Muhlenberg County CES

Title:

Providing Positive Youth Development Experience

MAP:

Providing Positive Youth Development Experiences

Agents Involved:

Mackenzie Pogue

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Health 4-H Core Curriculum

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

4-H Youth Development Programming

Situation:

Volunteering develops self esteem, confidence, effective communication skills, and other assets kids need to succeed. Teens who volunteer are reported to do better in school, develop new career goals, and learn about career options. Youth who volunteer see themselves taking action against problems, and feel empowered to make a difference. Youth who volunteer learn about the interconnections within a community and see “real world” problems. According to the latest Search Institute’s Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey of Muhlenberg 6th-12th grade students, only 28% of the over 2000 surveyed indicated being given useful roles to serve in the community, this being one of the 40 developmental assets kids need to succeed. Creating a culture of youth giving back to their communities through leadership roles serves the multi-purpose process of personal empowerment, community development and helps to ensure a new generation of involved, volunteering youth - a top priority of Muhlenberg 4-H.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Teen Volunteers address critical issues that face our community.
Youth serve in volunteer roles, creating a sense of belonging and purpose.
Youth make less negative decisions as a result of peer role models.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth engage in community issues and needs and develop appropriate community service or service learning programs.
Youth develop communication skills that allow them to effectively communicate with peers, family and community leaders.
Youth utilize acquired delegation and leadership skills to teach or lead groups and programs; serve as active officers or committee chairs in external and internal groups, clubs and organizations.

Initial Outcomes:

Youth learn characteristics and definitions of leadership.
Youth aspire to create change in their community through their actions and leadership.
Youth learn parliamentary procedure and proper meeting format and presentation skills.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge of consequences of negative decisions
Indicator: Participants assessed on knowledge gain on consequences of making negative decisions
Method: one to one evaluations, and/or post surveys
Timeline: Year round

Intermediate Outcome: Observations to bullying no longer stand by
Indicator: Change in bad habits
Method: post survey
Timeline: year round

Long-term Outcome: Teens addressing community issues of concern
Indicator: Teens ability to address issues
Method: Assembly responses/post assembly
Timeline: year round

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Elementary Students
Project or Activity: Anti bullying assemblies
Content or Curriculum: engaging youth, serving community, other
Inputs: Teen and adult volunteers
Date: year long

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: STAND programming, i.e., Reba Ribbon Rallies, Ghost Outs, New Years Lock Ins, more
Content or Curriculum: Various Anti Negative Decision
Inputs: Teen volunteerism Grant funds
Date: Year long

Audience: Elementary, middle, high
Project or Activity: Youth leadership, officers, committee chairs
Content or Curriculum: Step Up to Leadership, Florida Leadership program
Inputs: Agent, Program Assistant, Volunteers
Date: Year round

Success Stories