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The Cooperative Extension System believes that total quality management, decentralized 

 and participative management systems, a customer focus, and a real understanding of 

 how government can be reinvented by combining these concepts with cutting edge 

 technology will define successful 21st century organizations. We are already well down 

 the road to establishing the necessary infrastructure and changing mind-sets and practices 

 to serve today's citizens as well or better than ever before. 



7. Describe how "crosscutting" initiatives with other agencies are included in your 

 planning and programming process? 



The Cooperative Extension System routinely involves other agencies and organizations 

 from both the public and private sectors in planning and programming. For example. 

 Extension's national initiative on health education is being planned and launched in 

 collaboration with national, state, and local public health agencies; Federal and state HHS 

 offices of rural health policy; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; 

 Easter Seals; medical schools; the W. K. Kellogg Foundation; and numerous others. The 

 nature of the partnerships with other agencies and organizations varies widely and 

 includes joint sponsorship, funding, development of programs models, educating staff in 

 other agencies and organizations, participation on community advisory councils, and 

 interorganizational referrals. 



One example is our work with the National Association of County Officials on watershed 

 management. In addition, ES is producing a national videoconference on the new food 

 labeling with FDA and FSIS. Also, we are currently working with, demonstrating, and 

 educating other government agencies and departments (education, USAID, NOA, EPA, 

 GAO, and others) on how information technology and distance education methods can 

 be used to serve a much larger segment of society in a much more site-specific manner. 



A close and continuous planning process occurs within the land-grant university 

 system — both within and outside of agriculture. Through this process, the expertise and 

 talent of the Total University Community can be made available to the "people. " At the 

 state level. Extension is linked with many other public institutions and agencies. It 

 should also be recognized that the Extension network is actively sought for collaboration 

 and cooperation by many public and private organizations. 



