Missouri 4-H has received $75,000 from Healthy Blue’s affiliated Foundation to help young people across the state explore colleges and careers.

The 4-H Youth Futures College Within Reach program, developed by the University of Missouri Extension and Lincoln University Cooperative Extension, is a college orientation program that includes ongoing local mentoring, campus visits and a conference on the MU campus.

This grant will allow 4-H to expand its Youth Futures program statewide by offering 4-H Youth Futures Special Interest Clubs in every region of Missouri, said Donna Garcia, state 4-H youth development specialist.

The 4-H Youth Futures SPIN Club is a condensed, six-week program that allows youths to begin learning about higher-education options, the steps necessary to enroll in college and explore possible majors and career options. The goal is to introduce 4-H SPIN Club members to the yearlong Youth Futures program in an effort to increase high school graduation rates and enhance workforce development efforts for Missouri, Garcia said.

For more information about the 4-H Youth Futures SPIN Club program and other online and in-person 4-H programming, visit 4h.missouri.edu.