The CYFAR Team is part of the 4-H Youth Development program center of the WVU Extension Service. The team's purpose is to "strengthen the capacity to serve, children, youth families, and communities at-risk.” To do so, the team seeks to apply the Extension Service's resources in meeting the needs of children, youth and families who have been identified as “underserved”—that is, those who have not had sufficient access to opportunities or services to meet their financial, educational and social needs.

Effective strategies for working with community-based groups, as well as research-based programs of the land-grant university system are being utilized to enhance the educational experiences for children and youth. A variety of resources are to be provided for families, teachers and young people to support the outcome-based curriculum and instruction.

The project is funded by the US Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES).