To improve the stability, resiliency, and financial well being of individuals and families.Plan of Work

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Fulton County CES

Title:
To improve the stability, resiliency, and financial well being of individuals and families.
MAP:
Strengthening Individuals and Families
Agents Involved:
B. Cheirs, A. McCoy, B. Rudy
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Family Development General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Financial Education - General
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Situation:

Healthy couple and parenting relationships and resulting family stability benefit the well-being of adults and children. Co-habitating, same-sex, divorced, widowed and single households are the new majority.


Children who live absent from their biological fathers are two to three times more likely to be poor, to experience educational, health, emotional and behavioral problems than their peers who live with their married, biological (or adoptive) parents. In 2009, 26 percent of Kentucky children lived in poverty, ranking Kentucky 48th in the nation.


Children who start kindergarten with delayed development and fewer assets are by far more likely to repeat grades, get tracked into lower-tier classes and drop out of high school than more advantaged children.


Teens in the digital age may need more help with establishing healthy relationships because personal relationship skills are not being developed when technology use is high. Births to unwed parents are rising. Stable homes are needed for young children.


Older adults are living longer and independently. Some need assistance with socialization activities and developing skills and attitudes that foster self worth, i.e. embracing life as you age.


Personal Finance issues affect millions of Americans. Major societal problems have been reported in recent years including youth whom are performing poorly in the classroom, low household savings rates, and high household debt.


Youth and adults will have the opportunity to develop life skills that will improve their confidence, family roles, and their financial stability. When individuals are confident and capable they are more likely to accept roles and responsibilities in their communities and enhance their contribution to society.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Youth and adults that are a part of the Cooperative Extension Service programs will:

-Care for the physical and mental health well-being of each individual over the long term

-Build personal strengths and self-control, interpersonal communication, life skills including wise decision-making.

-Foster the optimal development of children and youth

-Practice parental leadership skills

-Access community resources when needed

-Be better educated

-Stay in school or achieve high levels of education

-Have higher levels of workforce readiness, financial management, time management, decision making skills, set goals, self actualization

-Achieve higher levels of personal and economic success

Intermediate Outcomes:

As a result of involvement in this program, participants will:

-Practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships including spousal, parent/child and work related

-Access community agencies when needed

-Change spending habits including increasing income and decreasing expenses

-Youth and adults adopt and use new methods and/or improved technology

-Youth and adults demonstrate use of life skills

Initial Outcomes:

As a result of involvement in this program, participants will increase knowledge related to:

Increased awareness of the need for financial management and employability skills

Increased knowledge of parenting skills

Youth will gain knowledge of the consequences of substance abuse

Youth will become aware of good character

Youth will gain social skills through interacting with peers and adults

Increased awareness of the value of planning and goal setting

Adults will learn and improve basic life skills through participation

Evaluation:

Outcome:

Program participants will better manage personal and financial resources to achieve a better quality of life.


Indicator:

The number of program participants who make positive lifestyle changes and who indicate changes in knowledge, opinions, and skills related to careers, finances, parenting, etc.


Method:

Observations, evaluations (pre & post tests), follow up questionnaires


Timeline:

All year as programs are completed


Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Families with Children Ages 0-5

Project or Activity: Grow, Learn, Succeed Event

Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Parenting, Resources from Governors Office of Early Childhood

Inputs: Community Early Childhood Council, Governors Office of Early Childhood, UK FCS Agent, Area Childcare Providers, Area Early Childhood Partners, FRYSC, Fulton County and City School Districts

Date: Fall 2020


Audience: Families with Children 0-5

Project or Activity: Future Pilot Night/K Event

Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Parenting, Resources from Governors Office of Early Childhood

Inputs: Community Early Childhood Council, Governors Office of Early Childhood, UK FCS Agent, Area Childcare Providers, Area Early Childhood Partners, FRYSC, Hickman County Schools

Date: Spring 2021




Audience: Parents of Preschoolers

Activity: Newsletter for parents of preschoolers

Content or Curriculum: “Preschool Pages”

Inputs: UK Extension resources, eXtension resources, FCS agents of district 7

Date: All year


Audience: Parents and Families

Activity: Parenting Classes

Content or Curriculum: Nurturing Families, Nurturing Fathers, Keys to Great Parenting and other curricula

Date: program year

Inputs: Early Head Start, Fulton County and City School System, Fulton County Court System and Fulton County Detention Center.


Audience: Adults

Activity: Estate Planning Workshop

Content or Curriculum: UK Estate Planning Publications

Date: program year

Inputs: Local Lawyers, Banking Professionals, Insurance and Extension Staff


Audience: Adults

Activity: Women in Agriculture Seminar

Content or Curriculum: Issues Affecting Women in Agriculture

Date: program year

Inputs: FSA, Four River Counties Extension Staff, Local Banks, Soybean Board, River Valley ACA, Extension Homemakers


Audience: Adults

Activity: Budgeting and Financial Education

Content or Curriculum: Managing in tough Times

Date: program year

Inputs: Extension Agents, Fulton County Detention Center, Fulton County and Fulton City Head Start, FRYSC


Audience: Fulton County and Fulton City Schools

Activity:  Manners Program

Content or Curriculum: FCS Publications, eXtension

Inputs: Schools, FRYSC, After-school Program

Date: program year


Audience: Families with children 0-5

Project or Activity:  Laugh and Learn Playdates

Content or Curriculum: LEAP, Extension resources; developmental stages

Inputs: Community Early Childhood Council, Governors Office of Early Childhood, UK FCS Agent, Area Childcare Providers, Area Early Childhood Partners, FRYSC, Fulton County and City School Districts

Date:  2020-2021 School Year


Audience: Families with Children 0-5

Project or Activity: Community Early Childhood Council (write grant and coordinate implementation of grant activities)

Content or Curriculum: LEAP, FCS Extension curricula, NAEYC, eXtension, etc.

Inputs: Governor's Office of Early Childhood and grant funds, FRYSC, Council Members, Community Partners, Schools, etc.

Date: 2020-2021


Audience: Families with Children 0-5

Project or Activity: Family Reading Together Program and Bright by Text

Content or Curriculum: Keys to Great Parenting, Resources from Governors Office of Early Childhood

Inputs: Governor's Office of Early Childhood and grant funds, FRYSC, Council Members, Community Partners, Schools, etc.

Date: 2020-2021


Audience: HS Seniors

Project or Activity: Adulting 101

Content or Curriculum: FCS publications, local resources, etc.

Inputs: Extension Homemakers, volunteers, churches, Extension Staff, schools

Date: 2020-2021 Monthly


Audience: Fulton County and Fulton City Schools

Activity:  Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Reality Store, Keys to Wealth

Inputs: Schools, FRYSC, After-school Program

Date: Spring program year



Success Stories

Wave Ag: Project Full Plate

Author: Benjamin Rudy

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Wave Ag: Project Full Plate

Due to COVID 19 our WAVE AG Day was cancelled for July 2020.  In order to stay connected to our communities the group started Project Full Plate.  During the 2020 year, families and businesses have all been struggling.  The Four-River WAVE Ag group wanted to show the families they could lend a hand. To replace our annual WAVE Ag Day, the group asked agribusinesses and other local businesses to come alongside the organization and help connect producers with consumers.Local business

Full Story
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