Developing Necessary Life SkillsPlan of Work

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Caldwell County CES

Title:
Developing Necessary Life Skills
MAP:
Enhancing Life Skills for Youth & Adults
Agents Involved:
Shane Bogle, Rhonda Jewell, Ashley White
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
4-H Communications and Expressive Arts Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Securing Financial Stability (general)
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Farm Management
Situation:

In a constantly changing world, having life skills is an essential part of being able to adapt and meet the challenges of everyday life. Learning to how to communicate with others, create and live within a budget, prepare nutritious meals safely, nurture children, create a safe a pleasant home environment, practice common courtesies, and form relationships with others – are basic to everyday life. Many of these basic life skills are not taught to youth at home or at school therefore they are not prepared to be successful in today’s changing world.

The Kentucky Family and Consumer Science and the 4-H FCS Curriculum equip youth and adults with these skills by giving them hands-on learning opportunities. Kentucky Family and Consumer Science programs often offers basic learning activities on a topic of interest to youth but the addition of activities which support that interest (such as fair exhibits, related subject matter workshops or day camps, field trips, decision-making, and judging contests) significantly increase the development of life skills in youth and adults.

In a study by Olson, Croymans and Ji (2014), 4-Hers reported that participating in 1 or 2 educational opportunities influenced the development of critical thinking and decision making skills, and participating in 6 to 8 opportunities significantly increased the program’s influence by adding development of life skills in leadership, planning/organization, wise use of resources, useful/marketable skills and accepting differences. While many FCS skills can be learned through self-directed projects, club meetings or school enrichment, it’s beneficial for youth and adults to have the added experience and guidance of a trusted volunteer and the opportunity to form relationships with caring mentors and peers. Long-term volunteering is not always possible for many adults, but shorter-term volunteer roles create doable opportunities for more people to work volunteering into busy schedules. Special interest clubs and groups that meet for a few weeks or months broaden the possibilities. The volunteer efforts of multiple adults may be required to take the learning experience from club meetings alone to also include exhibits, field trips and more.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Youth and Adults will:

*Be responsible and contributing individuals and family members

*Gain and maintain employment through life skill development

*Contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family

*Number of clientele reporting improved family financial stability and economic well-being.

*Youth will utilize the skills gained through education and involvement in Extension programs to serve as leaders in 4-H and other organizations.

*Youth become more comfortable sharing their thoughts with others.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth and adults will:

*Utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations

*Project a positive self-image and self-confidence

*Practice healthy eating choices

*Make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results

*Adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employability

*Demonstrate practical living skills

*Practice one or more resource management behaviors resulting increased

  savings or investments.

*Youth construct a speech that has a clear introduction, body and closing.

*Youth use their communication skills to assume a leadership role in 4-H and other organizations.

Initial Outcomes:

Youth and adults will:

*Gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Science Projects and programs

*Understand the decision-making process

*Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action

*Learn to read and follow instructions

*Show increased knowledge and skills related to managing available financial resources

*Change knowledge opinions, skills and attitudes to improve employability through practical living skills

*Youth create a formal presentation, speech or outline using the written outline.

*Youth research a presentation topic prior to developing a speech or demonstration.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Teen Leadership Academy

Indicator: Increased communication skills

Method: Written evaluation completed by the parents of participants

Timeline:  April 2020


Intermediate Outcome:

Indicator:

Method:

Timeline:


Long-term Outcome:

Indicator:

Method:

Timeline:

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 8th grade Students

Project or Activity: Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: It's Your Reality

Inputs: Community leaders, volunteers, community partners, funding, school system

Date: Spring 2020


Audience: High School Juniors and Seniors

Project or Activity: A,B, C's of College

Content or Curriculum: High School Financial Planning, MITT

Inputs: Extension resources, community leaders, volunteers, donations

Date: Fall  2019


Audience: Community Members

Project or Activity: Where Does Your Money Go?

Content or Curriculum: MITT Curriculum

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: Community Members

Project or Activity: Estate Planning

Content or Curriculum: MITT Curriculum

Date: Spring 2020


Audience: Caldwell County High School Juniors

Project or Activity: Life 101

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H "It's Your Reality"

Inputs- Community leaders, volunteers, community partners, funding, school system

Date: Fall 2019


Audience: Youth ages 5-18

Project or Activity: Communications Contest

Content or Curriculum: KY CES Resources, National 4-H Resources

Inputs- Parents, volunteers, school system, donations,

Date: Spring 2020


Audience:  Middle / High School

Project or Activity:  Teen Cuisine

Content or Curriculum: Teen Cuisine 

Dates: September 2019-May 2020 


Audience: Middle / High School

Project or Activity:  Self-Esteem Workshops

Content or Curriculum: Relationship Smarts

Dates:  September 2019-May 2020


Audience: Middle School Students from Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon and Trigg Counties

Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Leadership Academy

Content or Curriculum:  County Directed

Dates:  September 2019-April 2020



Success Stories

The 4-H Country Ham Project Builds Valuable Skills

Author: Rhonda Jewell

Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources

The 4-H Country Ham Project Builds Valuable Skills

The 4-H Country Ham Project continues the tradition of the curing county hams, which has been a food tradition in Kentucky for hundreds of years. This 4-H project is one of the fastest growing at the state level and is a win-win program for youth involved.  The project started in the 1990’s with less than 40 4-H’ers, to currently over 750 from approximately 65 counties in Kentucky.  Youth gain valuable skills from participation in the country ham project, including, learnin

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Travel on the Cheap

Author: Ashley Board

Major Program: Securing Financial Stability (general)

In the current economy, financial stability is important.  In an effort to encourage consumers to develop a spending/savings plan and increase wise consumer decision-making skills in regards to vacations, the Caldwell County Family & Consumer Sciences Agent taught “Travel on the Cheap” to sixty-one individuals in the nine counties of the Pennyrile Area.  Lesson topics included developing a budget, planning ahead for vacation, and tips

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Positive Employability: Preparing for Financial Success

Author: Ashley Board

Major Program: Securing Financial Stability (general)

Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center indicates 85 percent of job success comes from having well developed soft and people skills and only 15 % of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge.  Employers are often prepared to teach technical job skills; however the intangible skills of being a team player, time management, and positive attitude are difficult to teach onsite, yet are critical to

Full Story

New Clubs Promote Growth in 4-H Program

Author: Rhonda Jewell

Major Program: 4-H Volunteer Programming

New Clubs Promote Growth in 4-H Program

According to Cornell University Cooperative Extension, “Research shows that young people who choose to be part of a 4-H Club are more likely to be educationally motivated, have higher self-esteem and communicate more maturely than their peers.”  Club members also have the opportunity to develop relationships with caring adults and make friends to last a lifetime. Caldwell County 4-H was fortunate enough to have three new, volunteer led afterschool clubs form this year, the

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Social Media Keeps Programs Alive During COVID-19 Pandemic

Author: Rhonda Jewell

Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming

Social Media Keeps Programs Alive During COVID-19 Pandemic

The Corona Virus outbreak truly rocked the 4-H world, and Cooperative Extensions as a whole. When it hit in early March most people had no clue that it would be as devastating and life changing as it has been.   We learned a lot about social distancing, importance of hand washing, wearing mask and had to accept the fact there was now a new “normal”, whatever that turns out to be.Schools began to close and students were expected to do NTI or other forms of alternative education.

Full Story
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