activities to encourage parent involvement in character development of their young children. Educational presentations can be presented to parents at parent meetings on instilling character traits in young children.

Since 2000, over 5,000 volunteer resource kits have been placed with volunteers and used in preschool classrooms, child care centers, libraries, and churches with preschoolers. Over 8,000 volunteers including early childhood educators and child care providers have been trained as storytellers and several hundred thousand preschool children have been told the stories. Character Critter storybooks (115,000) have been given to parents to read to their children.  Louisiana Extension faculty have been provided implementation resources, training, civic presentations, public displays to help them implement the program in local communities.

Character Critters program evaluation revealed positive program impacts. The vast majority of teachers, early caregivers and parents (over 95%) reported gaining knowledge of practices to develop early understanding of character concepts in children and expressed intent to adopt recommended child development practices. Extensive teacher use of the resource with children has been documented. Children were reported by teachers and parents to have developed an awareness of positive character traits in a way that has meaning in their young lives. This popular program is also being implemented in many other states and three foreign countries.

Child Care Provider Training Program – since 2000. Dr. White has served as Program Director since inception providing leadership for program initiated to help fulfill state-mandated training of child care professionals. Training typically occurs in three hour sessions. Twelve hours of continuing education are required of each child care providers in Louisiana annually. Over 30,000 three-hour training certificates have been awarded to date in this statewide program involving over 45 Family and Consumer Sciences Extension agents involved. State and federal grants have provided for organizational salary savings, new personnel and resources to enhance outreach to child care providers. Program evaluation conducted with child caregivers clearly demonstrates positive program impact on child caregivers. Child care providers showed statistically significant knowledge gain after all four training sessions in the Right from Birth training series. Evidence indicates that child care providers are using the information they learned, implementing and sustaining more recommended care practices beneficial to children.

Be Child Care Aware – 2003 - present. As Project Director for the Be Child Care Aware public awareness campaign, Dr. White has focused attention on issues of quality child care. Responsible for leading a grant funded coordinated effort involving family development staff and 7 LSU Communications Specialists. Funding from state and federal sources has provided for organizational salary savings, new staff and resources to conduct a statewide multi-media approach involves news print and radio information outreach, publications for parents and caregivers, public displays, multi-media presentations, and website development. News articles are provided to 63 news papers and radio public service announcement are provided to 68 radio stations throughout Louisiana.

Family Literacy and Effective Parenting Projects (EKL Born to be a Reader/ Take a Break with Your Kid/ The Little Bookshelf ) – 2003 - present. Dr. White serves as Project Director for these family literacy projects in collaboration with the LSU Mid-City Pediatric Clinic and the Earl K. Long Hospital Maternity Ward. Family literacy packets are provided for parents as they are dismissed from the hospital maternity ward with their new baby. Materials include literature highlighting the importance of quality parent and infant time, early literacy activities, and child health. When parents of 2 week old infants come in for 1st pediatric check at the clinic they are given a parent packet that includes a soft cover vinyl book, literature on importance of early literacy activity for infants, a child development calendar and other resources that foster quality parent-child interaction. Parents can also receive a small bookshelf and a book a month for the 1st year of their baby life to encourage family literacy activity.

Youth Development in Vinnitsa, Ukraine – 2001. Served as a consultant to LSU AgCenter international project to provide Ukrainian Center for Private Farmer Training and Outreach Center personnel with information on positive youth development theory and application strategies; continue work on the public forum/citizen input process; and assess the feasibility of and develop with staff a model for a youth development program. Focus group evaluation was conducted with Vinnitsa region school faculty to determining viability of youth development program.
Awards/Grants

Awards

Award of Excellence - LSU Mid-City Pediatric Clinic for pediatric literacy leadership, 2006

Gamma Sigma Delta – Louisiana Chapter – Extension Award, 2004

International Award, Alpha Alpha Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi, 2003

USDA Honor Award for Enhancing Capacity for Rural Residents, Communities and Businesses, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, 2003

USDA Honor Award for Public Service, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, 1997

LA Delegate to NAEHE Public Issues Leadership Development Conference, 1993

Distinguished Service Award, Louisiana and National Association of Extension Home Economists, 1990

Distinguished Service Award, Louisiana and National Association of Extension 4-H Agents, 1990

Louisiana USDA Superior Service Award, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, 1986

Louisiana USDA Distinguished Service Award, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, 1986

Young Agents Award, Louisiana and National Association of Extension Home Economists, 1985

Grants and Contracts
2006-07 La Child Care Recovery Entrepreneurship and Training Program (LaCRET). Submitted to LA Department of Social Services with C. Gioe. Funded for $1,006,883. (10/1/06 – 9/30/07).

