New MSU Extension District Coordinator Named

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

New MSU Extension district coordinator named

Marie Ruemenapp has been appointed the Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) coordinator for the district covering Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. Ruemenapp brings 22 years of experience to this position and officially began her duties on July 1. Ruemenapp is one of 13 coordinators that will administer MSUE programs across the state.
“District coordinators are critical to MSUE’s ability to move Michigan forward. Working with local governments, nonprofits, school systems and neighborhood groups, MSUE is focused on providing the knowledge resources necessary to identify community challenges and propose and implement successful solutions,” said Michelle Rodgers, MSUE associate director. “These leaders will represent Extension in communities across the state and serve the role of linking Michigan State University’s vast research and teaching resources to Michigan communities.”
MSU Extension redesign effort is aimed at improving the organization’s efficiency and effectiveness. Five regional director positions and 82 county Extension director positions were eliminated in the redesign and replaced with the redefined district coordinator role.

Some staff members are being reassigned as multi-county educators, increasing Extension’s capacity to disseminate relevant and essential information critical to improving communities.

“MSUE can play a vital role in helping turn Michigan’s economy around and improve the lives of the residents of Michigan,” Ruemenapp said. “Through the redesign of MSUE I believe the Detroit area can become a model to demonstrate how Extension systems across the country can effectively work to address the needs of people living in urban centers.

Ruemenapp began her career in St. Clair County as a 4-H youth agent and acting county director. She accumulated 10 years experience in the role of county director before becoming a regional director in east central and southeast Michigan.

Ruemenapp is an MSU graduate, having received her bachelor’s degree in agriculture and natural resources communications and master’s degree in community services.

Court program saves money, changes lives

The 37th District Drug Court offers hope for nonviolent addicted repeat offenders who are willing to work to change their lives. In an effort that’s been in place since 2001, offenders can avoid incarceration if they enter a comprehensive program that can last from 15 to 21 months.

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Drug court program--continued

Requirements include weekly appearances before a judge and a drug court team for accountability and treatment and regular attendance at 12-step meetings. Additionally, individuals are required to complete MSUE financial management and nutrition education programs.

MSUE educator teaches the six-week “Financial Fitness” program that focuses on the following topics:

• Decision making and goal setting skills

• Budgeting
• Credit and debt reduction
• Developing a plan and budget for repaying court costs.

The Nutrition Education program is taught by Tiffany Stevens and covers:

• Healthy food choices
• Reading food labels

• Advance meal planning
• Comparison shopping
• Food safety practices

The financial and nutrition education sessions incorporate adult learning principles that focus on behavior change through interactive learning, classroom discussion, demonstrations and homework assignments. Participants who successfully complete all assigned homework, attend every class and participate in group discussion receive a certificate of completion.

Since 2003, more than 125 individuals have completed this program, which is administered by Macomb County Circuit Court judges James Biernat and Diane Druzinski.

These graduates avoided spending 51,834 days in jail. The cost to house each prisoner for one day is $84.75. This represents a savings to county taxpayers of more than $4.3 million since 2003. More importantly, the participants return to a productive life.

Participants in the sessions complete an evaluation of their learning. In the most recent financial education program, they noted that after completing the program there were more likely to make a spending plan, pay their bills on time, save money and work to spend less than they earn.

In the nutrition program evaluation, participants said they were more likely to use acceptable nutrition practices as a result of what they learned.

Contact: Jean Lakin, Financial Education or

Eileen Haraminac, Nutrition Education

Citizen Planners help communities

Macomb MSUE recently offered the Citizen Planner program for the fifth time since 2002. The program educates planning commissioners, zoning board members, local elected officials and others on all aspects of the planning and zoning process so that they can make sound decisions for their communities’ futures.

This year, leaders representing two Macomb County communities participated for the first time. The program evaluations indicated positive results. All participants documented that they increased their knowledge on each topic that was presented.

More than 40 percent of the participants put what they learned from the program to use before the 12-session course concluded. One the information while working on his community’s master plan and others identified using the material at their local planning commission meetings. Several program graduates participated in the New Economy sessions that were offered as a follow up to the program.

All of the participants who complete 40 hours of community service in land use planning or community development activities over the next year can earn official Citizen Planner status.

Contact: Terry Gibb, MSU Extension Educator

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.