The role of the land-grant institution in responding to youth at risk issues as perceived by selected university and Cooperative Extension faculty, staff and administrators of Oklahoma State University.

The purpose of the study was to determine how faculty, staff and administrators perceive their university responding to contemporary youth related problems. During the spring of 1989, 107 individuals completed telephone interviews which included university administrators and regents, campus faculty and staff, CES administrators and 4-H staff. Interviews gathered both quantitative and qualitative data through forced-choice open-ended and scaled questions. Of the 107 individuals selected for the study, 107 participated in the interviews. All groups agreed that teen pregnancy and substance abuse were the two most serious problems facing Oklahoma youth. University administration were in agreement that additional research would be the most appropriate action to address youth at risk issues, while Extension administration and staff felt developing coalitions would be most appropriate.

All felt that developing instructional programs to be appropriate. Private foundations and the federal government were perceived to be the most likely sources of funds for "youth at risk" programs. Lack of funding and personal commitment were perceived to be the two biggest challenges. Non-Extension groups were aware of the 4-H program, but only 75 percent were aware of Extension's "youth at risk" initiatives.