Through an annual Congressional appropriation for the National Children, Youth and Families at Risk CYFAR) Program, CSREES allocates funding to Land Grant University Extension Services for community-based programs for at-risk children and their families. Since 1991, CYFAR has supported programs in more than 600 communities in all states and territories. State and local public and private organizations have contributed cash and in-kind resources that match or exceed the federal appropriation.
The CYFAR Program is based on research on effective programs for at-risk youth and families and on the human ecological principle of working across the lifespan in the context of the family and community. To assure that critical needs of children and families are met, CYFAR supports comprehensive, intensive, community-based programs developed with active citizen participation in all phases. CYFAR promotes building resiliency and protective factors in youth, families and communities.

STATE PROJECTS
State Strengthening (STST) and New Communities (NCP) projects serve as the CSREES mechanism for funding community-based projects and expanding statewide capacity for supporting and sustaining programming for at risk youth and families. CSREES currently provides funding to 45 Land Grant University Extension Services for State Strengthening and New Communities Projects. These community programs serve over 66,000 youth ages Pre K-19 and their parents. These state CYFAR projects call for collaboration across disciplines, program areas, and geographic lines as well as a holistic approach which views the individual in the context of the family and community.
In the interest of sustaining and expanding community programs for at-risk children and families, the CYFAR Initiative also funds a broad variety of port and technical assistance including: