Empower Community LeadersPlan of Work

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Bracken County CES

Title:
Empower Community Leaders
MAP:
Empower Community Leaders
Agents Involved:
FCS; 4H, ANR
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Leadership
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Volunteer Development
Situation:

Volunteers are important in building engaged and empowered communities.  

KEHA - The Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association 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.  FCS and Homemaker Council  building the capacity of volunteer leaders within counties is critical for the sustainability of a community Infrastructure that supports long term commitment to strengthen families. Through the efforts of the FCS agents, paraprofessionals, and volunteers local citizens are engaged, educated and empowered to understand family and community issues and take ownership of implementing local solutions. Volunteering has a significant impact on people and communities. And it’s not just poorer counties that benefit greatly from volunteers, as even affluent counties need assistance.The measurable impacts of volunteering go well beyond what some volunteers realize. Community service has significant economic and social effects.  Volunteers impact communities in many ways.Time is money. And as people donate their time to volunteer causes, it has a tremendous economic impact.  The Volunteer Measurement Project (VMP), conducted by Johns Hopkins University, found that approximately 140 million people in 37 nations engage in volunteer work. That equates to about 20.8 million FTEs.  In the U.S., 62.6 million contributed 8 billion hours of work, which equates to $184 billion.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Teens will become more active as volunteers; increasing the amount of unpaid service that they provide throughout their communities.  Adults will increase their rate of volunteer involvement in their communities and in Extension. Teens and adults will make a positive contribution as community volunteers.  This increased level of community involvement will continue throughout their twenties and thirties.  Additionally, communities will experience an increased retention rate as people who are engaged in their communities experience a heightened sense of belonging and are more likely to settle and reside in that community.

KEHA - KEHA members serve as active Extension and community volunteers engaged in addressing community needs.

FCS and Homemaker Council members help Kentucky communities’ health and economy are strengthened through strong local organizational leadership and help solve Community problems through active engaged local leaders

Intermediate Outcomes:

·Youth will develop a sense of belonging in their communities, as they become more strongly affiliated with the community through service to a non-profit organization.  

·Youth will master skills related to their specific volunteer role.

·Youth will experience a feeling of generosity as they serve non-profit organizations, their programs and clientele in a volunteer role.

KEHA - KEHA leaders will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area and/or state level.

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

FCS and Homemaker Council members practice personal leadership skills in clubs, schools and community outreach.

Improved skills in communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs.

Apply skills to assess needs, develop programs and implement solutions for 

Initial Outcomes:

·Youth and adults will increase their knowledge of the types of volunteer and service opportunities that are available to them in their communities.

·Youth and adults will increase their knowledge of the non-profit organizations in their communities and the services that they provide.

·Youth and adults will identify non-profit organizations in their communities and the specific types of volunteer roles which they aspire to fulfill and serve.

KEHA - KEHA members will gain organizational knowledge through annual officer and chairman training.

KEHA members will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership through club lessons and special interest workshops.

Kentuckians increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership.

Homemaker Council members and FCS Advisory Council members increase knowledge and skills in organizational leadership.

Kentuckians increase knowledge and skills in Community leadership


Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Participants will increase knowledge of effective leadership skills

Indicator: # of individuals participating in leadership programming and % of knowledge gained

Method: Post evaluation and # of participants


Timeline: August 2021-May 20222

Intermediate Outcome: Individuals will actively engage in leadership and volunteer roles

Indicator: Volunteer hours and # of volunteers

Method: observation, personal testimonies


Timeline: August 2021-May 2022

Long-term Outcome: Individuals will serve as leaders in their community and community organizations

Indicator: # of effective leaders in significant leadership roles

Method: observation, follow-up surveys, testimonies

Timeline:  Organizational Meetings August 2021-May 20222


Outcome:  Members understand they have a voice in local decision making

Indicator:  Increase member participation at council meetings

Method:     Past to Present Comparison

Timeline:   August 2021-May 2022


Outcome: Increase council memberships

Indicator:  Higher attendance

Method:   Compare past to present

Timeline:  August 2021-May 2022


Outcome: KEHA members will gain organizational knowledge through annual officer and chairman training.

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

Method: program evaluation with pre and post assessment questions 

Timeline:  Homemaker Council and Club Meetings August 2021-June 2022


Outcome: KEHA members 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:  Homemaker Council and Club Meetings August 2021-June 2022


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

Indicator:  Number of KEHA members 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: Homemaker Council and Club Meetings August 2021-June 2022

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H Council officers and members

Project or Activity: meetings

Content or Curriculum: reports and updates

Inputs: agent, volunteers, agendas, minutes, reports

Date: meetings held every other month



Audience: 4-H club leaders and volunteers

Project or Activity: various clubs and projects

Content or Curriculum: UK and CES publications/curriculum, adapted resources/materials

Inputs: volunteers, agents, cert. hours, training

Date: Annually 



Audience: 4-H Teen club/volunteers

Project or Activity: MS club, day camp, 4-H Camp

Content or Curriculum: leadership development

Inputs: agents, teens, planning, resources, handbooks

Date: 2021-2022


Audience: 5th graders

Project or Activity: Leadership Academy

Content or Curriculum: UK/4-H Resources

Inputs: agents, volunteers, teachers, school staff

Date: Fall 2021



Audience:  FCS Council 

Project or Activity:  New Member Training

Content or Curriculum: KELD Curriculum, UK Publications

Inputs: FCS Agent

Date: Annually when new members are added


Audience:  Licking River Area Homemakers

Project or Activity:  KEHA Officer Training

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Manual, KELD Curriculum, Leader Lessons

Inputs: FCS Agents, Area Officers, State Officers

Date: Annually each fall

   

Audience:  Bracken 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 Agents, State Advisors

Date: Annually each fall


Audience:  Bracken County Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity:  KEHA Leader Training and/or Special Interest Workshops

Content or Curriculum: KELD Curriculum, FCS Extension Lesson Resources, FCS Curriculum

Inputs: FCS Agents, State Advisors

Date: Bi-Monthly


Audience:  Bracken County Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity:  KEHA State Meeting

Content or Curriculum: Officer Training & Educational Chairman Workshops

Inputs: FCS Agents, State Advisors

Date: Annually each spring



Success Stories

Senior Thrift Store Project

Author: Shannon Smith

Major Program: Aging-General

Senior Thrift Store Project

Bracken County’s local Senior Citizen Center has a thrift store next to the center named, Country Closet.   The proceeds from the store fund the seniors extra activities providing social outings for the seniors. The store also offers clothing and household items for low cost of 25 cents each.   This is a great resource for people who have low income or on a fixed budget.  When the COVID pandemic hit in 2019 the store was closed temporary because all of the staff at the Senio

Full Story

Kentucky Volunteer Forum

Author: Molly Jordan

Major Program: Volunteer Development

The Bracken County 4-H Program relies heavily on our volunteers. The Kentucky Volunteer Forum that was held in February of 2022 we had six volunteers attend. The volunteers attended several classes that enlightened them on programs we can offer to Bracken County youth. Attendance to the KVF also opened the volunteers to other roles they can serve in as part of Extension. From this we are offering more clubs such as electricity, gardening, and pets. This will allow the Bracken County 4-H program

Full Story
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