M.-A. Lucas was involved in home economics projects, Junior Leadership and 4-H camping when in New Hampshire 4-H and attended National 4-H Congress as state clothing winner. As Director of Army Child and Youth Programs, she envisioned in the early 1990′ a partnership between 4-H and Army Child and Youth Services that would strengthen Army youth programs and bring new audiences to 4-H. She knew from her own 4-H experience that Army youth would benefit from 4-H and could connect with 4-H wherever they lived. The resulting 4-H/Army Youth Development Project reported in 2006 over 11,000 Army CYS 4-H members and 874 Army 4-H leaders in 429 clubs at 125 Army installations worldwide. Projects included technology, photography, arts, nutrition and leadership.
Extension faculty and staff from more than 25 states have participated in extended professional development opportunities on the Project, and many more have benefited from the training programs and curriculum developed. Lucas provided support for 4-H’s lead role in developing the Operation Military Kids collaboration that reaches out to children of deployed National Guard and Reserve soldiers. In 2006, the project received recognition from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns for cooperation between federal agencies to support the families of those in uniform. Lucas manages a system of integrated childcare and youth supervision options delivered to over 350,000 children ages 4 weeks to 18 years at 125 locations around the world.