2006-07 La Child Care Provider Training Program. Submitted to LA Department of Social Services with C. Gioe. Funded for $251,400. (1/1/06 – 12/31/07)

2006-07 Take a Break With Your Kids. Submitted to La Children’s Trust Fund with C. Gioe. Funded for $7,000. (7/1/06 – 6/30/07).

2006-07 Childcare Assistance Program Public Awareness. Submitted to La. Department of Social Services with C. Gioe. Funded for $150,000. (7/1/06 – 6/30/07).

2006 Moving Ahead Together (MAT)). Submitted to USDA-CREES with D. Hurlbert. Funded for $50,000. (1/1/06 – 9/30/06).

2006 Child Care Quality Rating System Awareness. Submitted to La. Department of Social Services with C. Gioe. Funded for $150,000. (1/1/06 - 6/30/06).

2005-06 Collaboration for After School Education (CASE). Submitted to USDA-CREES with D. Hurlbert. Funded for $136,000. (4/1/05 – 3/31/06).

2005-06 Born to be a Reader. Submitted to La Children’s Trust Fund with C. Gioe. Funded for $8,000. (7/1/05 – 6/30/06).

2004-05 Collaboration for After School Education (CASE). Submitted to USDA-CREES with D. Hurlbert. Funded for $136,000. (4/1/04 – 3/31/05).

2004-05 Be Child Care Aware. Submitted to La. Department of Social Services with C. Gioe. Funded for $103,698. (10/1/04 – 9/30/05).

2004-05 La Child Care Provider Training Program. Submitted to LA Department of Social Services with S. Sasser. Funded for $288,750. (11/1/04 - 12/31/05).

2004-05 Born to be a Reader. Submitted to La Children’s Trust Fund. Funded for $10,000. (7/1/04 – 6/30/05).

2003-04 Collaboration for After School Education (CASE). Submitted to USDA-CREE with D. Hurlbert. Funded for $150,000. (4/1/03 – 3/31/04).

2003-04 Parents Make the Difference! Submitted to La Children’s Trust Fund with K. Evans. Funded for $12,000. (7/1/03– 6/30/04).

2003-04 Kids Under Construction. Submitted to La Children’s Trust Fund with D. Glasgow. Funded for $7,500. (7/1/03– 6/30/04).

2003-04 Parents Preparing for Success. Submitted to La. Department of Social Services with S. Sasser and A. Berry. Funded for $500,000.

2003-04 La Child Care Provider Training Program. Submitted to La. Department of Social Services with S. Sasser. Funded for $210,000.

2003-04 Be Child Care Aware. Submitted to La. Department of Social Services. Funded for $103,698.

2003-04 Dads are Dynamic. Submitted to La. Department of Social Services with T.Foster and D. Sasser. Funded for $111,956. (7/1/03– 6/30/04).

2003-04 Born to be a Reader. Submitted to La Children’s Trust Fund. Funded for $5,000. (7/1/03– 6/30/04).

2003-04 Parents Make the Difference! Submitted to La Children’s Trust Fund with K. Evans. Funded for $15,000.

2003-04 Kids Under Construction. Submitted to La Children’s Trust Fund with D. Glasgow. Funded for $6,000.

2003-04 Parenting is for Life! Submitted to La Children’s Trust Fund with M. Olinde. Funded for $5,000.

2003-04 Securing Your Child a Bright Future. Submitted to La Children’s Trust Fund with C. Holmes. Funded for $5,000.

2002-03 Collaboration for After School Education (CASE). Submitted to USDA-CREES with S. Mullen and D. Hurlbert. Funded for $150,000.

2002-03 North Delta Community Response Initiative. Submitted to La Department of Social Services with J. McDade. Funded for $262,191.

2001-02 Collaboration for After School Education (CASE). Submitted to USDA-CREES with S. Mullen and D. Hurlbert. Funded for $150,000.

2001-02 Louisiana Child Care Provider Training Program. Submitted to Louisiana Department of Social Services with D. Sasser. Funded for $840,799.

