The Department of Child Development and Family Studies is an important contributor to Purdue Extension , the centerpiece of the University's land-grant mission. Through Human Development Extension, the department circulates research information and develops educational materials that are used by local county Extension educators and volunteers to address issues facing children, youth, and families.

Within the department, Dee Love and Judy Myers-Walls are the two human development Extension specialists who provide expertise to Extension educators in Indiana's 92 counties. Graduate research assistants are a valuable part of this work.

Recent program development efforts include the following:

• Provider-Parent Partnerships website. The quality of the relationship between parents and childcare providers is crucial in supporting children in out of home care. The website seeks to improve quality childcare by providing information and resources to childcare providers as they work with the parents and families of the children they serve.
• Terrorism and Children website. This website was created on September 11, 2001 and has been updated several times since then. It includes materials that can be distributed to parents and teachers about talking to children about terrorism and recommendations for parenting in times of terrorism.
• ChildCareInfo@purdue.edu website. Created to support Indiana child care providers, this website provides updates on Purdue initiatives and resources available to child care providers through the Purdue Extension network.
• Parenting Piece by Piece is a curriculum outline for a series of eight parenting education sessions. It was designed for use with parents who have been mandated to attend parenting training due to their identification as physically or emotionally abusive and/or neglectful parents.
• Teen Decisions curriculum. A youth and adult education program that addresses issues surrounding healthy adolescent sexuality by using an improvisational theater format.
• It's My Child Too! A Curriculum for Fathers is a short-term parenting education program for young fathers (14 to 25 years of age) in need of knowledge and skills associated with competent parenting. The program was prepared for young fathers living in high-risk circumstances.
• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Legal and Policy Challenges is a video-based program for grandparents raising grandchildren, professionals who work with them, and community members. The program consists of a videotape and a CD ROM which includes program outlines for the facilitator.
• Relatives as Parents: Answers to Basic Concerns fact sheets. Grandparents and other relatives raising kin are faced with a number of challenges as they try to obtain needed supports for themselves and the children in their care. RAP: ABCs can help to answer some of their questions and meet some of those challenges.