Engaged CommunitiesPlan of Work

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Knott County CES

Title:
Engaged Communities
MAP:
Healthy Homes and Communities
Agents Involved:
Linda Combs, Dora Centers, Chad Conway
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Build Engaged and Empowered Communities – General
Situation:

Situation:

The community assessment indicated:

·The lack of jobs in the area is an important issue for Knott County.  An additional challenge for participants was that lower waged jobs leave little income, particularly with the high cost of commuting. 

·Drug use also was identified as a priority issue within the community. Substance use has negative consequences for individuals directly affected and their families. Community level impacts from drug abuse include costs for emergency response, policing, incarceration, and recovery, as well as impacts on employers. The associated issues of “grandparents raising kids,” “money,” and “health,” are also a concern. 

·Roads, infrastructure, and the overall condition of the county were raised as concerns. 

·     The Kentucky Extension Community Assessment Statewide Report 2019 indicates that money management for families and youth and employee “soft/essential skills” training continue to be important issues statewide. Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center indicates 85% of job success comes from having well developed soft and people skills, and only 15% of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge (hard skills).  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 on-sight but critical to success.   

·Volunteers are important in building engaged and empowered communities.  

·KEHA - The Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (Knott County Homemakers) mission is to improve the quality of life for families and communities through education, leadership development and volunteer service. With membership totaling more than 13,000 statewide, KEHA members are engaged leaders and active volunteers. 

·Promote positive personal finance behaviors prepares Kentuckians for any future economic shift. The United States has been in an extremely long period of economic expansion; however, expansions are cyclical, meaning growth is eventually followed by recession. Securing financial stability for Kentuckians will help families thrive no matter the economic outlook. Financial stability is achieved when families are able to secure and manage resources needed to supply food, clothing, and shelter. Through increased financial knowledge, families may be able to make wise financial decisions, increase buying power, avoid overextended credit, develop savings habits, and manage risks.

Long-Term Outcomes:

·KEHA - KEHA members (Knott County Homemakers) serve as active Extension and community volunteers engaged in addressing community needs.

Intermediate Outcomes:

·KEHAKEHA (Knott County) leaders will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area and/or state level.

·The number of Knott County Homemaker volunteer service hours reported annually for KEHA, Extension and Community activities will increase.

Initial Outcomes:

·Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations, to improve employability through work and practical living skills and continuing education practices.

·KEHAKEHA members (Knott County) will gain organizational knowledge through annual officer and chairman training.

·KEHA members (Knott County) will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership through club lessons and special interest workshops.

Increase financial literacy (knowledge and skills) related to savings and investments

Evaluation:

Outcome:  Improved workforce communication 

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported the intent to utilize etiquette practices to improve verbal, written, and electronic communication practices (Communicating Effectively)

Indicator:  Number of individuals reporting increased levels of understanding in the area: demonstrate strong verbal and nonverbal communications (Conveying Your Message)

Method:  Pre/Post Evaluation 

Timeline:  Following Positive Employability

Outcome:  Improved workplace listening skills 

Indicator:  Number of individuals reporting increased levels of understanding in the area: how to utilize listening cues (nonverbal, quaisverbal, and verbal) in conversation (Listening and Inquiry)

Method:  Pre/Post Evaluation 

Timeline:  Following Positive Employability 


Outcome:  Networking Skills 

Indicator:  Number of individuals reporting increased levels of confidence in the area: participate in a productive business conversation (Networking for Success)

Method:  Pre/Post Evaluation 

Timeline:  Following Positive Employability 


Outcome: KEHA members (Knott County) will gain organizational knowledge through annual officer and chairman training.

Indicator:  Number of KEHA members (Knott County) who report knowledge gained through county and/or area officer and chairman training.

Method: program evaluation with pre and post assessment questions

Timeline:  on-going


Outcome: KEHA members (Knott County) will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership through club lessons and special interest workshops.

Indicator:  Number of individuals reporting improved personal and interpersonal leadership knowledge and/or Number of individuals reporting improved personal and interpersonal leadership skills.

Method: end of program evaluations, surveys

Timeline:  on-going


Outcome: KEHA leaders (Knott County) will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area and/or state level.

Indicator:  Number of KEHA members (Knott County) who utilized knowledge gained through officer training to fulfill a KEHA leadership role at the club, county, area and/or state level.

Method: Observation, review of officer directories

Timeline:  on-going

Outcome:  Increased awareness of sound financial behaviors

Indicator(s):  Number of individuals who implemented at least one 

strategy to reduce expenses or manage money

Number of individuals who made a sound financial decision 

(regarding credit, budgeting, savings, and/or debt)

Method:  Retroactive pre-post

Timeline: Following financial education workshops

Outcome:  Increase knowledge and skills related to 

managing financial resources

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased levels of 

understanding in the area: confidence in handling money issues 

or specific financial matters

Method:  Retroactive pre-post

Timeline:  Following financial education workshops

Outcome:  Increase knowledge and skills related to 

estate planning

Indicator: Number of individuals who took action toward implementing at least one     estate planning strategy in regard to the subject matter presented.

Method:  Retroactive pre-post

Timeline:  Following financial education workshops

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Working-age adults and young adults preparing for the workforce

Project or Activity: 10 Soft Skills for Success

                        Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability

Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, local employers and community leaders

                        Date: TBD


Project or Activity: Conveying Your Message

                        Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability

                        Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, local 

employers and community leaders

                        Date: TBD

Project or Activity: Networking for Success

                        Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability

                        Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, local 

employers and community leaders

                        Date: TBD


Audience:  Knott County Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity:  KEHA Officer and Chairman Training / County KEHA Kickoff

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Training Toolkit, KEHA Manual, KEHA Website

Inputs: FCS Agent

                  Date: Annually each fall


Audience: Adults, young adults, and teens


Project or Activity: Money Habitudes Workshop

                        Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes

                        Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, 

Money Habitudes cards

                        Date:

Audience: Adults, young adults, and teens

Project or Activity: Financial Education

                        Content or Curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life

                        Inputs: FCS Agents

                        Date: on-going


               Audience: Recovery Centers

Project or Activity: Financial Education

                        Content or Curriculum: Recovering Your Finances

                        Inputs: Coordination with community stakeholders

                        Date: on-going

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