1996-00 Strengthening Programs for Children, Youth and Families At Risk. Submitted to USDA-CREES with S. Seals, and J. Johnson. Funded for $600,000.

1990-96 PRIDE of Lincoln, Inc. - Submitted to Governor’s Drug Free Community Program. Funded for $123,500.

Contributions and Donations – $112,000

2006 - $11,000 in donations secured for The Little Bookshelf Project at LSU Mid-city Pediatric Clinic

2006 -  Free books valued at $75,000 secured for Hurricane Book Relief projects.

2003  - Earl K. Long Born to be a Reader project. $5000 donation secured.

1990 - PRIDE of Lincoln Youth Development and Parenting Education Project $21,000 in donations secured.
Publications/Presentations/Patents

Recent Publications

Parsons, L. & White, R. (2007). Character Critters storybook (3nd printing). Baton Rouge: LSU Ag Center - Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

Hurlbert, D. & White, R. (2006). Louisiana CYFAR responds to hurricanes in Children, Youth and Families At Risk 2005 Annual Report [brochure). Available at http://www.csrees.usda.gov/cyfar. Washington, DC: US Department of Agriculture

Parsons, L. & White, R. (2006). Character Critters storybook (3rd printing). Baton Rouge: LSU AgCenter – Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

White, R. (2006). Helping people after a natural disaster. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 98, 66.

Gioe, C. & White, R. (2005). Parents be child care aware (2nd printing) [brochure]. Available at http://www.lsuagcenter.com/subjects/childcare. Baton Rouge: LSU Ag Center - Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

Gioe, C. & White, R. (2005). Caregivers be child care aware (2nd printing) [brochure]. Available at http://www.lsuagcenter.com/subjects/childcare. Baton Rouge: LSU Ag Center - Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

Parsons, L. & White, R. (2005). Character Critters II - Classroom story posters for storytelling (2nd printing). Baton Rouge: LSU Ag Center - Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

Parsons, L. & White, R. (2004). Character Critters storybook (2nd printing). Baton Rouge: LSU Ag Center - Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

Parsons, L. & White, R. (2001). Character Critters I storybook (1st printing). Baton Rouge: LSU Ag Center - Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

Parsons, L. & White, R. (2001). Character Critters II story posters. Baton Rouge: LSU Ag Center - Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

Parsons, L. & White, R. (2001). Character Critters II Implementation Guide. Baton Rouge: LSU Ag Center - Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

Parsons, L. & White, R. (1999). Character Critters I story posters. Baton Rouge: LSU Ag Center - Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

Parsons, L. & White, R. (1999). Character Critters I Implementation Guide. Baton Rouge: LSU Ag Center - Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.

Recent Presentations, Workshops and Trainings (since 2004)

International Presentation (invited)

White, R. (2004, June). The role of Extension in the university. Presentation to visiting Ukrainian Center for Private Farmer Outreach faculty, Baton Rouge, LA.

National Presentations (refereed)

White, R., & Braud, E. (2007, April). Crazy ‘bout those Critters. Poster presentation at 21st Century Families Conference, Little Rock, AR.

White, R., & Braud, E. (2007, April). Helping people following a hurricane. Poster presentation at 21st Century Families Conference, Little Rock, AR.

Sasser, D., & White, R. (2005, October). Images as catalysts of expression: A demonstration of photolanguage. Workshop presented at American Evaluation Association (AEA) Conference, Toronto, Canada.

White, R., Cathey, L., Sasser, D., & LeJeune, E. (2005, October). Right from birth:A multi-method approach to evaluating childcare provider training. Poster presentation at American Evaluation Association (AEA) Conference, Toronto, Canada.

White, R., & McCallum, E. (2005, May). Crazy ‘bout those Critters: Character education for preschoolers. Presentation at Children, Youth and Families At Risk (CYFAR) Conference, Boston, MA.

White, R., Sasser D., Hurlbert, D., & Woerner, D. (2005, May). A picture's worth a thousand words: Evaluating using photographs. Workshop presented at Children, Youth and Families At Risk (CYFAR) Conference, Boston, MA.

Sasser, D., & White, R. (2004, May). E-valuations: An evolving online family and consumer sciences evaluation and reporting system. Presentation at Children, Youth and Families At Risk (CYFAR) Conference, Seattle, WA.

National and State Presentations (invited)

White, R. (2007, March) LSU AgCenter Extension family and child development programs. Presentation to Human Ecology Family Life class, Baton Rouge, LA.

