Extension Council Strategic Plan 2026 - 2025

Overview

The Douglas County Extension Council began the development of its initial strategic plan in late 2021 by conducting surveys of the Council, staff, and volunteers to assess the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. In the final year of the plan period, the Douglas County Extension Council Executive Board revisited the operational thematic areas of the plan, updating them with an appreciation for the progress toward stated objectives and an eye toward the future.

While acknowledging the systemwide vision, mission, and values of K-State Extension, the strategic planning process for Douglas County inspired the development of localized vision, mission, and values statements.

Douglas County Extension Council

Formally established by the County Extension Council Law passed by the Kansas legislature, the Douglas County Extension Council carries on the tradition of serving the public by enhancing quality of life in Douglas County, as it has since July 10, 1918, when its first Extension Agent was hired. For over a century, Extension has provided guidance and technical assistance to Douglas County residents by aligning university resources with community needs. This strategic plan intends to continue that commitment while also achieving excellence in core operational functions.

Operational thematic areas of focus for the strategic plan were identified using SWOT analysis:

Separate discussions regarding the services that we provide to the public led to assignments for Program Development Committees to generate their own programmatic areas of focus. Where appropriate, program area strategic plans consider the operational strategies above. Namely, Program Development Committees were asked to incorporate activities that included partnerships, communications, programmatic/operational funding, and enhancing diversity as core to their plans.

All operational and programmatic strategies have been crafted through group processes that identify the following elements:

1. Situation Statement
2. Objective
3. Metrics
4. Activities
5. Outcomes

This plan is intended to guide the organization for five years beginning in 2026. The shepherds of the plan are the staff, executive board of the Extension Council and the four Program Development Committees. The executive board intends to create semi-annual full Council meetings where updates on both the Operational and Programmatic areas or focus will be provided. Additionally, the executive board will check in quarterly on progress toward the outcomes defined by the plan.

Vision, Mission, Values

Vision Statement

Building sustainable and thriving communities in Douglas County

Mission Statement

Expanding community conversations, cooperative learning and collaborative leadership using research-based knowledge to build sustainable, thriving communities around land stewardship, food systems, community health & economic, family and youth development.

Values

• Informative – Our legacy is in generating and translating technical information for those who need it.
• Inclusive – Our staff, Council, volunteers, collaborators, and program participants completely represent our community.
• Collaborative – Our commitment to selfless partnership enables community collaborations to thrive.
• Trusted – Authentic engagement provides a foundation for mutual problem identification and action.