Extension
It Starts With Us
Advance Adult & Youth Life Skills Preparation
Growing Grayson County through Rural, Youth, and Community Development
Ewing Jones, K.; Taul, N.; Carman, W
Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
A large percentage of Grayson County citizens lack the life skills necessary to function effectively in modern society. County school teachers report that students lack problem solving skills and decision making skills. Parents are often unable to help students since they also lack these same skills.
Grayson County has seen a steady rise in substance abuse over the past several years. From 2011-2014 there were 36 overdose deaths reported and countless other reports indicating that overdose not resulting in death is also on the rise. Youth need to be made aware of the severe consequences that can affect their lives and their futures.
Grayson County youth will become responsible, self sufficient citizens that take an active role in county life. This will include an increase in job readiness skills, youth aspiring to attain highers levels of education and an increase in use of critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Participants will reduce their long term risk for substance abuse.
Citizens must be able to get and keep a job. Youth must be able to set personal and career goals and have the self discipline to attain those goals. All individuals will increase knowledge to develop personal and family stability.
Data indicates a decreased number of youth involved in substance abuse practices.
Youth will increase their knowledge of the connection between education and financial stability. Individuals will increase their knowledge of effective life skills, including budgeting for family needs.
Participants will increase knowledge about the legal, health, emotional, and financial consequences of substance abuse.
Initial Outcome: Goal of youth aspiring to further their education after high school
Indicator: Youth will plan for post-secondary education (college or vocational school)
Method: In classroom prep and evaluation of Reality Store (8th grade participants) and Dollars & Sense (5th grade participants).
Timeline: Spring
Audience: All Grayson County Middle School 8th grade students
Project or Activity: Reality Store
Content or Curriculum: Financial management, education and career goals, value of education
Inputs: Curriculum for youth involved in program, Reality Store will be held at the Grayson County Middle School and will be coordinated by Grayson County 4-H Agent, assisted by GCMS Life Skills teacher; each 9 weeks will be a new session in the classroom to reach all 8th graders through the year; time frame for each session will be correlated with the Financial lesson for the Life Skills class.
Date: Each 9 Weeks of the school year (4 sessions)
Audience: Grayson County 5th Grade Students
Project or Activity: Dollars and Sense
Content or Curriculum: Financial management, value of education
Inputs: Curriculum for youth involved in program, Dollars and Sense will be held at Grayson County Elementary Schools with 5th grade students and will be coordinated by Grayson County 4-H Agent. Agent will work with 5th grade teachers to prepare and present the Dollars and Sense materials to students in a classroom setting allowing for students to work through the purchases on their own and with one-on-one assistance from agent and teachers.
Date: Spring
Author: Kindra Jones
Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
During Fall Break in October, the Grayson County 4-H Agentplanned an Outdoor Survival Day Camp that provided youth the opportunity togain hands-on experience and knowledge for survival and protection inwilderness type settings. The knowledge gained was beneficial not only forwilderness (i.e. woods, hunting, etc.), but for general emergency situations aswell. Topics covered through the day camp included Entomology, map and compass reading, how to spark and build a fire, emergency packs, building