White, R., Sasser, D., & Hebert, C. (2006, May). Teachable moments: Rebuilding from the hurricanes and preparing for the future. Presentation at Children Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Conference, Atlanta, GA.

White, R. & Fox, J. (2006, August). Preparing our families, preparing our youth for disasters. Presentation to State of Louisiana’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program CEO Team. Baton Rouge, LA.

White, R., & Gambel, E. (2006, August) Helping children recover: Available curriculum for your use. Presentation at the Partnership for Prevention Education Training, Port Allen, LA.

White, R. (2005, November) Managing stress after a disaster. Presentation for New Orleans residents after Katrina at Jefferson Parish Public Library, Metairie, LA.

White, R. (2005, November). Managing stress after a disaster. Presentation on Cox Channel 10 – New Orleans, Metairie, LA.

White, R. (2005, November) Managing stress after a disaster. Presentation to United Methodist Women – Woodfin Circle, Baton Rouge, LA.

White, R. (2005, August) Character Counts! Presentation to Head Start teachers at annual Head Start Convention, Baton Rouge, LA.

Williams, S. & White, R. (2005, August). Character counts! Presentation at Louisiana Head Start Association Parents Conference, Baton Rouge, LA.

White, R. (2005, March). Character development and Character Critters. Presentation at the Louisiana Head Start Parents Conference, Baton Rouge, LA.

White, R. (2004, September). Summary and consequences of the 2003 legislative audit of the LSU AgCenter. Presentation to Family Resource Management program faculty professional development meeting, Baton Rouge, LA.

White, R. (2004, July). 4-H after school resources. Presentation at the North Louisiana After School Summer Conference, Alexandria, LA.

White, R. (2004, July). 4-H after school resources. Presentation at the South Louisiana After School Summer Conference, New Orleans, LA.

White, R. (2004, July). Be child care aware. Presentation at the North Louisiana After School Summer Conference, Alexandria, LA.

White, R. (2004, July). Character Critters. Presentation at the North Louisiana After School Summer Conference, Alexandria, LA.

White, R. (2004, July). Be child care aware. Presentation at the North Louisiana After School Summer Conference, Alexandria, LA.

White, R. (2004, July). Character Critters. Presentation at the South Louisiana After School Summer Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Murphy, E., White, R., & Sasser, D. (2004, May). Extension family and consumer sciences programs addressing positive outcomes for young children. Presentation to Louisiana Legislative Rural Caucus, Baton Rouge, LA.

Workshops or Trainings

White, R. (2007, January). Children’s Trust Fund grant development. Training presented to select Family and Consumer Sciences faculty, Baton Rouge, LA.

Sasser, D., Evans, K., & White, R. (2006, October). Family and child development update. Training presented to Family and Child Development Faculty, Chatam, LA.

White, R., Davis, D., Hodson, P., Gambel, E. & Gioe, C. (2006, July) Partnering for prevention education in the capital area. Workshop presented at the Partnership for Prevention Education Training, Port Allen, LA.

Sasser, D., White, R., Gioe, C., & Cathey, L. (2005, July). Family and child development strategic planning. Training presented to Family and Child Development Faculty, Baton Rouge,LA.

White, R., Gioe, C., & Sasser, D. (2005, July). Child care provider training program update. Training presented to LSU AgCenter’s Child Care Provider Training Team, Baton Rouge, LA.

Sasser, D., White, R., Gioe, C. & Toombs, S. (2005, March). Family and child development Extension programs update. Training conducted at After the Hurricanes: Rebuilding Communities, Strengthening Families Conference, Baton Rouge, LA.

Sasser, D., Gioe, C., & White, R. (2005, March). Family day care orientation. Workshop conducted for Child Care Provider Training Agents, Baton Rouge, LA.

White, R., & Cathey, L. (2005, January). Evaluation. Training presented to Family Development Agents Retreat, Pollock, LA.

White, R. (2004, September). Assessing your professional worth and accountability. Training presented to Parents Preparing for success Quarterly Staff Meeting, Baton Rouge, LA.

White, R. (2004, September). Family resource management evaluation planning. Training presented to Family Resource Management program faculty, Baton Rouge, LA.

White, R. (2004, August). Assessing your professional worth and accountability. Training presented to Parents Preparing for success Quarterly Staff Meeting, Baton Rouge, LA.
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