Achieving financial stability in homes and communityPlan of Work

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Bell County CES

Title:
Achieving financial stability in homes and community
MAP:
Financial stability
Agents Involved:
Rebecca Miller, Stacy White
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Communications and Expressive Arts
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Financial Education - General
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Situation:

The consequences of the recent recession and the extended period of slow economic growth which followed, encouraged families, youth, and farmers to become more aware of their financial situation. Bell County consistently lags behind in key household economic indicators, including: personal income, population living below the poverty line, unemployment, and revolving debt. It is important to acknowledge the impact of current economic conditions on individual and family financial management and how it effects the community. The goal of this program plan is to help Bell Countians understand and respond to changing economic conditions, while promoting healthy financial behaviors across the lifespan.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Maximize or extend resources to maintain or increase financial stability in individuals, families and farmers.


Bell Countians will achieve financial literacy, stability and economic well-being through practices learned at Extension programs.


Clientele will improve quality of life using knowledge obtained at Extension programs resulting in stronger families and communities.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Bell County families, farmers and individuals will adopt one or more short, mid and long term financial planning strategies.


Practice one or more resource management behavior(s) resulting in increased savings or investments.


Apply practical living skills to advance education or employability.


Examine personal and financial stability on a regular basis (at least annually).

Initial Outcomes:

Teenagers and adults will show increased knowledge and skills related to managing available financial and non-financial resources.


Teens and adults will simulate life situations to recognize importance of budgeting, education, and employability skills.


Participants will identify short, medium and long term personal goals and objectives related to maintaining and improving their financial stability.


Participants will see the value of practicing frugality, will learn cost-effective meal planning and will take steps toward securing their money.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Participants will identify short, medium and long term personal goals and objectives related to maintaining and improving their financial stability.


Indicator: All participants will identify ways to save and budget money.

Method: Online assessments, evaluations, verbal evaluation

Timeline: immediate


Intermediate Outcome: Bell County families, farmers and individuals will adopt one or more short, mid and long term financial planning strategies.

Indicator: Clientele will prepare a budget and use skills and knowledge obtained to better financial situation.

Method: Follow up survey, online assessment

Timeline: 6 months- 1 year


Long-term Outcome: Bell Countians will achieve financial literacy, stability and economic well-being through practices learned at Extension programs.

Indicator: Clientele will report an increase in savings and financial gain.

Method: Follow up survey, discussions

Timeline: 2-4 years

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth, middle school age

Project or Activity: 4-H Dollars & Sense

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Dollars and Sense curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Curriculum, Libraries, Volunteers, Family Resource Centers, Teachers

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: Youth, High School age

Project or Activity: 4-H Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Reality Store curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Curriculum, Libraries, Volunteers, Family Resource Centers, Teachers, Agents

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: General Public, homemakers

Project or Activity: Stretching your Holiday Dollar

Content or Curriculum: UK publications

Inputs: UK publications, Agents

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: General public

Project or Activity: Managing in Tough Times (MITT)

Content or Curriculum: Managing in Tough Times (MITT)

Inputs: MITT publications, curriculum, website, agents, newsletters

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: beef producers

Project or Activity: East Kentucky Beef Integrated Resource Management

Content or Curriculum: UK Pubs

Inputs: specialist, agents, KY Beef Network

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: farmers

Project or Activity: Commercial Vegetable Production

Content or Curriculum: UK Pubs

Inputs: agents, specialists, farm service agency, Soil Conservation

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: farmers, general public

Project or Activity: Shared Equipment Use Program

Content or Curriculum: UK pubs

Inputs: agents, ag council, farm bureau , bell county fiscal court, KY Ag Development Board

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: farmers

Project or Activity: Seasonal High Tunnel Project

Content or Curriculum: UK Pubs

Inputs: soil conservation, specialist, agents

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: beef producers

Project or Activity: Cumberland Gap Beef Conference

Content or Curriculum: publications from UK, UT, LMU, Virgina Tech

Inputs: agents, specialist, universities, beef industry

Date: 2019-2020





Success Stories

Money Habitudes Online Challenge

Author: Rebecca Miller

Major Program: Financial Education - General

     Financial education programs often highlight financial literacy skills such as budgeting and managing credit card debt; however, these skills do not tap into the emotional and practical issues that cause people to react irrationally with money. Financial decisions are most often motivated by emotional need as opposed to logical knowledge. To address this concern, the Bell County Cooperative Extension Service utilized the Money Habitudes program to emphasize the importance of

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